Smoke Gets In Your Eyes;>......

[mdehners]

So, you can guess how well things are going by the fact that in my early 60's I had my 1st tobacco smoke;>! I'd been thinking about it for the last yr since there is pretty certain to be no further increase in my pain meds and there HAD to be more than peer pressure to start. So, last month I ordered material.
Got a nice Pearwood Churchwarden(Gandalf Pipe;>) and two Kiseru(Japanese Pipe. One modern and less than a foot total length an a pre WWII about a foot and a half. I actually looked online how to restore Kiseru whose bamboo stem was worn but not damaged greatly.
Managed to get some Kiseru tobacco from Japan(VERY HARD).
My experience? It smelled and tasted like burning Autumn leaves. Not bad but not great. Finished a pipe and wasn't impressed...till I got back inside and sat down. I couldn't figure it out for a few seconds till I realized that my pail level had dropped from a 7 to a 4. The 1st 4 I've had since I started in the pain clinic.
Since then, I've evaluated things. I believe two things, that the tobacco was too dry and I was smoking "hot".
That's probably why it tasted so burnt. So right now I'm rehydrating the box I've opened and will try it agian when my pain level is over 6 and I have the time.
After payday I'll order some Aromatic Pipe tobacco for the Churchwarden. I've found one that tastes and smells like Irish Crème and Whiskey and Honey.
I've got a few things going for me. I'm too old to worry about tobacco caused Cancer and even if I get to the enjoying it point I still wouldn't smoke more than a couple times a week. and if I use the Kiseru primarily the amt is less than a tablespoon(and that's lightly packed;>).
Sitting on my porch teacup at my side "sipping" on my vintage Kiseru...fits my personality;>! Heck, I've books on how to sew the majority of common traditional Japanese clothes!
Cheers,
Pat

Comments

[weofodthignen]

Oh good! I would never have thought of tobacco as a pain reliever, wow.

[mdehners]

I figured to get started on the habit there had to be something. I'd noticed with the few Smoker friends that those who smoked cigars(phew!!!!) or pipes(some smelling a lot better than some smudge sticks;>) was that they still got a buzz while cigarette smokers generally only had that as the 1st of the day...if at all.
As strong as my SCA and LOTR fandom is I'm hoping the Kiseru works out...or more truthfully tobacco for it. The Japanese slice it so thin its hairlike and no Western company does. I've been told shag cut tobacco can work so tomorrow I'm ordering a few small packets of Aromatic shag which is basically scented/flavored pipe tobacco basically shredded...basically cigarette. Hopefully they don't stink like ciggies do;>!
Love,
Pat

[puca]

Welcome to the piper club. I bought my first pipe over 35 years ago mainly as a device to keep the mosquitoes at bay while in hunting camp. The fragrant plumes from the charred bowl soon warded off the evil little buggers. I also found it useful as gesticulating prop while uttering dubious tales of ‘the one that got away’, or delivering grand pronouncements peppered with sagacious wit. Remember, all listen in awe to the one holding the pipe…. *cough cough*



But anyways, here is my humble collection of smoking implements. I favour the churchwarden types for a cooler experience…a lot less tongue bite. And of course it depends on mood too. Lately I’ve been favouring my Brigham ‘Canadian’ style pipe in lieu of the Peterson 312…the feel of it, how it sits in the mouth and how it performs with a particular pipe weed. It’s certainly can be a complex pastime. The process of getting ready to have a puff is comparable to the Japanese tea ceremony by selecting the pipe; the weed of choice; the packing of the bowl to achieve the correct draw from the stem; the initial charring of the weed; the retamping to adjust draw; and finally the lighting to create a lasting burning. All very meditative IMO. There is nothing quick about having a pipe. I find it creates the correct conditions for deep thinking and problem solving. A well packed bowl of good proportions can last up to an hour and a half if you sip correctly. When the character Mr. Holmes said it was a three pipe problem…it certainly involved many hours of contemplation.

As for pipe weed, many new pipers are drawn to the aromatics with their various bases and toppings….like kids in a candy store because the titles are so delicious sounding. And then you have your English, Balkan, and Oriental blends where some are quite light while others very harsh. Certainly a learning curve here and personal preference. I use to grow my own when I had my herb garden using coltsfoot, currant leaves, raspberry leaves, horehound, etc as substitutes for the tobacco plant. They all tend to burn hot and acrid without the addition of gum arabic, other additives and fermentation.

The only advice I can give is always have a pipe after eating something, keep a drink on hand to wash your palate, and smoke slowly. If you start feeling light headed and sick to your stomach, put the pipe down and let it rest while you recover. You can always relight it later. It’s a matter of learning to pace your draw, massage the smoke in the stem and sip the smoke. This creates a slow burn which is the ideal. Hard puffing will only reduce the burning time, make you ill, and possible start creating a hot spot on the bowl and so smouldering thru, ruining the pipe. Smoke the weed and not the wood!

As for health concerns…to each is own. Life is not safe in any direction. Moderation is the rule in my domain. I don’t possess addictive traits and can take or leave anything at a whim. And nicotine has never found its hooks unlike so many. There may be a genetic component to that. At most I pipe three or four times a month….some months or even years go by when I don’t bother. Time and mood are key to keep this hobby a pleasure as opposed to a medicative coping crutch like so many do by the use of cigarettes…which are horrible implements IMO.

Noobie Piper!

[mdehners]

I appreciate the words. I've a Pearwood Churchwarden though I did find the mesh fiddlies confusing then I realised the vendor sent them as a gift if I wanted to Smoke the Skunkleaf;>. A kind of conversion kit;>.
I'm pretty sure my problem was 2 fold: dry tobacco(since rehydrated thanks to youtube) puffing too fast and getting the tobacco too hot.
I'd found the perfect tobacco for the kiseru, a vendor with a large selection of Aromatic shag but when I went to pay not only was it in Australia, their payment system did not fill me with comfort;>!
Let see. Got hiv in the early 80's and now am in my 60's. Not too worried about health effects;>
I must have been thinking along your lines. I'm a tea snob and like to have a good "cuppa"(oolongs are my go to) when I sit out so adding a good pipe to the experience and maybe a good book is heafon to me;>
And like you, I can't see myself as more than a "recreational" piper anyway.
FridhR,
Pat