I need newbie help please

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:36 pm

Just purchased some Old Gowrie, Haunted Bookshop, Westminster, and Haddo's along with bristles and cleaners. However I also purchased a gorgeous Peterson pipe that caught my eye. Figure that will be a nice tobacco selection to test out along with another pipe to break in to put in my rotation. Once I get a more focused direction on taste I'll start a cellaring some of these!

Joined : 11 Nov 2008 Posts : 104

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:04 am

You're off to a solid start there!

Quick word of advice on your new Peterson pipe: many of them are "dip" finished, which means that the finish on the outside of the bowl is also covering the inside--i.e., you're going to taste smoldering finish along with your smoldering tobacco. If that's the case with yours, you can carefuly remove the finish inside the bowl by swabbing it out with Grain Alcohol (or overproof vodka, or any other netural, high-proof edible spirit), or by sanding, or some combination of the two.
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Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:27 pm

Excellent tobacco choices!! When you get a chance, try GLP's Embarcadero. Methinks you will enjoy it!

FTRPLT

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:46 pm

Just to update - sat down with some overproof rum tonight and a giant batch of bristle cleaners and went to work on my inherited pipes. He had Alzheimer's for 10 years before he passed, so I'm sure these pipes were pretty neglected (especially since I got his favorites that he smoked all the time). I think this is the reason for the incredible amount of gunk I pulled out of them.

I couldn't hardly get a filter through his all-time fave. I didn't think I'd ever get it clean. They're all clean now and resting in front of me here with dry filters in them - awaiting their turn in my rotation.

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:48 am

Nothing like a clean pipe! Very Happy

I am kinda of anal about my pipes being clean. I never let them sit overnight with tobacco in them, not have'm been cleaned.
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Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:03 am

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:05 pm

Subject: Re: I need newbie help please Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:09 pm

I just use zip locks for temporary storage, glass is better for long time storage. For me the thought of all those chemicals & oils leaching from the plastic to my baccy is not very appetizing. But thats just me.
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My pipe of briar, my open fire, A book that's not too new."
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Joined : 17 Dec 2007 Posts : 134

Your proposed order is great in that it will expose you to the major tobaccos, which I would number as:

Virginia
Burley
Latakia
Oriental

Once you know what you like best, C&D prides itself on working with a customer, with iterations of a blend, blend 1-blendX, to arrive at a custom blend just for that customer. Beware however that they only sell by the lb. Their prices are fair, to my mind.

That said, C&D makes many, many blends, and the chances of you finding a blend that you'll really enjoy, are good.
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"Mandrake, I enjoy the company of women but do deny them my essence."

Mike