How do you hold your pipe?

[ChiefIlliniwek]

So as a new piper, I'm still trying to figure this stuff out. How do you hold your pipe when you smoke? As in, what percentage of the time is it in your mouth vs in your hand? I've had a lot of trouble keeping my pipe lit with my first few bowls. These smokes have been out in my three seasons room where wind could be an issue, and I've kept the pipe mostly in my hand except for when I was taking a draw. Most bowls have been a struggle, and I constantly have to relight, but this could be because of my crappy packing method.

Last night I smoked two bowls in the garage while I was working, and kept the pipe mostly in my mouth while I worked. I have to say, it felt pretty manly sanding down wood trim while smoking a pipe. But back to the subject, I didn't have any trouble with relights last night. I only needed a couple over two bowls. If I thought the smoke was getting wet or too hot, I would set the pipe down. But after doing this, I usually needed a few puffs to get the bowl going again, and it wasn't until leaving the pipe in my mouth for a bit that I would get a decent amount of smoke output.

Thoughts? Advice for a noob? Is it frowned upon to leave it in your mouth? Are there pros & cons for one method vs the other?

 

[The_Rev]

With my hands

 

[jmartins]

I am going to start with the how you hold the pipe...This will be frowned upon but do what is most comfortable for you, that is the easiest thing it will allow you to find the full joy in your experience and that is all that matters.

As for the relighting you will learn slowly on how to pack a pipe. There are several threads but I use the 3 handshake method: 1st pinch is as if you were shaking a childs hand, once your finger is in the pipe do a 180 degree rotation that will spin the tobacco slightly. 2nd pinch is as if you were shaking a woman's hand, a little firmer but still a gentle touch, do the rotation with you finger inside. 3rd and final pinch is a gentlemen's handshake firm not hard but solid do a final rotation all rotations in the same directions and that should be a solid and perfect pack...that is what works for me but to each their own give it a try and let me know.

Cheers and happy smoking,
JM

 

[rdomfoto]

By leaving the pipe in your mouth, you'll be sending small amounts of air down the stem/shank just by virtue of breathing and that helps keep the baccy lit. When you set it down, there's no air movement through the bowl so the pipe will go out after a minute or two. It's certainly not frowned upon - if you look through the "What's in my bowl" thread, you'll see that a lot of the brothers have pipe bits on their stems to prevent teeth chatter and make it easier to hold in their mouth.

That being said, I personally don't like holding the pipe in my mouth when I am not actively drawing on it for a couple of reasons: my jaw gets tired and as saliva builds up in my mouth, it can get into the stem and cause gurgling, etc.

So, I hold it in my hands or, if I am reading a book or doing stuff on my iPad, I'll set it down on a rest. If I get distracted and don't take a draw in time, I have no problem with doing a relight. Relighting a pipe is not the same as relighting a cigar that's gone out. Most of my bowls require a relight or two throughout the smoke.

 

[rdomfoto]

I am going to start with the how you hold the pipe...This will be frowned upon but do what is most comfortable for you, that is the easiest thing it will allow you to find the full joy in your experience and that is all that matters.

I could not agree more - and pipers are really a laid back group so you'll have a hard time finding someone who will criticize you for holding it in a way that lets you appreciate the hobby.

As for the relighting you will learn slowly on how to pack a pipe. There are several threads but I use the 3 handshake method: 1st pinch is as if you were shaking a childs hand, once your finger is in the pipe do a 180 degree rotation that will spin the tobacco slightly. 2nd pinch is as if you were shaking a woman's hand, a little firmer but still a gentle touch, do the rotation with you finger inside. 3rd and final pinch is a gentlemen's handshake firm not hard but solid do a final rotation all rotations in the same directions and that should be a solid and perfect pack...that is what works for me but to each their own give it a try and let me know.

Cheers and happy smoking,
JM

After finding the method of "shake a child's hand, shake a lady's hand, shake a gentleman's hand" was leaving the baccy too loosely packed, I tried a variation - "shake a gentleman's hand, shake my ex-wife's hand, SHAKE MY MOTHER-FUCKING ADULTEROUS EX-WIFE'S HAND". That packed it just a wee too tight LOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[jmartins]

I could not agree more - and pipers are really a laid back group so you'll have a hard time finding someone who will criticize you for holding it in a way that lets you appreciate the hobby.


After finding the method of "shake a child's hand, shake a lady's hand, shake a gentleman's hand" was leaving the baccy too loosely packed, I tried a variation - "shake a gentleman's hand, shake my ex-wife's hand, SHAKE MY MOTHER-FUCKING ADULTEROUS EX-WIFE'S HAND". That packed it just a wee too tight LOLOLOLOLOLOL

BAHAHAHAHA that is awesome...I found it loose in the beginning but I solely learned how I preferred the pack but I like your thinking but pipes crack that way LOL

 

[rdomfoto]

BAHAHAHAHA that is awesome...I found it loose in the beginning but I solely learned how I preferred the pack but I like your thinking but pipes crack that way LOL

Probably didn't help that I was curled up in the corner, rocking back and forth, crying while I was packing it that way.

 

[jmartins]

Probably didn't help that I was curled up in the corner, rocking back and forth, crying while I was packing it that way.

Sorry for the thread jacking but I am done...that is why you had to relight the baccy was soaked with tears...LOL

 

[rdomfoto]

Sorry for the thread jacking but I am done...that is why you had to relight the baccy was soaked with tears...LOL

I was wondering why no one else mentioned picking up hints of saline in that blend!

</threadjack>

 

[SeaGarr]

One of the first things I look at when buying a pipe is its weight.

I like keeping the pipe in my mouth and a light pipe alows me that pleasure. 1oz is premo. 1.5oz is about as high as I have gone.

Hence - I smoke a lot of smaller pipes lol.

But it's a journey and who knows what I'll prefer tomorrow - more importantly. Who knows what you will. Have fun, discover and enjoy the ride. The only "right" way to hold a pipe is the way you enjoy most. .

 

[The_Rev]

All kidding aside, hold it how your like. Pipe smokers are WAY less uptight than cigar smokers about such etiquette.

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

All kidding aside, hold it how your like. Pipe smokers are WAY less uptight than cigar smokers about such etiquette.

Lol. You can tell I'm a cigar smoker because I'm worried about etiquette and everything. I know it all boils down to personal preference in the end, but I didn't know if one way smokes better than the other with a pipe. With cigars, it's either in my hand or on my Stinky ash tray when I'm not taking a draw. With my pipe before last night I kept it in my hand and have had to constantly relight, but again, that could have been my pack. Last night it was mostly in my mouth, and both bowls were fantastic.

I think this is why I was afraid to start piping, so much to learn.....

 

[BrewinHooligan]

The right way to hold a pipe is the way you enjoy it best, and I think we all agree on that here. If I am working and need my hands I clench, otherwise I hold it in my hand. As far as packing goes, I am a rebel and just stuff in a few layers increasing pressure as I go. I then test the cold draw and will pack down until I get some slight resistance in the draw, then light and off I go. If I pack too tight, I dig out the baccy and try again. Never stressed relights. When it starts to get hot I tamp down and if that doesn't help I let it sit and cool, relight, and go again.

 

[The_Rev]

The right way to hold a pipe is the way you enjoy it best, and I think we all agree on that here. If I am working and need my hands I clench, otherwise I hold it in my hand. As far as packing goes, I am a rebel and just stuff in a few layers increasing pressure as I go. I then test the cold draw and will pack down until I get some slight resistance in the draw, then light and off I go. If I pack too tight, I dig out the baccy and try again. Never stressed relights. When it starts to get hot I tamp down and if that doesn't help I let it sit and cool, relight, and go again.

As our brother Grrrr609 says, "pack it and light it". It's supposed to be relaxing. Don't turn it into an anxious task. Just say fuck it and smoke. Sometimes I relight twice. Sometimes 20 times. Who gives a shit? Enjoy.

 

[Shlippy]

There are two types of smokers, those who sometimes smoke while they're doing something else and those who never do. I found that I can't multitask so whenever I'm smoking I'm usually just sitting doing nothing. Maybe reading is all. But even that can be challenging for my simple mind. So I always hold the cigar or pipe in my hand, never in my teeth.

Those who walk the dog or mow the lawn or perform brain surgery while smoking, they spend more time holding it in their mouths.

 

[K Williams]

By the bowl...

 

[K Williams]

With my hands

LMAO!!

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

I knew u should have expected the smartass answers when I posted this. Thanks for the laughs guys!

 

[The_Rev]

I am going to start with the how you hold the pipe...This will be frowned upon but do what is most comfortable for you, that is the easiest thing it will allow you to find the full joy in your experience and that is all that matters.

As for the relighting you will learn slowly on how to pack a pipe. There are several threads but I use the 3 handshake method: 1st pinch is as if you were shaking a childs hand, once your finger is in the pipe do a 180 degree rotation that will spin the tobacco slightly. 2nd pinch is as if you were shaking a woman's hand, a little firmer but still a gentle touch, do the rotation with you finger inside. 3rd and final pinch is a gentlemen's handshake firm not hard but solid do a final rotation all rotations in the same directions and that should be a solid and perfect pack...that is what works for me but to each their own give it a try and let me know.

Cheers and happy smoking,
JM

Try this as well: