Kyle Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 11,988
- Reaction score
- 7
We've all seen it, heard it, perhaps done it: a nutty idea that a pipe must be lit at all times to be a "seasoned" or "experienced" pipe smoker. It probably comes about from tobacco-delivery-systems' cousins, the cigarette and/or the cigar. They almost never go out, so why not the pipe?
A pipe was brought in to my local B&M by a very "experienced" and vocal pipe smoker, along with another pipe with the same problem, to see if either could be fixed--he was quite upset and mystified by the problem of his holey pipes. Further query discovered most of his pipes had varying issues such as this.
It wouldn't have gathered as much attention as it did, if it were not for the guy criticizing us, a much younger crowd busy enjoying our pipes in the shop at the time of his arrival, about how many spent matches lay in the ashtray and lights he saw happening. It was this man's wise, outspoken opinion that hard, fast puffing was not only the way to truly smoke a pipe (a real man's method), but keeping it lit by one match/light was paramount.
Those of us who know better, oddly enough, know better. Be it scientific ideas of flow dynamics, burn rates or design, or simply that our tongues and pipes last longer, perform better, and gain more enjoyment when we're not troubled with simple misconceptions and questionable advice.
Those of us that don't know better, that get caught up in decades of bad habits, get this:
Obviously, this poor pipe is a hopeless case (as well as the former owner). It is now proudly archived at the shop as a tool to show briar is not "fireproof," excess reaming is not suggested, and ultimately--don't worry about re-lights. Irony is alive and well.
(Photo Courtesy Harold at Tinder Box Reno)
8)
A pipe was brought in to my local B&M by a very "experienced" and vocal pipe smoker, along with another pipe with the same problem, to see if either could be fixed--he was quite upset and mystified by the problem of his holey pipes. Further query discovered most of his pipes had varying issues such as this.
It wouldn't have gathered as much attention as it did, if it were not for the guy criticizing us, a much younger crowd busy enjoying our pipes in the shop at the time of his arrival, about how many spent matches lay in the ashtray and lights he saw happening. It was this man's wise, outspoken opinion that hard, fast puffing was not only the way to truly smoke a pipe (a real man's method), but keeping it lit by one match/light was paramount.
Those of us who know better, oddly enough, know better. Be it scientific ideas of flow dynamics, burn rates or design, or simply that our tongues and pipes last longer, perform better, and gain more enjoyment when we're not troubled with simple misconceptions and questionable advice.
Those of us that don't know better, that get caught up in decades of bad habits, get this:
Obviously, this poor pipe is a hopeless case (as well as the former owner). It is now proudly archived at the shop as a tool to show briar is not "fireproof," excess reaming is not suggested, and ultimately--don't worry about re-lights. Irony is alive and well.
(Photo Courtesy Harold at Tinder Box Reno)
8)