I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing.
OldBlueEyes2012
Posts: 239
in Pipes
As a fellow CCOM user and BORK, I've come to learn a great deal about smoking. But my knowledge is exclusively catered to cigars. I would like to start smoking pipe tobacco, but don't even know what I need, or how to light it. I know how amateur this must sound, but please bear with me. I also don't want to spend a lot of money, so I was thinking about picking up a few corn cob pipes. How many times can you smoke with one before you need to replace? What do I need to light it, and are there any other things I might need? If there is another thread that I find that can answer all of my questions, I'll find it and delete this. Thanks!
-Rob
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Comments
For a quick smoke I would suggest one of the following as they are all basically the same pipe with a different finish:
The Legend
This is Missouri Meerschaum's most popular pipe, and it's the one most people think of when they think of a corn cob pipe. The bit is amber in color and the bowl has a slight yellow color that's added to the finish on the cob. This cob is filled, but is still a little rough.
The Missouri Pride
This pipe is completely unfinished, or "Neked". Some folks like this, others don't. The cob is very rough but it smokes nicely. This is probably the one pipe that I would say is most likely to burn-through. The bit is black.
The Washington
This is a rather sophisticated cob. It is filled with plaster before being smoothed and finished with a clear finish. The bit is black.
The Ozark Mountain
Again, this is the same size as the pipes listed above, but rather than being made of cob it's made entirely of the hardwood birch.
As for the longer smoker, I'm a fan of several:
The Gentleman
I LOVE this pipe! This would be my all-around favorite if only it had the hardwood bottom like the others listed below. This has the same black bit as is found on the pipes listed above. I always swap these out. Read on...
The Diplomat
This has become my everyday pipe in my van and in my shop. Depending on what I smoke in it, it will last me from 30-45 minutes. Like the Washington the cob on the Diplomat is filled, finished with a clear finish and has a black bit; but the bit on this pipe is my favorite. It's called the Danish bit, and it's the bit that I use on all my pipes. The Diplomat is also available with a rare earth magnet sit into the bottom and is sold as the Magnacob. You can see it at Magnacob.com
The General
This is a very large bowl, but not ridiculously so. This pipe will smoke 40-60 minutes every time. It has the same smooth finish that's found on the Diplomat, and also features the Danish bit.
The Freehand
This pipe is just in a class by itself. It's hand turned on a lathe and is in the style of the classic freehand briar pipes. It has a very expensive vulcanized rubber bit, that's just like the aftermarket bits that are sold elsewhere for $20 and up for just the bit alone. This is the perfect pipe to put on your birthday wish list.
Final thoughts:
With the exception of the Freehand, all of these pipes can accommodate a filter. You don not have to smoke them with the filter installed, and many people actually cut the filters into two or three short sections to act as an ash catcher rather than a filter.
I am not a fan of the Patriot or the MacArthurs. The bits are very slim and delicate and are prone to breaking, and the Macs are very though to keep lit.
Hope this helps, and now that I've typed this it might just end up on my blog! Scott