If you are new to pipe smoking you probably have a lot of questions. It's also possible that you don't want to ask anyone questions about the different aspects of pipe smoking because you don't want to hear any snarky replies. Totally understandable. That's why we decided to put together this guide that will hopefully answer at least some of your questions about the fine art of pipe smoking. By the time you're done, you should be able to have a much more productive and satisfying relationship with your tobacco pipes, including your meerschaum pipes.

First Things First: The Basics

Before you start exploring some of the more advanced aspects of pipe smoking it’s important that you build a solid foundation. That means mastering the following fundamentals:

Packing the Bowl

You can learn all the advanced stacking and other techniques there are, but if your bowl of tobacco is poorly packed you’re still going to have an unsatisfying experience. When it comes to packing the bowl even small errors can make a big difference. We recommend you master the tried and true three-pack method right out of the gate.

The three-pack method involves (surprise!) the following 3 steps:

1. Fill the bottom half of the bowl and then tamp it down lightly. That’s, lightly.
2. Then add more tobacco until the bowl is full and again, tamp it down lightly. This time until the bowl is 3/4 full.
3. Then top up the bowl with more tobacco and press it down only until there is a small gap between the top of the tobacco and the top of the bowl.

Before you light the newly filled bowl take a test draw to make sure you are still able to pull air through all that tobacco you just packed in. If you have to work to get a draw then empty the bowl and try again, this time not tamping the tobacco down so hard. Once you’ve mastered the art of packing the bowl of your pipe everything else will seem like gravy.

Lighting the Tobacco

Now that you’ve got a perfectly packed bowl you’ll need to fire it up so you can enjoy the taste and aroma of your pipe tobacco. The thing is, you can’t just hold a lighter over the bowl and start drawing on it in a haphazard fashion. You’ll need to finesse the process so that things don’t get too hot and harsh and so that you don’t do damage to your bowl.

If you’re serious about the fine art of pipe smoking you won’t use just any old lighter you got at 7-11. Instead, you will use wooden matches or a pipe lighter (you can buy pipe lighters in our online store if you don't have any of your own). Once you’ve secured the matches or lighter you need the next step is to practice the lighting process. The most important part of lighting your pipe is to make sure the tobacco is evenly lit all the way around. You do this by making a slow circular motion around the bowl with the match or lighter while drawing modestly and evenly on the mouthpiece.

Chilling Out

If you pack the bowl correctly, light the tobacco properly and take modest, relaxed draws you should not need to relight your bowl. Most beginners get impatient and tend to hold the flame over the tobacco too long, or they draw too hard. Relax! Pipe smoking is not a race. Briar pipes are not stock cars. If you’re a beginner, find a quiet safe place where you can enjoy your pipe without being bothered and take the above tips to heart.

Some More Advanced Techniques for Smoking Tobacco Pipes

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s look at some more advanced pipe smoking techniques that will help you take your experience to the next level.

The Finger Tamp

Most of the time when we talk about tamping down your tobacco we're assuming you will be using a tamping tool. But in this case, we're talking about getting down and dirty and personal by tamping your partially burnt bowl of tobacco with your finger. In truth, there are only advantages to performing the finger tamp if you are able to discern when the pack is just right - and that only comes with experience. Nonetheless, it's a potentially useful technique that every pipe smoker should eventually master and it will prevent you from having to put flame to bowl too often.

The Delayed Gratification Technique

The Delayed Gratification Technique or DGT is another advanced technique and one that involves the subtleties of pipe smoking. Specifically, it’s intended to enable the pipe smoker to enhance the flavor of their smoke in an oh-so-subtle but very real manner. Pack your bowl using the method we recommended above. Spark up your wooden match or pipe lighter and perform a modest charring light. Take a couple of puffs and take note of the flavor. Then set the pipe aside for a while. How long is a while? That’s something you’ll have to figure out through trial and error. By letting the tobacco sit you allow the pipe to caramelize or stew just long enough to modify the tobacco’s flavor, which will become apparent when you fire it back up.

Twine Lighting

There are some who are not fans of ever using matches or a lighter, even a pipe lighter, to fire up tobacco pipes. They argue that these methods add unpleasant aromas that alter the tobacco's flavor and that they create surplus waste materials. The best way to light a pipe they argue is to use what's called a "hemp wick". The hemp wick is a piece of twine (hence "twine lighting") that you light with your match or lighter and then use to fire up the bowl. In theory, because hemp burns at a relatively low temperature you'll get a more even burn and protect your pipe from heat damage in the process. Does it work? Sure. Whether you decide it's necessary or worth it will be up to you.

Stacking

Stacking involves packing your bowl with several layers of different types of tobacco. The goal is to discover new and, more importantly, interesting flavor combinations that can enhance your enjoyment. If you have already mastered the proper way of packing a bowl you’re already halfway home with this technique. All you have to do is use 3 different tobaccos during the 3-pack process. This is classified as an advanced technique because it requires a fairly good knowledge of different pipe tobaccos and an ability to appreciate subtleties of flavor and aroma when you mix them together. However, there is little doubt that you’re going to come up with some pretty funky combinations, meaning you’re going to wind up wasting some of your tobacco while you experiment. But if you’re okay with that you may find the results to be surprising, satisfying, and well worth it.

Paykoc Pipes is Your Source for High-Quality Tobacco Pipes

Whether you are brand new to pipe smoking or you are an experienced pipe aficionado, or you are in search of wholesale tobacco pipes for your shop Paykoc Pipes has what you need. Check out our complete line of meerschaum and briar pipes at our brick-and-mortar store or take your time and peruse our extensive online offerings.