I have two stacks and like them for flakes, well dried and screwed in. Smoke slow and figure most tampers won't fit. You might need a long nail with a small head to suit the pipe. Yes - they are hard to smoke to the bottom with anything even a bit too moist.
I like Everclear cause it works and it's cheap. Some like booze cause it works and imparts a special flavor; and others like 91% isopropyl alcohol cause it works. The Everclear and the isopropyl (91%) have less water and let a pipe dry out a bit faster. And you know that an incautious alky...
These guys think we're OK with it but you could ask over there. This is the sort of thing they like to talk about (when they're done talking about pipes) http://christianpipesmokers.net/index.php.
I'm totally OK with it if that helps.
And I've made it my business that it isn't my business...
Just to be contrary I've had good luck with the Sr. Reamer in all but a couple of small pipes; it's quick, easy on briar and shaves clean. I don't own a bowl over 3/4", though. True, the bottom of the bowl needs to be hand scraped/dressed if required.
What you said. I'm a Carter Hall kinda guy. The reason is, I first smoked PA in a (probably wet) pipe that made it taste ashy and cigarette-like. I first smoked CH in an old cob - smooth and sweet.
Wekkum.
Strong blends: I stumbled into pipe smoking on curiosity and here discovered that, for me, flavors were VERY dynamic, "participation" with the pipe was fun and the desire for nicotine went from seriously required (with cigs and Copenhagen) to incidental (with cigars) to non-existent. I...
I like most of my pipes, bent straight, meer, briar, cob, etc. I like most of the shapes, too.
But once you hold a bulldog it's hard not to marvel at it's simple, unexpected, understated, ergonomic perfection. Love the dawg.
(And just because "cob" rhymes with "snob" we can all have our own fuzzy feeling about briars and meers and cobs and hookahs and all that jazz and still we get along just fine, right? We're all brothers, right? Oh please please please say "Yes!" Ooooooooooo - I hate a "My $3.00 cob is better...
I am the same way about a coffee, pipes and cigars. If I have a hint of a cold I totally lose interest in them all. No smell, no glory?
Oh well, if you ever go back to coffee we need to talk about home roasting. Once you have fresh roasted you won't go back. Where's the coffee forum around...
Dag... Speaking as a Carolinian, there is no life without corn. Corndogs. Hushpuppies. White liquor. Cornbread. Pipes.
A cob is a rock-solid smoking pipe in my book. They make burley shine. C'mon - you can't beat Carter Hall or Prince Albert from a cob every now and then; and they are...
A cotton ball and:
190-proof Everclear (5% water) sure dries out fast
91% (unscented, 9% water) iso-alky dries out not quite as fast
70% iso (30% water) dries out slower
80-100 proof booze (50-60% water) dries slower still
It all seems to sweeten a pipe. I like Everclear 'cause it's cheap...
The stuff instantly inspired me when I popped the lid on my first tin and saw the shiny embossed gold foil. I guess I'm a sucker for shiny gold foil. The nice presentation worked its magic and, all the way to ash, MacB NF never disappoints. It's VA for lazy people - easy to smoke. It's VA...
Is it time to return to the fold? What was your methodology back then, Jim? Are you still staying caffeinated?
Thanks all for the kind welcome. Nice to see all the brother Carolinians here. (Go 'Canes.)