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

[Nature]

So, as you jar your bulk tobacco and the jar is partially empty, you obtain some more to replace. Do you:

• Just add the new stuff to the old stuff, mixing it together?
• Start a new jar, having multiple jars of the same tobacco with different acquisition dates?

Is there a preferred way?
I imagine it somewhat depends upon how fast you go through a particular blend. ?

[quo155]

Tying into Mark's question above:

I've seen several posts about "mixed" tobacco. What is this, exactly? Do many of you just take tobaccos that you don't care for, left overs from almost empty tins, scraps from here and there, etc. and place in a jar?

Also, tips, pros, cons, do's & dont's?

[tmoran]

So, as you jar your bulk tobacco and the jar is partially empty, you obtain some more to replace. Do you:

• Just add the new stuff to the old stuff, mixing it together?
• Start a new jar, having multiple jars of the same tobacco with different acquisition dates?

Is there a preferred way?
I imagine it somewhat depends upon how fast you go through a particular blend. ?

I start a new jar for a couple of reasons. First, I am really interested in seeing how tobacco can change with age. Once you pop a seal, you are restarting the aging process. Second, which is related to the first, I date all the tobacco that goes into my cellar so I can rotate through the stock. Third, once I pop a mason jar seal, I don't trust it for long term storage anymore, so I would have to replace the lid anyway.

If I had something I smoked all the time and didn't really care about aging it, it would make sense to just add it to the jar I am smoking out of. I don't have any blends that I have opened at all times, more like a rotating smoking inventory.

That's just my process. It really comes down to personal habits and preference.

[tmoran]

Tying onto Mark's question above:

I've seen several posts about "mixed" tobacco. What is this, exactly? Do many of you just take tobaccos that you don't care for, left overs from almost empty tins, scraps from here and there, etc. and place in a jar?

Also, tips, pros, cons, do's & dont's?

I am certainly no master blender, but sometimes it can be fun to mix things up a bit (pun intended ).

Sometimes I do it because I like a blend, but I am in the mood for something a little stronger or weaker. One good example is G&H Sweet Rum Twist. It's very good, but I rarely bother trying to tackle it straight. Throw a bit of SRT with some PA and life is good.

Sometimes I do it because I think I can make a blend more closely match my tastes. For instance, I like the bold full body of Dunhill Nightcap, but it has too much Latakia for my tastes. I'll mix it with some Walnut and be a happy camper.

Sometimes I will use an easy burning shag or dry tobacco to help something moist burn. Generally I'll layer the kindling on top of the tobacco to get the party started, but you can also mix it in. For this I'll use whatever scraps I left out on my plate too long, or just some 5 Brothers.

Rarely will I try to improve a tobacco I just flat out don't like. No sense wasting something I do like and doubling the volume of tobacco I don't like.

Pro tip - If it feels good, do it.

[quo155]

I am certainly no master blender, but sometimes it can be fun to mix things up a bit (pun intended ).

Sometimes I do it because I like a blend, but I am in the mood for something a little stronger or weaker. One good example is G&H Sweet Rum Twist. It's very good, but I rarely bother trying to tackle it straight. Throw a bit of SRT with some PA and life is good.

Sometimes I do it because I think I can make a blend more closely match my tastes. For instance, I like the bold full body of Dunhill Nightcap, but it has too much Latakia for my tastes. I'll mix it with some Walnut and be a happy camper.

Sometimes I will use an easy burning shag or dry tobacco to help something moist burn. Generally I'll layer the kindling on top of the tobacco to get the party started, but you can also mix it in. For this I'll use whatever scraps I left out on my plate too long, or just some 5 Brothers.

Rarely will I try to improve a tobacco I just flat out don't like. No sense wasting something I do like and doubling the volume of tobacco I don't like.

Pro tip - If it feels good, do it.

Thank you Tim...easy to follow and much appreciated!

[Rocket Scientologist]

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?

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.

Is the tobacco worth doing that? Why not just dump it out and start over when you can?

Of course, this is coming from a noob's perspective. All I have is 2 MMs and some Prince Albert type tobacco.

[BryGuySC]

Is the tobacco worth doing that? Why not just dump it out and start over when you can?

Of course, this is coming from a noob's perspective. All I have is 2 MMs and some Prince Albert type tobacco.

It depends on what tobacco it is. For cheap tobacco, yeah, just dump it. Some tobaccos (think heavy, moist flakes) it could actually improve your smoke.

I love your screen name, by the way.

[mooster]

Is the tobacco worth doing that? Why not just dump it out and start over when you can?

Of course, this is coming from a noob's perspective. All I have is 2 MMs and some Prince Albert type tobacco.

Well, often times (at least with virginia blends!) the tobacco is better after it's sat there in the pipe a while anyway. At least for me.

[Pugsley]

I have a couple pipes that were made for 9mm filters and would like to get adapters for them, but the only one I can find reduces it down to 3mm which is smaller than I'd like. Does anyone know what the best material would be to make one from? Wood is out because I'm afraid it may swell if it gets damp and damage the shank. What about lucite or vulcanite? Any suggestions?

[Emperor Zurg]

I have a couple pipes that were made for 9mm filters and would like to get adapters for them, but the only one I can find reduces it down to 3mm which is smaller than I'd like. Does anyone know what the best material would be to make one from? Wood is out because I'm afraid it may swell if it gets damp and damage the shank. What about lucite or vulcanite? Any suggestions?

I've used alumina ceramic. Fireproof, non porous and pretty tough. You have to cut it with diamond tools though.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#ceramic-tubing/=wnyvvb