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As has been noted, passing a cleaner through a bent pipe can sometimes be a challenge. I also find that condensation in the stem tend to pool quicker (i.e. gurgling) in a bent. For those two reasons, I prefer straight and 1/4 bent shapes. YMMVQuote:
Originally Posted by bluenoser
I know that the tobacco needs to be maintained somewhat moist for storage to maintain the flavors. I see many here recommend drying the tobacco before smoking. Can it be too dry? If so, what are the consequences?
The only consequence I know of is it crumbles to dust. Any less dry than that, and it's fine, at least with virginias. In fact, it's the bowls you load and forget in the pipe that are usually the best with virginias.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nature
Ha ha, that is exactly what happened! Except it was an English. Loaded a bowl and didn't get around to it when I was planning on it. I came across it sitting in the console of my car about 5 days later.Quote:
Originally Posted by mooster
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Are aero's able to age? I am a slow smoker and I have what I feel is a lot of baccy. Mostly aero's. If they don't age, is their a typical shelf life in jars for optimal quality?
Lots of theories on this one. I tend to believe the following: 1. The toppings on aros will retard their fermentation (i.e. slow down the natural sweetening of the base leaf). 2. The toppings themselves will dissipate some over time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Horseshoe
I have a lot of aros cellar myself because while I believe the two points above, I am also firmly in the camp that thinks the tobacco will remain pleasantly smokeable no matter how long it has sat. IOW, it won't be what it was, but it son't "spoil" either.
I think the biggest thing you will notice with aros that have been jarred up a long time is the lack of topping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Horseshoe
Over time the toppings will dissipate and the once bold flavors will be muted. Sometimes this is a good thing to people, as in the essence found in many Lakeland tobaccos. Other times it is an annoyance, especially if the casing is a flavor that you love upfront and want strong.
As far as true aging, I think it depends on the blend. Anything that is soaked in PG won't age worth a darn. YMMV
I agree with this to a point: IF the tobacco used in the aro was good, it will remain good. Big word.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
Are you proposing my 10lbs of Mixture no.79 will be less than stellar in a score and 5 years from now?Quote:
Originally Posted by mooster
Hey did you ever post an after pic of that rope you home made?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
I restarted the thread, but it won't be ready for about 6 weeksQuote:
Originally Posted by defetis
Where do you guys buy "forever" stems for cobbs?
Thanks
This one I can help with!Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoke rings
Walker Briar Works
http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html...er-_stems.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Smoke rings
Dang it, Tim! You beat me!Quote:
Originally Posted by tmoran
If Russ Ouelette is the greastest pipe tobacco blender now alive then why does his Black Mountain/Balkan Sobranie challenge leave me unmoved?
Aside: Russ is a top drawer guy - nothing I could ever say to take away from his great work and supreme generosity.
If pipestud now has 1,000 reviews on tobaccoreviews.com, why do I not agree with 80% of his ratings?
When everyone thinks GL Pease's Union Square is the most wonderful VA tobacco ever put in a can, why does it leave me cold as winter in Saskatoon?
So, I am asking, please please please what isWRONG with me, anyhow?
Wooooow, what do you think we are here, made of time? I could take a week's vacation and still not have enough time to tell you everything that is wrong with you! :playful:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Moo
I would imagine you've had FVF, HOW, and OG....so that would explain why you , like I, are not so hot on the Union Square thing.
So, I imagine it is dull and flavorless compared to, yes, you nailed it, some of my preferred VA tobaccos. OK, that answers 33% of what is wrong with me. Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Branzig
I'll take on the other two...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Moo
I imagine Black Mountain/Balkan Sobranie doesn't do it for you for the same reason Joyce's Ulysses doesn't do it for me. It doesn't matter how good the blender(author) is, or how much people rave about something, there is a subversive side of my unconscious that refuses to go along with what all arrows point to as being a good thing.
As for the reviews...I will never trust anything that comes from someone who assigns themselves a moniker including the word "stud" :peach:
D'oh, I really like Russ and respect his efforts. The jury that judged Black Mountain gave it top marks. I still don't know what's wrog with me. Maybe I have too many dirty pipes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz
I go with that. Thank you - I am down to 33% unexplained wrongness.Quote:
As for the reviews...I will never trust anything that comes from someone who assigns themselves a moniker including the word "stud" :peach:
Assuming you don't have pipe boxes for all of your pipes, what is the best way to store pipes? I have more pipes than I have places to display them and was wondering what would be a good system for storing them?
I just chuck them in empty cigar boxes. But then I'm not in love with any of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haebar
-EDIT-
AAAAaaaauuuggghhh!!! That post just made me the 'Fat Kid On The Seesaw' :(
Get a wall mounted pipe rack!Quote:
Originally Posted by Haebar
Also, my philosophy is if I don't smoke it, I'm selling it!
Where's a good place to get one? Maybe I'll make some.Quote:
Originally Posted by Branzig
That's a good philosophy to have.
I don't even own one. I want one pretty badly though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haebar
Making one would be the easiest solution I think. All the ones I've seen online are quite spendy.
What about a pegboard and a bunch of screwdriver racks.
I saw that either here or on a former Kaput O'media site recently.
Looked like a good ULB* solution.
*Ultra Low Budget
Thanks for reminding me of that; I remember seeing that on Puff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Emperor Zurg
That was my thread. I will repost it as I still have the content.Quote:
Originally Posted by Emperor Zurg
...and done http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showth...=9344#post9344
Storage confusion. Correct me if I am wrong please.
Jars are good to go for long term storage
Tins are fine for short term storage if opened (couple/few weeks)
Un-Opened tins are fine for longer term storage but should be placed into jars if it starts to swell?
Cans of tobacco such as Christmas Cheer are fine long term un-opened? (Sealed with Un tampered foil and plastic lid)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Horseshoe
Yep.
Stingers: What is the proper orientation? Does it matter? Hole up or down?
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...e5786e73d9.jpg
OR
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...32552d3f2c.jpg
The proper orientation is out of the pipe. Stay tuned for a serious answer, though...
Haha! That's what I kind of thought, Just remove altogether.Quote:
Originally Posted by mooster
The top picture is correct.
I agree with Mark in that I hack them off and throw them away, but... I would imagine down would allow the moisture to stay in the shank and heel of the bowl as opposed to being caught inside the stem and flowing like a glorious river of ughhh into your mouth. No real idea- just taking a stab at it. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Nature
How often should you tamp?
How much rest should a pipe get before re-use? (Does the same go for partial bowls?)
Rope question(s): does anyone here smoke it? I've seen Tobias' DIY rope thread so I'm guessing so, but how popular is it compared to other forms and if you do (or don't) smoke it, why?
I think I've read that rope is usually stronger too. Is that true? And is it flavor, strength, or both?
Is rope more like smoking a cigar than say, flake or ribbon? Or is that just totally tobacco dependent?
The only rope I have tried so far is G&H Sweet Rum Twist, and it's very good. I usually have to mix it with PA or something to cut down the strength, or smoke a really small bowl. Rope is extremely strong in both nicotine and flavor, beyond that of even the strongest cigars I have tried.
I smoke some rope as do several on the forum. It is the strongest pipe tobacco, especially the brown ropes. When I say strong, I mean NICOTINE! I have smoked for more than fifty five years, but ropes can make me feel the nic hit. The flavour is full, but smooth. They are more popular in the UK than in the US, as most ropes are made in Cumbria Northern England these days. They were more popular and pervasive in days past. They were a good way to transport tobacco and keep it fresh on long trips (think sailing ships). Ropes were also popular among the miners of Northern England. They would chew a piece while they worked in the mine because you couldn't smoke in the mine for fear of coal gas explosions. Then they would dry out the chaw and smoke it later as it would have enough strength left for the pipe. It is still a pipe tobacco experience, not a cigar like experience, but a brown rope is stronger than the strongest ligero laced cigar. A good rope to try for a first time is GH Sweet Rum Twist. It is not quite as strong as the Brown Bogie or the Brown Irish Twist, and does not have the burnt tyre flavour of the black twists.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cardinal
Thanks to both of you! I'll try to get some rope in my next tobacco order. Sounds like something to experience at least once anyway.