It is important that the tobacco be properly humidified before smoking. Let sprinkle the tobacco into the bowl until it is filled. Tamp the tobacco down gently until it feels springy. Repeat two more times until the bowl is almost filled to the top. The proper amount of tension with each successive level of tobacco will determinate the amount of resulting draught. Proper draught will result in an easy cool smoke, whereas packing the tobacco too tightly will require stronger draught of air through the tobacco, and cause the pipe to smoke too hot. Experience will teach you what is the right amount of tamp pressure required with each level of tobacco.
Remove any loose filamentos of tobacco that may be resting over the edge of the bowl, and light the tobacco. Use a quality butane lighter filled with premium brand butane, or wooden matches. Avoid using low quality inexpensive brands of butane, as well as the paper and wax matches used in Europe. If using a wooden match, allow head to burn off before lighting the tobacco. The sulphur in the match can alter the taste of the tobacco.
Apply flame to the entire surface of tobacco, drawing frequently but gently. The initial lighting will cause the tobacco to raise up out of the pipe. This can be remedied by tamping down with a tamper. Once levelled, relight and draw with a slow, long purposeful rhythm.
Do not inhale the smoke into your lungs: draw it into the mouth, savouring its flavour and gently releasing it back into air allowing the particular aroma of whatever tobacco you have chosen to come to its full flavour. Occasionally, you will have to tamp down the tobacco a little, remove some of the ash build-up. Sometimes your pipe may go out; this is normal! Do not buy into the myth that “one must not allow a pipe to go out until the last piece of tobacco has been burned”. This is not true. Re-lighting your pipe several times during the course of a smoke is a normal and proper procedure.
There does come a point in time where re-lighting your pipe only allows for a draught or two and then needs to be re-lit again. This usually will occur towards the end of the bowl, possibly due to the tobacco being too compressed or too moist. If this occurs, it is best to discard the remaining tobacco.
After you have finished smoking your pipe, it is best to allow it to cool before cleaning it. Use a pick or similar pipe tool to remove the remaining tobacco from the bowl with a gentle motion, being careful not to damage the inside of the bowl. Never scrape of dig out the bottom of the bowl. Next, blow strongly through the mouthpiece to dislodge any remaining pieces of tobacco near the draught hole or in the bowl. Then run a pipe cleaner through the mouthpiece into the bowl several times to absorb any moisture or residue that may be present. Your pipe will then be ready for next pleasurable smoking experience.
There are a few things you should never do with your pipe:
Never strike the top of the bowl against a hard object when attempting to empty bowl.
Never remove the mouthpiece while pipe is still hot or warm. This can result in cracks at mouthpiece end of shank. Always allow pipe to cool first.
If your pipes bowl gets hot to the point where it is uncomfortable to hold, put it down and allow it to cool off. Make sure you have followed the previous instructions on how to properly pack or load your tobacco into the bowl.
Use conditioning kits to keep your pipe in pristine condition. Polishes and cleaners are available at almost any tobacco store.
