Having my first bowl

Well I think this sinus cold has finally let up enough that I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to give my pipe a go for the first time (weather and sinuses dependant). I'll be filling it with carter hall, tamp with a golf tee. If I understand it right, lightly fill with baccy, tamp lightly, repeat until it's full and able to get decent draw through it? It's a hardwood pipe so I know to smoke slow to avoid ruining it, lighting with wooden matches. Any tips you can throw at me to help make my first bowl a good one?

Sounds like you are all set. Bring an extra pipe cleaner or two in case you get some gurgle and so you don't get gross tobacco juice in your mouth. If you start to get a gurgle, run a pipe cleaner down the stem and shank to soak up the moisture. If you don't currently retrohale, or snork, give it a try. To me, this is even more important with pipes than cigars. Oh, and coffee. Burley and coffee are great together!

Nice to see you come out of hibernation! Hope You enjoy your smoke.

Carter Hall is a great one to start with. After all these years it's still one of my go to tobaccos, and as Tim said, it's great with a cup of coffee.

I have a bit of a sore throat/cold now so I know your pain. A piece of advice I can give is something you already mentioned; pack lightly. I prefer the term fill your pipe than pack your pipe, it gives a softer image. You can always tamp down a loosely filled pipe, but can't untamp a bowl that was packed too tight.

My only advice would be smoke slowly and steadily. Unlike smoking a cigar where you "pull" a mouthful of smoke, try to "sip" the pipe. Be patient, it takes practice, but it's worth it!

Also - be sure it's a _wooden_ golf tee :)

Smoke slower than you think you need too.
Tamp tess than you think you need too.
Pack lighter than you think you need too.

And most importantly, enjoy that pipe sir! :pipe:

I'm going to be in that same boat, hopefully next weekend!

The sipping is tough to do starting out. Have fun with it, and don't get frustrated! Just be prepared to re-light.

As stated above, don't get worked up if you have to relight a time or two. It's not a big deal with a pipe, as the flavors will be just as good after the relight. Pipes aren't like cigars in that respect.

Also, be patient. Many people don't get it just right their first few times. Pipes take some practice.

I'm a newb too and still learning a lot. The best thing I ever did was learn this method of pipe packing. It is brilliantly simple and works fantastic.
Plus I like hearing this guy talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHYPso7TXs

As much as I try, I can never get that swirl method to work for me. The other easy method is called the "Frank Method" that seems to be (at least for me) a bit more consistent.

Frank method is great too.

IMO both are much better than that stupid 3 step child, lady, man crap. That's the one I never could get down right.

It all depends on the cut or tobacco and the consistency when it comes to which packing method I use, but I have to say that the Frank and Air Pocket method are probably my 2 most often, and favorite, used methods.

I use the Frank method, more often than not, but I've successfully used the swirl method, also.

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Originally Posted by Cool Breeze

As stated above, don't get worked up if you have to relight a time or two. It's not a big deal with a pipe, as the flavors will be just as good after the relight. Pipes aren't like cigars in that respect.

Also, be patient. Many people don't get it just right their first few times. Pipes take some practice.

I'm a newb too and still learning a lot. The best thing I ever did was learn this method of pipe packing. It is brilliantly simple and works fantastic.
Plus I like hearing this guy talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHYPso7TXs

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Good video. I have adopted my own "method" that is similar. I just take a bowls worth of leaf and cradle it loosely in my fore fingers and swirl it into the pipe using my thumb to push it along. No need to get a handful and make a big f**kin mess.
I thank the people who put out the methods that get people on the right track, but once you fill more pipes than days you've been alive you create your own way that suits you best. People smoke at different paces and tamp to achieve different resistance. Learning how to pack your pipe right is an invaluable gift that only comes from smoking...a lot. :)

And as luck would have it the sinus pressure and pain came back in full force, if it wasn't for such a crazy work week I'd be booking in to see the doctor, going on 3 weeks now with this, just want to try that damned pipe lol. Thanks for the tips and suggestions, I'm really looking forward to giving it a go.

Well I'm out enjoying my first bowl as we speak. Think I packed it a bit too loose as its drawing super easy. No flavor at first but I'm starting to get it now

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

Well I'm out enjoying my first bowl as we speak. Think I packed it a bit too loose as its drawing super easy. No flavor at first but I'm starting to get it now

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What are you smoking?

Glad you're finally enjoying that bowl!!!

Carter hall. Only had to relight once about halfway through. I can see the enjoyment in it

Very nice!

Hears to hoping the sinus pressure stays away! Lord knows mine never does.... haha

Wait till the weather warms above zero up there it just gets better Brother.

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

Carter hall. Only had to relight once about halfway through. I can see the enjoyment in it

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Think of CH like the first drink you ever had. It's nothing special at first but as time goes on and the more you have you learn to appreciate things for what they are and start to crave certain tastes. Same goes for pipe smoke. You're only at the tip of the iceberg Brother.

I've heard you can sure sinus issues by stuffing baccy up your nose using the frank method then lighting.... May want to try that. Think it has to be a Latakia though.

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Originally Posted by Will46r

I've heard you can sure sinus issues by stuffing baccy up your nose using the frank method then lighting.... May want to try that. Think it has to be a Latakia though.

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Do I use a torch or matches?

Always use matches. A torch could scorch your nostrils.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

Well I think this sinus cold has finally let up enough that I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to give my pipe a go for the first time (weather and sinuses dependant). I'll be filling it with carter hall, tamp with a golf tee. If I understand it right, lightly fill with baccy, tamp lightly, repeat until it's full and able to get decent draw through it? It's a hardwood pipe so I know to smoke slow to avoid ruining it, lighting with wooden matches. Any tips you can throw at me to help make my first bowl a good one?

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The golf tee is certainly to be commended!

http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=T...Corncob_primer

Lots of good info there.