How to Smoke a Briar Pipe Correctly

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