Tough Economy Calls for Change - Smoke a Pipe!

During the Great Depression money was tight. Alcohol was outlawed so the only "legal" vice of the times was Tobacco. Cigarettes were pretty inexpensive in those days by today's standards; about a dime for a package of 20 smokes. Doesn't seem like a lot, even for then, but as money got tighter and tighter and tighter folks looked for ways to cut back. A logical change was to quit smoking the "butts" and try a pipe, a much less expensive approach. A dime pack of cigarettes might last a cigarette smoker one day, while a dimes worth of pipe tobacco could be smoked and enjoyed for am entire week, or more. Pipe smoking became an economical, pleasurable pastime and to some a hobby, as opposed to the senseless habit of cigarettes.

No one admits to a Depression quite yet, but it's no secret that times are hard. Many have stopped smoking cigarettes for health reasons and some due to their high cost, but there are still a ton of cigarette smokers who can't or don't want to stop smoking. For those in that group, a good pipe and some pleasant tobacco may fill the bill.

Corn Cob pipes are a good choice for a beginner, although there is nothing wrong with a good briar pipe. Corn Cob pipes require no "Break In" (time required to build a carbon cake in a pipe) where briar pipes do. More about in an article yet to come. No matter what your approach to pipe smoking is however, give yourself 4 to 6 weeks to get the hang of it whether you start out with a Corn Cob, Briar or Meerschaum pipe. Once you begin to enjoy a pipe (and you will if you allow yourself some time) you will wonder why you ever smoked cigarettes.

After selecting a pipe for your new lifestyle, comes selecting your first tobacco. I say "first" as once you get into pipe smoking you will want to try several different brands, blends and cuts. That's part of the "Hobby" of pipe smoking. My suggestion for your first go is an "Aromatic" blend. Don't worry about tobacco brands yet, just the tobacco. Start out with a mild tobacco. Most tobaccos containers (pouches) at convenience stores either have a picture of the tobacco on them, or are clear so you can see what's inside. Pick one that is light brown in color. It the pouch says "Aromatic" allow for say 5% of the tobacco to have some darker pieces in it, but stay on the light side. For now stay away from "Full Bodied" or English blends. You will eventually want to try several, but they tend to be stronger and without a "taste" for a pipe, may not be to your liking... yet.

There are several articles on packing, lighting and smoking pipes on the Internet. I plan to add several here in the future too. Rule of thumb is to pack your tobacco in your new pipe in layers. That is, sprinkle tobacco into the bowl until it is full, then, using your finger, press it down into the bowl until it feels "spongy", not hard or tight or too loose. Continue the process until the bowl is full. Light your pipe by holding a butane lighter just above the tobacco and draw in. You don't need to "puff", just draw air through the pipe at the speed you would normally breath. Once the top of the tobacco has lit... STOP! You have just done a "charing light". Now use a tamper (any round, heat safe thing) to lightly press down on the top of the tobacco to flatten the ash that has "domed", the result of your charing light. Now relight your pipe as before and you're on your way.

Pros of Pipe Smoking:

1. Healthier than cigarettes by a mile!

2. 80% cheaper than cigarettes (more about that in an upcoming article)

3. A pleasant pastime

4. A wonderful hobby:

Trying different tobaccos

Deciding what pipes (material, style) you like best

Possibly collecting pipes for the the pipes themselves

Buying and selling pipes on eBay to upgrade your collection

Blending different tobaccos together for the "Perfect Smoke"

5. Instead of being shunned for your cigarette "smell", you will be complimented for the wonderful aroma of a pipe.

6. No more stinky ashtrays sitting around.

7. Your "Cigarette Cough" will disappear.

Cons of Pipe Smoking:

1. You're still smoking.

2. You may become afflicted with "PAD" or Pipe Aquisition Disorder; an uncontrolable urge to buy beautiful pipes.

3. You find out that there are hundreds of wonderful tobaccos available, most at very reasonable prices, and you want to try ALL of them!

The one good thing that came from the Great Depression was the Tobacco Smoking Pipe. Cheaper, healthier, user friendly, enjoyed by people around the pipe smoker and a wonderful hobby if you really get the bug. During and after Depression days and until today there were and are talented pipemakers making beautiful pipes (some are truly works of art). With times being hard now, it is my hope that more people give up cigarettes and learn about the economical and pleasureable positives of pipe smoking.

Stop, think, save and ENJOY!