The Other Side

[Cigarer]

Well, never gave much thought to smoking a pipe except on a few occasions. I enjoy cigars but am interested in a economical approach to starting in the pipe world. Any advice greatly appreciated

[cpmcdill]

It is definitely more economical. For the price of a Fuente Opus X you could get enough really fine pipe tobacco to keep you smoking several times a day for a month.

There are some good threads here on the pipe side oriented toward getting started with pipes, and if they don't answer your questions, ask new ones there. Your questions and the answers given will help future pipe beginners.

[Tobias Lutz]

Welcome to the party...the best advice I can give you is buy a couple corn cob pipes and sign up for the Newb Sampler Trade (http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showthread.php?835-Newbie-Sampler-Trade-for-Pipes). :)

[cpmcdill]

Here are some links:

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showthread.php?425-Questions-You-Thought-Were-Too-Dumb-to-Ask-%28Pipes-Edition%29

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?55-Pipe-Newbie-Q-amp-A

and I recommend browsing back through all the threads in the General Pipe Discussion. It is time well spent. You'll find answers to questions you didn't even know you had.

[Branzig]

If you want something to puff on right now, I suggest picking up a Missouri Meerschaum Legend and some Prince Albert of Carter Hall. Use a golf tee as a tamp.

Quick an easy newbie kit for under 15 bucks.

[gigmaster]

I couldn't agree more, except I didn't have a golf tee when I started. I used a large-headed nail as a tamper.

I still smoke mostly cobs, and I keep some PA around. It's sort pf a Back-to-Basics thing, with me.

If you smoke a cob, and don't go crazy with tobacco, you can smoke a pipe cheaper than cigars, or cigarettes (and probably snuff as well). Heck, you can probably smoke a pipe cheaper than chew tobacco.


If you want something to puff on right now, I suggest picking up a Missouri Meerschaum Legend and some Prince Albert of Carter Hall. Use a golf tee as a tamp.

Quick an easy newbie kit for under 15 bucks.

[mooster]

Don't expect to find the same tastes in pipes as you do in cigars. If you try to find a tobacco that tastes like your favorite stick, you're doomed to failure.

[izkeh]

Don't expect to find the same tastes in pipes as you do in cigars. If you try to find a tobacco that tastes like your favorite stick, you're doomed to failure.

This ^^^

[Horseshoe]

Well, never gave much thought to smoking a pipe except on a few occasions. I enjoy cigars but am interested in a economical approach to starting in the pipe world. Any advice greatly appreciated

Sign up for my Noob contest :) a chance to get into pipes for free! This is my advice.

Pipe tobacco is so much cheaper than cigars. The cost is in the pipe but it doesn't have to be expensive. There is a learning curve, so don't get frustrated when it doesn't go right the first several times. (I am still learning)

[commonsenseman]

Agree with above: sign up for NPS, Buy a Cob & some CH or PA (or velvet, Half-n-half, etc) & don't expect the same taste as cigars.

When I first started I was disappointed that I didn't get the same volume of smoke or fullness of flavor. It just didn't seem as satisfying. This changes slowly over time. The variety of flavors found in pipe tobacco is nothing short of astounding.

[Cigarer]

Thanks for all the info! I shall get to doing some reading

[Cool Breeze]

Awesome advice here. I'll echo some of it.

For an economical start you absolutely can't go wrong with a MM cob. You can pick them up at Walgreens for $5-$6. Many people smoke for years and have nice expensive briar pipes and still regularly smoke corn cob pipes. They're great

There are some drug store blends that are great too. Prince Albert and Captain Black are both readily found at grocery stores or drug stores and I like them both a lot.

As mentioned above a golf tee or nail will work great for a tamper.

Sign up for the NST for pipes and hit Horseshoe up in the contest he has going.

Happy smoking.