A while ago there was a thread discussing the merits and ins and outs of pipe-smoking, and it got me interested, so I'm going to give it a shot. One of the recommendations was to get a cheap pipe to try it out so that in case I decided it wasn't for me I hadn't shelled out too much $$$. So this week I'm going down to the CVS for my first Dr. Grabow.

I'm sure I'll have some other questions, but here is the first: How do you pronounce "Grabow"?  I don't want to look like a jackass when I ask for it.

Hell if I know.  I've heard both gray plus bow-to-your-partner and gray plu bow-the-weapon.  IIRC the grandmotherly woman at the local pipe shop pronounces it "those damn things with the filters".  (Remember: don't use the filters.)  The truth of the matter is that if you're at the CVS you'll probably just need to ask for pipes "like you smoke".

One more hint, when she brings up the pipes "you smoke"

This one

Ain't it!

Has anyone ever heard of Fengshun pipes? There is a new one on ebay for $5. Would that be a good starter?

After a little searching I found 2 opinions from pipes.org:

"I have one... its made of plastic and has a stamped metal bowl. They dont smoke poorly.... but they are no comparison to briar. Consider it a novelty item."

"I found a huge stack of these at the dollar store, i bought three.. not bad.. worth a dollar, not much more tho."

Quote from: jrientsAfter a little searching I found 2 opinions from pipes.org:

"I have one... its made of plastic and has a stamped metal bowl. They dont smoke poorly.... but they are no comparison to briar. Consider it a novelty item."

"I found a huge stack of these at the dollar store, i bought three.. not bad.. worth a dollar, not much more tho."

Ha! I just got through reading that myself.

Quote from: jrients(Remember: don't use the filters.)

However, learn to draw smoothly so that you avoid burning your tongue.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaHowever, learn to draw smoothly so that you avoid burning your tongue.

!i!

Took me a while to learn that, but there's some tobacoes like the McBearen which burns your tongue no matter how slow you smoke.

Its good for your first pipe to not be too expensive, but you dont want to utterly cheapout either, or else the experience will be sorely diminished.

Theres a balancing point. I'd recommend something like a Velani, or a Butz-Choquin, a pipe in the $50 range.  If you're spending much less than that, you're really buying quite the crap pipe. In fact, if you're spending anything less then that, you might as well just by a corncob, because that's the ONLY good smoking value for the money at that level (and corncobs do smoke well, but only for a while, eventually they burn out).

I wish you luck. Sorry that Im not very active here just now to give you lots of advice. But please don't cheap out on a chinese metal pipe or something. Get something briar, ideally, and at about a $50 price range. BC, Peterson, Velani, Brigham, Sasieni, Stanwell, Savinelli, any of those.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditIts good for your first pipe to not be too expensive, but you dont want to utterly cheapout either, or else the experience will be sorely diminished.

Theres a balancing point. I'd recommend something like a Velani, or a Butz-Choquin, a pipe in the $50 range.  If you're spending much less than that, you're really buying quite the crap pipe. In fact, if you're spending anything less then that, you might as well just by a corncob, because that's the ONLY good smoking value for the money at that level (and corncobs do smoke well, but only for a while, eventually they burn out).

I wish you luck. Sorry that Im not very active here just now to give you lots of advice. But please don't cheap out on a chinese metal pipe or something. Get something briar, ideally, and at about a $50 price range. BC, Peterson, Velani, Brigham, Sasieni, Stanwell, Savinelli, any of those.

RPGPundit

Thanks, I will keep a look out for these brands.  $50 plus tobacco and tools is a good chunk of change just to try it out, but I do want to do it right.

Are you familiar with Dr. Bostons? I understand they are Butz Choquin seconds.

Im afraid Im not familiar with those.

Out of the real cheapo pipes, the ones that have the best rep are probably Dr.Plumb.  They're actually fairly pretty, and are supposed to have an ok price-value ratio.

Enas are ok, they're the second line of the Bruken pipe.

Keep in mind that the better the pipe is, the better it will smoke, and the more likely you'll actually appreciate the hobby. Im not saying to go out and buy a $500 pipe, but if you're really very uncertain about "risking" $50 on your first pipe then unfortunately pipe smoking may not be the hobby for you.

RPGPundit

EDITED to add> At this time. Maybe when $50 is not a big investment for something in the "pleasure" part of your budget, then you'll be able to smoke and enjoy.

Well, I am getting a promotion next month. Maybe I'll treat myself.

Just out of curiosity do any of you pipe smokers use those handmade LOTR pipes that were being sold right after the first movie came out? I don't smoke, but almost bought one just to try it out.

There were a considerable number of pipe companies that came out with special "LoTR" related pipes.

I personally do own one, a Ser Jacopo series "Gandalf", but I smoke it because of the quality of the pipe, not because of its license ties.

RPGPundit

I love smoking a pipe, and my wife even enjoys the smell (depending on the tobacco of the moment).  The biggest problem I have is that it really screws up my sense of taste for several hours afterward.

Tom B.