Which varieties do you smoke?

To get some idea of what might be a more popular choice for future raffle blends, I've added a new poll (see sidebar). You can enter multiple answers, so feel free to tick every box if you have no single specific blend you smoke.

The results won't make the decision final....after all, I'm sure I'm not the only person who likes to try something different.

Paragon and Halcyon II

I've just tried a couple of new (to me) products for polishing my pipes and have to say that I'm very impressed. So I thought I'd share the results.

Until now, I've been using Renaissance Wax to polish my pipes and it's been doing a very good job, particularly by the time I've applied several coats. A little goes a long way (a 65ml tin has lasted over a year, even using it for more than pipes) but I needed some more so I thought I'd check out some alternatives before restocking.

Fine Pipes International have developed Paragon and Halcyon waxes as an alternative to Carnauba wax (that needs to be applied using a buffer). You can purchase directly from them, or as I did from their ebay store. I've got a couple of sandblast pipes as well as smooth, so I decided to try both...about £10 for the two jars and they arrived within a week!

The Halcyon II has quite a runny texture but don't let that put you off, just apply a very thin coat to your pipe's bowl (I used my fingertip) then let it dry a bit before polishing with a soft cloth. I was a bit impatient the first time and buffed too quickly...leaving the pipe to sit makes a huge difference to the resulting finish. In future, I'll do a few pipes at a time, giving the wax a chance to set. It's a bit fiddly getting in all the rustication on a sandblast so I'll try it with a soft brush next time. On a smooth pipe, it's very easy to apply and gives a lovely finish.

The Paragon wax is thicker and harder, similar to butter that's been in the fridge. However, using my fingertip again melted the wax as I was applying it giving a nice even coverage. Again, leave it to "set" before polishing with a soft, fine cloth (I used a yellow household duster that I keep in my pipe drawer). A little goes a very long way, so apply sparingly. Fine Pipes recommend the Paragon is used only on smooth pipes.

Both waxes give a lovely, rich, shine to the briar that feels very nice to the touch...I'm anticipating that additional coats will just make it even more lustrous.

Hints for the Pipe Smoker.

The following is taken from the insert that came with my latest pipe (a Peterson Ebony 303 Standard System), but it's equally applicable to other makes.

1/. For the first few smokes, only half fill your pipe, firmly but not too tightly. Light up evenly and smoke slowly, using your tamper to keep the tobacco firm inside the bowl.

2/. By gradually increasing the amount of tobacco, you will ensure an even build up of carbon lining, but do not allow this to become excessive as a surplus of carbon "cake" may crack the bowl. The ideal thickness is 1.5mm

3/. When cleaning the bowl or removing "cake", use only a blunt edged tool or pipe scraper. Never use a sharply pointed knife, as this could penetrate the bottom of the bowl.

4/. For heavy smokers, it is recommended that you keep three or four pipes in use alternately. This will ensure optimum smoking pleasure and longer life to your briar.

5/. Avoid smoking a new pipe in windy or outdoors conditions, as the increased draught may cause it to flame and consequently burn.

6/. Always tap your pipe out in your hand, or use a pipe tool. Heavy knocking of a pipe or rough usage should be avoided.

Road Trip?

I'd like to try another Saturday afternoon meeting in July, in addition to the regular meeting...I've pencilled in Saturday 2nd July.

To hopefully increase EPC's exposure and appeal, I'd like to hold the meeting somewhere else than The Cuddie Brae (not that there's anything wrong with where we are).

If you live anywhere in the Central Belt and know of a nice, pipe friendly venue locally (a reasonably sheltered beer garden would be ideal), please let me know.

June meeting.

Last night's meeting was graced by some of the nicest weather we've enjoyed our pipes in...a welcome relief after the recent wind and rain!

There were only three of us enjoying the evening sunshine. However, John and myself were very happy to welcome Brian as a new pipe smoker, joining us from the Dark Side (another cigarette smoker wanting to "save" some money, whilst still enjoying his nicotine....wait until he discovers PAD and TAD!).

I'm still breaking in a couple of recent acquisitions (two Peterson 303 Standards, a Sandblast and a Red finish), so I enjoyed them both filled with St Bruno Ready Rubbed. I've added an update to the recent post about the change in cut, I'm getting more used to the new style RR...it just needs to be dried a bit then rubbed out a bit more. I then joined John in enjoying a bowl of Peterson's Special Reserve 2009* in my new "Aromatic" pipe...a Pete 317. John firing up a no-name bent Billiard whilst Brian was trying Gawith Hoggarth and Co's. Curly Cut DeLuxe in a Dr Plumb 9mm filter pipe. John and I were happy to share our limited experience and give Brian a few pointers on packing and lighting...I'd have welcomed similar real life advice when I started, rather than relying on trial and error and some grainy YouTube videos.

*John was the winner of the postponed raffle (he'd already bought a strip of tickets at the last meeting)...we've raised £20 for the club's funds, which I will use to get a couple more tins for future raffles (two 50g tins of different varieties should be a good start).

2,000 views!

I'm pleasantly surprised to be able to announce that this humble blog has now passed 2,000 views (since November 2010)!

Unfortunately, the numbers attending meetings aren't growing at quite the same rate lol.

From blogger's stats, I can see that we're getting a lot of readers from overseas so I'd like to extend an open invitation to any of them to attend any of the meetings if they're in Edinburgh on the second Thursday of the month...and if you're visit doesn't coincide, feel free to get in touch anyway, I'll gladly join you in a bowl at other times.

We are not alone!

Eagle eyed readers might have noticed the new picture, in the side-bar to the right. This is a link to "Pipe Smoking Bloggers"...a growing community of pipe smokers who blog. I found it via another blog that I was already following, The Pipe Smoker.

There are already several interesting blogs in the ring and I'm looking forward to discovering more on future visits.