| WHY HAVE MORE THAN ONE PIPE? | | | | second pinch, a little more firmly and so |
| | | | forth until when the pipe is filled and is |
| While it is usually advisable for a new | | | | pressed down very firmly. The reason for this |
| smoker to start with a smaller pipe, since he | | | | is that when you tamp the second pinch, you |
| is not used to a long smoke, most smokers | | | | are re-tamping the first one. The object is |
| find that the bigger the pipe is a better | | | | to have the pipe uniformly and firmly packed |
| smoke. A large pipe smokes cooler and holds | | | | from top to bottom. Most tobaccos, and |
| fire better. -When you are busy use a | | | | particularly the longer cuts, uncurl and |
| smaller pipe. When you are relaxing in the | | | | loosen when the pipe is first lit. It is |
| evening - smoke a large pipe. One point of | | | | therefore necessary to light the pipe, then |
| interest: some people believe that a sand- | | | | tamp it and re-light, As the pipe is smoked |
| blasted pipe will smoke cooler than a | | | | down, pour out any loose ash and re-tamp if |
| polished pipe, due to its much larger surface | | | | required. When you are ready to put a pipe |
| area. In large pipes this is not especially | | | | aside, knock it out and put it down to cool; |
| important since they will always smoke cool, | | | | removing the stem or bit from a hot pipe will |
| but it may be a consideration in choosing a | | | | crack the shank. This is one of the major |
| smaller pipe.How much should you pay for a | | | | points in caring for a pipe. Once the pipe |
| pipe? Over the years, the price of pipes has | | | | has cooled down completely, run a pipe |
| almost exactly equaled the price of shoes. | | | | cleaner through it, and stand it stem up in a |
| The reason is that both are made of natural | | | | pipe rack. Do not leave the pipe cleaner in |
| material with much hand work. A reasonable | | | | it. This interferes with, rather than helps |
| price for anyone to pay for a pipe is what | | | | the drying process. Incidentally, when |
| he pays for shoes. There is one important | | | | removing the stem from a pipe, always pretend |
| difference: shoes wear out and pipes do not. | | | | that it has a fine thread and unscrew it; |
| We often see pipes more than thirty years | | | | then screw it back in. Wiggling or tugging |
| old. | | | | the bit out will result in a loose stem. |
| | | | |
| CHOOSING THE TOBACCO | | | | As you smoke your pipe, carbon will develop. |
| | | | When the carbon exceeds I mm (about the |
| As far as we know, tongue bite is always a | | | | thickness of a dime), ream it to leave 1 mm. |
| matter of tobacco. Most cheap tobaccos will | | | | Carbon is not something that "if a little bit |
| bite. Your tobacconist will have several | | | | is good, more is better". Excessive carbon |
| blends which he knows will not bite. It does | | | | will crack a pipe, make it smoke hotter and |
| pay to start smoking a pipe with high quality | | | | make it hard to knock out. Remove it with a |
| tobacco. After you have been smoking a pipe | | | | proper tool, a reamer, to avoid damaging the |
| for some time you may experiment with the | | | | pipe. If you break a pipe which you like, it |
| cheaper tobaccos if you like, but at the | | | | is always worth repairing. New stems are |
| start it might be disastrous. | | | | inexpensive and even a cracked or broken |
| | | | shank can be repaired. Pipe smoking, like all |
| FILLING AND MAINTAINING YOUR PIPES | | | | the finer things in life such as Scotch, |
| | | | Champagne, Caviar and Classical music, is an |
| In filling a pipe, the object is to pack the | | | | acquired taste. It must be learned, but like |
| pipe as tightly as possible while still | | | | all finer things it isrewarding and well |
| having it draw freely. This is accomplished | | | | worth learning. Good luck, and happy and |
| by packing the first pinch lightly, the | | | | successful pipe smoking. |