How to Properly Smoke a Tobacco Pipe

Besides the aroma, the constant fiddling with a pipe is probably the most satisfying part for most pipe smokers. Holding the warm bowl in your hand and stoking the little bed of tobacco coal, while the sweet smell of innumerate custom blends circles about your head; it can be quite relaxing once you get the hang of it. This article will show you how to avoid a few missteps and to take care of your pipe, so you can enjoy knowing how to properly smoke a tobacco pipe.

Things You'll Need

• Pipe
• Filter
• Cleaner
• Czech pipe tool (probe, tamper, and scoop)
• Butane gas lighter or match (lighter fluid will leave a bad taste in tobacco)

Instructions

1. 

   Select a pipe that fits comfortably in your hand and your personality. Pipes vary in style as much as the people who use them. There are some basic designs to choose from: the long skinny reading pipe, a straight pipe or a bent pipe. The size of bowl is also important; too small and it will burn out quickly, too large and it will be difficult to hold with only your teeth.

2. 

   Decide if you want to use a filter in your pipe stem. The bent pipes will help keep moisture away from the tip, but the more level pipes will allow moisture (tar, saliva, residue) to find its way to the pipe's tip and into your mouth. A filter will catch most of this and make your smoke more enjoyable.

3. 

   Select a blend of pipe tobacco that suits your taste. Vanilla, cherry and whisky blends are popular. Some tobacco blends are best for their taste, while others for their aroma. A specialty tobacco store that sells by the ounce is the best place to try different blends until you find your favorites.

4. 

   Fill the pipe bowl with tobacco to the rim and then pack lightly with your thumb. Draw on the tip of the pipe with a steady pull and place a flame over the tobacco. Puff on the tobacco several times to form a hot coal in the center.

5. 

   Use your Czech pipe tool to tamp down the coal if too much air flow, and use the probe to allow more air flow if the draw is too hard. When finished, use the scoop to remove ash and coal.

6. 

   Remove the used filter (usually good for five or six bowls) and insert a high absorbent pipe cleaner through the stem and down into the bowl. Several may be needed to absorb all moisture.

7. 

   Store pipes with stems up to allow any additional moisture to settle at the bowl and keep the stem clear. It is best to have more than one pipe so that you can allow each to completely cool and dry between alternate uses.

Tips & Warnings

• When a wood pipe is warm you can rotate the bowl across your cheek beside your nose and the natural oils from your skin will treat and shine your pipe's wood finish.

• Pipe smoke is best enjoyed as an aroma and not inhaled directly.

Resources

• How to Use a Czech Pipe Tool