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

[Nature]

Stingers: What is the proper orientation? Does it matter? Hole up or down?


OR

[mooster]

The proper orientation is out of the pipe. Stay tuned for a serious answer, though...

[Nature]

The proper orientation is out of the pipe. Stay tuned for a serious answer, though...

Haha! That's what I kind of thought, Just remove altogether.

[Nachman]

The top picture is correct.

[Tobias Lutz]

Stingers: What is the proper orientation? Does it matter? Hole up or down?


OR

I agree with Mark in that I hack them off and throw them away, but... I would imagine down would allow the moisture to stay in the shank and heel of the bowl as opposed to being caught inside the stem and flowing like a glorious river of ughhh into your mouth. No real idea- just taking a stab at it.

[Horseshoe]

How often should you tamp?
How much rest should a pipe get before re-use? (Does the same go for partial bowls?)

[Cardinal]

Rope question(s): does anyone here smoke it? I've seen Tobias' DIY rope thread so I'm guessing so, but how popular is it compared to other forms and if you do (or don't) smoke it, why?

I think I've read that rope is usually stronger too. Is that true? And is it flavor, strength, or both?

Is rope more like smoking a cigar than say, flake or ribbon? Or is that just totally tobacco dependent?

[tmoran]

The only rope I have tried so far is G&H Sweet Rum Twist, and it's very good. I usually have to mix it with PA or something to cut down the strength, or smoke a really small bowl. Rope is extremely strong in both nicotine and flavor, beyond that of even the strongest cigars I have tried.

[Nachman]

Rope question(s): does anyone here smoke it? I've seen Tobias' DIY rope thread so I'm guessing so, but how popular is it compared to other forms and if you do (or don't) smoke it, why?

I think I've read that rope is usually stronger too. Is that true? And is it flavor, strength, or both?

Is rope more like smoking a cigar than say, flake or ribbon? Or is that just totally tobacco dependent?

I smoke some rope as do several on the forum. It is the strongest pipe tobacco, especially the brown ropes. When I say strong, I mean NICOTINE! I have smoked for more than fifty five years, but ropes can make me feel the nic hit. The flavour is full, but smooth. They are more popular in the UK than in the US, as most ropes are made in Cumbria Northern England these days. They were more popular and pervasive in days past. They were a good way to transport tobacco and keep it fresh on long trips (think sailing ships). Ropes were also popular among the miners of Northern England. They would chew a piece while they worked in the mine because you couldn't smoke in the mine for fear of coal gas explosions. Then they would dry out the chaw and smoke it later as it would have enough strength left for the pipe. It is still a pipe tobacco experience, not a cigar like experience, but a brown rope is stronger than the strongest ligero laced cigar. A good rope to try for a first time is GH Sweet Rum Twist. It is not quite as strong as the Brown Bogie or the Brown Irish Twist, and does not have the burnt tyre flavour of the black twists.

[Cardinal]

Thanks to both of you! I'll try to get some rope in my next tobacco order. Sounds like something to experience at least once anyway.