Questions You Thought Were Too Dumb to Ask (Pipes Edition)

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

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Kind of hard to answer without knowing what pipes you are smoking...I have pipes that last 15 minutes and pipes that will go for 90+ mins. You need to factor in tobacco cut as well. A MM legend full of Carter Hall will probably last me around 20 minutes where as a folded flake of FVF in the same pipe will go 45 mins. A lot of factors.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done.

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Smoke density is a good factor. If it goes out pretty much instantly after lighting it, then you are probably to the dottle. Also taste plays a big part of it. If it taste terrible and like ash, you are done. It is a lot like the nub of a cigar...when it becomes harsh and bitter, time to call it quits.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

3.) How long can I keep tobacco in an opened tin?

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Another "depends" answer. Samuel Gawith flakes can go about 2 months in a tin and be fine. A fine Burley can dry out on you in as little as 3 weeks. A goopy aro will last eternity (but will lose flavor). My general rule of thumb is get it into a jar within a month.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

4.) Can there be there too much (or too little) air in a jar of aging tobacco? I was looking at these jars http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20227984/ and they are 17oz. Say I buy a tin or two and throw it in the Jar. Is that too much space / air contacting the tobacco?

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I don't worry about this stuff. I buy jar. I put tobacco in jar. Me smoke tobacco. :p

I would rather have a lot of 8oz canning jars full than bigger ones half full though myself.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke?

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I don't smoke indoors, unless you count the shop and garage indoors. I think pipe smoke sticks around and stinks up stuff just as much as cigar smoke does. The main difference is there is a lot less smoke produced I would say when you puff a pipe, and in general, pipe tobacco isn't as pungent as cigar smoke is. Unless you're smoking latakia. That stuff will stink up a room.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

6.) Rootbeer was recommended as a beverage that pairs well with cigars. Any go to beverage that pairs well with pipe tobacco (of any kind)

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I love coffee with Burley and Va. Black/green tea goes well with all pipe tobacco in my opinion. I like peppermint tea with latakia, that is fun to me. Water is always good with pipe tobacco. I drink a lot of beer with my pipes too...but I have been told my pairings are awful so I won't share them...I like bold flavors and people complain that their taste buds aren't manly enough to handle all the flavor awesomeness that mine can. :p

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

7.) Are the pipe cleaners sold for pipe cleaning the same as pipe cleaners sold for crafting?

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Don't use craft cleaners for your pipe. They are for crafts and not absorbent like "true" pipe cleaners are.

Nice Questions!

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

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As Branzig mentioned, many variables here. A bowl of Half & Half in a medium sized billiard lasts me about 30-35 minutes. A bowl of crumpled flake in the same pipe could last 45-50 minutes. Also how much you puff makes a big difference. My brother always finishes his cigar first, even when we are having the same cigars because he smokes faster. It's significant; he usually finishes a good 5-10 minutes before me.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.


2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done.

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Feel it out with your pipe tool; if there is some in there, you will feel it. The best bet is to smoke it until it starts getting hot and/or bitter, then put it down. Don't try to scrimp on tobacco at the expense of your tongue.

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke?

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Your other questions seem pretty well covered but this one reminded me of a story.

My wife and I are both smokers and smoke in our basement. When I started getting serious about cigars a little over a year ago the wife told me to go ahead and give it a try in the basement. When the day came that I decided I was going to have a stick, I didn't tell anyone in the house I just lit one up. I hadn't been smoking that cigar for five minutes before the wife came downstairs to find out what the hell that nasty stink is.

The pipe on the other hand has never had a complaint other than when I was smoking Irish Flake and she was sitting about 5 feet from me. Even then, I still finished the bowl.

With pipes and relights how much time can pass between? With cigars it seems to be not much at all, but people mention drawing out pipes all the time.
20 minutes?
An hour?
A day?
Say I light a bowl and something comes up, can I finish it in the morning?

Also, when jarring samples (say, from a bomb) should the baccy go in while still in the bag or dump it into said jar?

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Originally Posted by Horsefeathers

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

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Mine are usually about an hour and a half to two hours, but I like larger pipes than some. That's actual smoking time; the time on the clock shows that the answer to your question is "it doesn't matter". If I get distracted, or have to abandon the pipe for a bit, it's perfectly fine after relight, which for me is a major advantage for me because squirrel!

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2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done.

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I'm embarrassed to say that I'll be watching for the answers you get...

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3.) How long can I keep tobacco in an opened tin?

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Going past ten days makes me nervous. But they're usually empty by then for me.

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4.) Can there be there too much (or too little) air in a jar of aging tobacco? I was looking at these jars http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20227984/ and they are 17oz. Say I buy a tin or two and throw it in the Jar. Is that too much space / air contacting the tobacco?

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See my answer to number two...

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5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke?

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In my opinion (which is the only one that matters; the cats poop in a box-what can they say?) yes. I'd forgotten how much the difference was when I ordered a handful of singles this month. Fortunately, it's a warm week and I can air the place out, and save the rest for summer.

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6.) Rootbeer was recommended as a beverage that pairs well with cigars. Any go to beverage that pairs well with pipe tobacco (of any kind)

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For me, coffee or tea is required.

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7.) Are the pipe cleaners sold for pipe cleaning the same as pipe cleaners sold for crafting?

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I don't think so; the ones I've seen are pretty fuzzy.

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Originally Posted by Brent Strande

With pipes and relights how much time can pass between? With cigars it seems to be not much at all, but people mention drawing out pipes all the time.
20 minutes?
An hour?
A day?
Say I light a bowl and something comes up, can I finish it in the morning?

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I try not to wait a month, but it has happened. Seems like once it's loaded in the bowl, it can get as dry as it wants, or maybe our humidity is just right around here.

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Also, when jarring samples (say, from a bomb) should the baccy go in while still in the bag or dump it into said jar?

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Dump it in the jar.

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Originally Posted by Brent Strande

With pipes and relights how much time can pass between? With cigars it seems to be not much at all, but people mention drawing out pipes all the time.
20 minutes?
An hour?
A day?
Say I light a bowl and something comes up, can I finish it in the morning?

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I've let mine go a week or so. If I know I won't be able to get to it that day, I'll stick the pipe in a ziplock bag, once it cools.

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Also, when jarring samples (say, from a bomb) should the baccy go in while still in the bag or dump it into said jar?

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If it will fit, I just shove the bag and all into a jar. It sometimes makes loading the pipe easier with a small sample.

How many bowls should it take to break in a new pipe?

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

How many bowls should it take to break in a new pipe?

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http://youtu.be/17CKHuYx51U?t=15s