Beginner's Guide To Pipe Smoking

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Beginner's Guide To Pipe Smoking 

History of Pipe Smoking 

The traditions of pipe smoking go back many centuries, well before the introduction of tobacco to Europe from the 

Americas in the 16 th century. Native American cultures used calumet, also known as peace pipes, which were used to smoke 

tobacco and other sacred herbs for ceremonial purposes. There is also some evidence that Ancient Egyptians smoked pipes 

and tobacco, though it remains largely a mystery as to how they got their tobacco, which is native to the Americas. 

Since the introduction of tobacco to Europe its consumption spread rapidly around the world. This began the widespread 

manufacture and varied design of pipes from a number of different materials including clay, stone, ceramic, wood, 

meerschaum, glass, briar, metal and corn cob. Today, the majority of pipes are made from briar, a perfect substance to craft 

from, not least because of its natural fire resistance and ability to absorb moisture. Another popular material is meerschaum, 

a soft, off white, porous mineral which is principally mined at sites in Turkey. 

With their long history it comes as no surprise that pipes have been smoked by many famous people and fictional 

characters including Albert Einstein, Sherlock Holmes, Edwin Hubble, C.S. Lewis, Virginia Woolf, J. R. R. Tolkien, Popeye 

and Vincent van Gogh. 

Your pipe experience has already begun! We hope that with these first steps you continue to learn and enjoy all that pipe 

smoking has to offer. The various techniques, tobaccos, types of pipe, history, social aspects and more, are all ahead of you. 

Let's extend your knowledge and prepare you for what may be your first sipping of the smoke! 

Anatomy of a pipe 

Which Pipe? 

Apple Bent Billiard Bulldog Dublin Lovat 

Bent Apple Zulu Cherrywood Horn Diplomat Hungarian 

There are hundreds if not thousands of pipes to choose from, all different types, shapes and sizes. As a beginner, there 

may seem like many things to consider before purchasing your first pipe. The most important factor is that you are able to get 

the best experience possible. 

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To some, it's tempting to buy the cheapest pipe around. There are pipes you can get for £1 in certain shops, but these are 

usually poor quality plastic affairs that are not ideal to learn with. By all means give them a go, but we advise you to invest a 

little more and go for a quality made, inexpensive corn cob as your first pipe. These cost only a few pounds, which is no huge 

expense for the great quality you get. They have two stem designs to choose from: straight and bent. It's really personal 

preference as to which you think would feel more comfortable. 

corn cob Pipes: (click images or text for a link!) 

Cob Pipe - Straight 

Cob Pipe - Bent 

Our corn cob pipes are imported from the USA and are produced by the world's leading manufacturer of cob pipes, 

Missouri Meerschaum Company, whose history began in 1869. Henry Tibbe, a woodworker, made his first cob pipe as a 

request from one of his customers. Soon after, Tibbe began selling the pipes in his shop. He likened the smoking quality to 

that of a meerschaum pipe and in 1907 the company changed to its current name. 

Cobs are an ideal beginner's pipe because they impart little flavour to the smoke, giving you the best taste possible. They 

have thick, well insulated bowls. Some beginners tend to smoke pipes quickly, mainly because they are used to smoking 

cigarettes. The faster you smoke a pipe the hotter it burns but pipes should be smoked slowly. The thick bowl allows you a 

greater margin in which to feel the heat without burning your fingers. In time you'll get used to a slower pace. 

Cobs don't need breaking in. This is the period of time where you build up a layer of carbon on the chamber wall to protect 

the pipe. Cobs are also cheaper to replace if you damage them, though they are quite sturdy and may last for many months of 

use, if not years. These pipes are supplied with a 6mm filter which you may use for a smoother smoke, or choose to take out 

for a fuller flavour. 

If you want to see the range of pipes we stock, have a look at the extensive range of pipes we offer or our value/beginner 

pipes section. 

Once you're sure of a pipe it's time to choose a tobacco! 

Which Tobacco? 

With many hundreds of tobacco blends to choose from it may seem like a difficult task to select your first pipe tobacco. 

Many people will say to start with a more bland tobacco as you won't have developed a taste for complex blends. Others will 

say to choose an aromatic. These are flavoured tobaccos that are usually sweet tasting. Some would say that a mild tobacco 

is best to avoid tongue bite. We simply say choose a few sample tobaccos that you think you might like based on the 

description. 

Please do use pipe tobaccos. Although rolling tobaccos can be smoked using a pipe they have a higher tax than pipe 

tobaccos, a finer cut that burns quicker and their blending and flavour is not going to taste as good in a pipe as a quality pipe 

tobacco. 

Pipe tobacco cuts: 

Ribbon Ready Rubbed Flake Plug Curly Cut Rope 



As with pipe designs, there are a multitude of pipe tobaccos to select from. Blends that use different types of tobacco, 

different cuts and some that add flavouring. We would suggest choosing a ribbon, shag or ready rubbed tobacco as a starter 

but you may try flake, plug, curly cut or rope. At this stage you may not know what Latakia, Perique or Cavendish taste like, 

or many other base tobaccos for that matter, as most cigarettes use Virginia and some use Burley too. Take a look at our 

blending tobaccos for an idea of what to look out for. 

Pipe tobacco types: 

Virginia Burley Turkish/Oriental Black Cavendish Latakia Perique 

So, with your pipe and sample tobaccos you are nearly set to start smoking! 

How to smoke a pipe 

Please read the section on “breaking in your pipe”. This is when you create a carbon cake on your pipe's chamber wall 

and is important to ensure the long life and smoke quality of a briar and some other types of pipe. 

Just stuff, light and puff?? Well, yes but there are a few things to note. 

To fill your pipe: 

1 Take a pinch of loose tobacco and drop it into the 

chamber. If the tobacco is stuck together, tease at it with 

your fingers until it's loose. Keep doing this until the pipe is 

full. 

2 Now press that tobacco down using light pressure until the 

pipe looks about half full. 

3 Fill to the top again. 

4 Press with a medium pressure. The pipe should look two 

thirds to three quarters full. 

5 Fill once more 

6 Pack it down with slightly more pressure and your pipe 

should now be filled almost to the rim. 

It's important that you don't over fill the pipe as when tobacco 

burns, it expands and you don't want hot embers falling out. 

Now you've filled the bowl it's time for a quick test of your 

packing before you light it. Through the mouthpiece, suck 

with a moderate force, as if drinking water through a straw. If 

you find it's much easier to suck than water would be then 

your packing is too loose, if it's more difficult then you have 

packed too tight. In either case, take the tobacco out of the 

chamber and try again until it feels right. Please note that 

how loosely or tightly you pack your tobacco is largely down 

to preference and it may take a few goes to find what's right 

for you. 

Did You Know? 

Nicotine is named after Jean Nicot, the French ambassador 

to Portugal who brought tobacco and smoking to the 

French court in the mid-sixteenth century 

as a medicine. 



To light your tobacco it's advisable to use matches or a pipe lighter. Using a regular lighter may work but you risk burning 

your fingers. Using a turbo flame lighter is not advised as you will scorch the pipe. Matches are a more traditional way to light 

your tobacco but a quality pipe lighter is probably more practical and makes a perfect item to add to a gift wish list. 

1 Holding your pipe in your mouth, take a match or your 

lighter and strike it. With matches let the phosphorus burn 

out before applying the flame. 

2 Position the flame over your bowl, just above the tobacco. 

Now suck through the mouthpiece (do not suck using your 

lungs, only your mouth, as you would when sucking water 

through a straw), which should draw the flame to your 

tobacco, lighting it. Move the flame in a circular motion, 

continuing to suck, to light as much of the tobacco as 

possible. 

3 Once done, put the flame out and let your lit tobacco go 

out. Once it's out, use a tamping tool to gently tamp the 

charred layer of tobacco down. 

45 Now relight your tobacco as before. 

6 Once relit, you are ready to enjoy your pipe smoke. 

Did You Know? 

Briar root tubers at the age of 30 to 60 years are harvested, 

cooked for several hours then dried for several months 

before being further processed into pipes. 

Smoking a pipe is not to be rushed, it's a relaxed form of smoking. The best way to smoke and benefit most from the 

flavours of your tobacco is to keep the pipe burning but just moments from going out. You will get the hang of this as you 

smoke more and learn how your pipe and tobacco burn. If your pipe is getting hot you are smoking too fast. If it goes out, 

you'll need to tamp the ash down and relight. Only suck the smoke into your mouth. It's advised that you don't inhale the 

smoke as it's a different consistency to cigarette smoke, it's usually more dense. Continue to enjoy your smoking until your 

tobacco is consumed or you have had enough. It's not unusual for a pipe to last 30 minutes or more. 

"Ouch! My tongue hurts!" -This is known as tongue bite. Usually as a beginner you will experience tongue bite. Even 

seasoned pipe smokers do from time to time, especially if they've stopped smoking for a while and start again. It will go away 

as you become used to smoking but to lessen the chance and severity of tongue bite, try adjusting your technique to a slower 

pace. 

“What's that gurgling sound?” -Another symptom of smoking too fast is a gurgle sound when you suck from the pipe. As 

tobacco burns it releases moisture which condenses in the stem of the pipe. If this isn't given time to evaporate, it builds up 

and starts making a gurgling sound. It is also possible that the tobacco you're smoking is too moist, in which case a little 

drying time may be required before you smoke it. 

As with most things pipe related, much of it is personal preference. You will learn over time what suits you best. 

Did You Know? 

A White Spot pipe by Alfred Dunhill goes through 

96 different processes before it's finished. 

Did You Know? 

Ebauchon and plateaux are the two main shapes 

of briar block cuts. Most briar pipes are 

made from ebauchon blocks but almost all pipes 

with a striking straight grain are crafted from plateaux. 



How To Empty Your Pipe 

So, you've just tried your first bowl! Hopefully you're satisfied with your experience and now it's time to empty what's left in 

the pipe. Of course there are various ways to dispose of your ash but here are some pointers: 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Never knock your pipe against a hard surface, you risk damaging the pipe. 

Even if the ash in your pipe seems cool, dispose of it thoughtfully and in a manner to reduce the risk of starting a fire. 

Have a spoon tool handy to help remove dottle, if there is any. Dottle is a sticky, tarry tobacco residue sometime 

found at the bottom of a pipe bowl after it has been smoked. 

Leave your pipe to rest before cleaning and using it again. Not doing so can cause the pipe to crack or snap. This 

may mean that two or three pipes are better to have than just one. 

Pipe tools: 

To empty your pipe, turn it upside down over a suitable container. See our range of pipe ashtrays. Tap the foot of the pipe 

with your finger a few times and hopefully all the ash will empty out. If not, take your spoon tool and gently scoop the ash and 

dottle out. Be careful not to scrape the chamber wall too much as you may scrape the carbon cake away. 

Pipe ashtrays: 

Cleaning Your Pipe 

To get the best out of your pipe, clean it regularly. Most people swear by the practice of cleaning their pipe after every 

smoke. You'll certainly want to clean it after two or three smokes. The cleaner your pipe, the better it performs, the longer it 

lasts and the tastier your tobacco. 

Make sure your pipe has cooled thoroughly and rested for at least an hour before you clean it. This ensures it has properly 

contracted and settled after being smoked. Different pipes require different cleaning methods depending on their design and 

parts but the basics are as follows: 

● 

● 

Disassemble your pipe carefully. For a cob, all that is required is to remove the stem. If you've used a filter, remove it. 

Take a clean pipe cleaner and dip the end into your 

cleaning solution. Now, insert the pipe cleaner into 

the stem of the pipe. The slot end, opposite the tenon 

is best. Push the pipe cleaner through the stem and 

out of the air hole while slightly turning the cleaner and 

stem in opposite directions. Pull the pipe cleaner 

through and out of the air hole at the tenon end. If the 

cleaner is dirty and the the stem still needs further 

cleaning, simply take another pipe cleaner and repeat 

the process. Once clean, rinse with warm water and 

set aside for drying. 



● 

Take the body of your pipe and soak a pipe cleaner in 

solution. Insert the cleaner into the mortise and shank 

of the pipe and clean in a similar fashion to the stem, 

without passing it through. 

● 

With a drop of cleaning solution in the chamber of 

your pipe, you can gently clear any tar residue by 

folding a pipe cleaner in half and using the bent end to 

swab the bowl clean. Now rinse the body of your pipe 

in warm water and set aside for drying. 

● 

Once dried, you may reassemble your pipe for further use. 

Sometimes a quick dry-clean is all that's required, or all you have time for. Sometimes a more thorough reaming and clean 

is needed, with a bit of polish to shine your pipe nicely. 

Pipe cleaning products: 

Did You Know? 

Any person from Virginia in the early 18 th century could pay their taxes with tobacco instead of money. 



Breaking in your pipe 

Briar pipes, though durable and heat resistant may need you to build up a carbon cake to protect the wood from burning. 

Some come pre-painted with carbon, others are bare wood when new. Meerschaum and clay pipes don't require a carbon 

cake and in fact caking these may damage the pipe. With cob pipes it's debatable whether a cake is necessary but it's 

always good to practice with one or two before you try a briar. 

A carbon cake is a thin layer of carbon that lines the inside of the chamber. It's created as and when you smoke your pipe 

and it keeps the hot embers away from direct contact with the wood. Without a cake, your pipe may become damaged. 

Here is one method to create a cake: 

1 First, take your pipe and with a wet finger, wipe the 

chamber wall so it becomes moist, not dripping wet. 

2 Without drying, lightly fill your pipe a third or less full. Now 

light your tobacco and puff very gently, so that the tobacco is 

barely burning. 

Once your tobacco is consumed, empty out the remains 

carefully and let your pipe rest. 

3 Upon the next smoke, after cleaning the stem, proceed to 

wipe the chamber wall gently with a wet finger until moist. 

4 Fill to the same level or slightly above the amount you filled 

before and smoke the tobacco gently once again. 

56 Keep repeating this process until you are smoking a full 

bowl and your pipe has a layer of carbon lining the chamber. 

It takes time but it's well worth the effort to prolong the life of 

your pipe and improve the taste of your smoke. 

Did You Know? 

In 1878, Samuel and younger brother John Edward Gawith 

decided amicably to go their separate ways. 

Both companies, Samuel Gawith and Gawith Hoggarth have 

co-existed in a peaceful, friendly but competitive way. 

On 18 th March 2015, the two companies merged as one. 

They are now under the same roof but still 

produce their separate brands. 

Some people use tobaccos with a higher sugar content to speed the process up, as it's mainly the carbon from burning 

sugars that creates the cake. Some use aromatic tobaccos with their added sugar that are quick to build cakes. We would 

advise that using a sweet Virginia blend is best as they have a good sugar content and won't impact the taste of future 

tobaccos you smoke with a strong flavour ghost. 

After a time, when your cake becomes too thick, you may need to scrape some away gently with a reamer. You won't 

need to do this often. 

Reaming Tools 



Thank you 

As stated so many times throughout this guide, the way in which you smoke your pipe is down to your own personal 

preference. You may find that you alter your smoking method from time to time or adopt some of the techniques other people 

use. We hope that you continue to learn the many aspects of pipe smoking that make it so pleasurable to so many. You may 

go on to seek out the elusive “Holy Grail” of pipe tobaccos and on your adventure to find that perfect blend, discover some of 

the finest treasures out there. You may try tweaking an existing blend or creating your own blend and share recipes with 

friends. You might try a certain blend in different pipes to discover which pipes suit different tobaccos better. Maybe you'll 

introduce others to pipe pleasures. Whatever the future has in store for you, we hope to be able to provide you with the tools 

and tobaccos you require. 

Our friendly team will gladly aid you and our easy to navigate website is full of information on the vast number of products 

we stock. Can't find a product you want? Why not make a request for it? You can contact us by: 

Telephone: 0113 2177723 

Email: 

enquiries@smoke-king.co.uk 

Post: 

Smoke-King Online Tobacconist 

37 The Headrow 

Leeds 

LS1 6PU 

United Kingdom

Beginner's Guide To Pipe Smoking

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