Pipe Smoking Tobacco

Please read the articles recently added to www.pipesmokersintelligencer.org to view what our ELECTED goverment officials are trying to dump on the citizens of America who use and enjoy pipe tobacco- You might just be surprised.
I challenge the pipesmoking citizens of our country-The Great United States of America--to review lessons learned in the history of our country, where tobacco was grown, sold AND TAXED--from the first English colonists, to the political/economic condition of modern times; today.
I propose this: Tobacco history tells us, that at the discovery of North America, the original Native peoples gave tobacco as a divine gift to the new explorers and colonists, for the benefit of goodwill and happiness and peace (and maybe a few religious benefits of "The Great Spirit", as well). Let's give the tobacco industry back to the original native peoples of this land we share--and the land upon which they live is indeed their sovereign land- they self-govern it. When the native Americans cultivate, manufacture and sell tobacco on their own land, that would make for more simple and direct benefits to them--and probably benefit pipesmokers--without unfair taxes and interferences from anti-tobacco elected politicians who can not dictate ANYTHING Native Americans can do on their land. I believe tobacco is a divine gift, it is grown and crafted to be enjoyed in moderation as one of my personal pursuits of happiness and liberty. I'm sure George Washington would have agreed with me. --Eric Whitaker

Thank a Native American person for the divine gift of tobacco--don't reward a corrupt politician with more tobacco tax money!

Recently, I was looking for a good value pipe (as I most always do)--and I discovered a new line from Savinelli called the "Venezia" pipe. It is made from good grade of briar, is naturally stained a plum/dark reddish color--and is finished in matte. The price is very reasonable, and my favorite so far is a shape 101 Billiard. The reason the pipe is one of my favs is that after handling and smoking the pipe for a few weeks(between resting and cleaning) the surface finish changed dramatically: It went from a matte to a rich, shiny patina finish--something you just can't get unless you get a really great and rare estate, that was not thrashed by someone. Note: it takes a very hard grade of briar to achieve the matte finish--the process by which it's done would not work well with really soft, green briar wood, but on the contrary--this pipe finish requires a hard briar burl from the start. My pipe has no "blank spots of the grain"--it has beautiful grain coverage around the entire pipe (no soft spots or sap wood)--so it will be easier to break in. The mouthpiece (vulcanite) was extremely well polished right out the box. If you compare the Savinelli Duca Carlo to the Venezia, the Venezia is made from a higher grade of wood. Personally, I believe the Venezia is made out of better wood than the Pisa. Experience tells me that usually a pipe with a light colored stain is made out of superior wood, as the pipe makers have a harder time hiding possible flaws, with a better visibility of the grain, that the lighter stains afford. Get yourself a Venezia, try it out and enjoy it, they are very reasonable in price--and see what you think. I bought mine from Gene, at
www.Outwesttobacco.com
Enjoy Fine Tobacco in a Great Pipe! -Eric

Ditch the cigs--buy a fine pipe!
For the price of a carton of cigarettes--YOU CAN be the owner of a fine Savinelli Natural Briar wood pipe--and smoke the finest tobacco in the world--at a fraction of the cost of smoking cigarettes!
Look at the Savinelli pipes available at www.Outwesttobacco.com The Savinelli natural pipes offered are one of the best values I've seen. The briar is a value because of slight imperfections-which is common in nature for the wood--and does NOT affect smoking quality--you can save big bucks. The pipes also feature beautiful lucite amber colored mouthpieces.
What's really nice is the pipe will develop a naturally beautiful patina, as you smoke and handle it. The natural oils from your skin will color the pipe nicely--and over time--that pipe will truly be part of you.
I get a kick out of looking at a few of these pipes--and sometimes finding a rare straight grain (with just a little imperfection)--and WOW--I got a beautiful pipe--without paying several hundred dollars!
-The simple things in life are best--and so it is with the Savinelli Natural pipes.
--Happy smoking,
-Eric

I recently was informed that certain credit card companies are dictating to overseas tobacco merchants not to sell tobacco products to American consumers, shipping tobacco to the consumer in America, specifically. The excuse is "Due to new laws...". I do not agree with this decision they made, -and I strongly wish to encourage the tobacco merchants who have to deal with these politically motivated banks what they may do and where they may insert those credit cards.

Mr. Bill Taylor of Ashton pipes is in the hospital, after a bad car crash, back in April. He is not home, yet, as he has to get to a better condition, before release. Please join me in wishing him all the best, and a speedy recovery.
Hats off to You, Bill, and Get Well Soon!
Sincerly, Eric Whitaker

Want to read about what the Federal Government wants to do with tobacco (that also means pipe tobacco and the whole industry)?
Are you informed yet on what legislation is pending that will affect great numbers of pipe smokers in the United States--it's call H.R.1256 "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act". A good place to find about what's going on is:
http://pipesmokersintelligencer.org/journal

Suggestion: Please stock up on your favorites tobaccos--quickly--before the government screws up everything you enjoy about pipesmoking. I have.

Sorry for the bads news--We get enough of that everyday--but this is real!
--Eric

Balkan Tobaacos--A Treasure From The East
__________________________________________________________
GL Pease ---ABINGDON......A Real Treat.
If You've ever had the notion to compare Tobacco to things you love in life--I can tell you--with conviction, that if you like Balkan blends--the Abingdon mixture is superior. I can descibe this one as Dark, Rich, Cool, Spicy, Exotic and Sweet--if you EVER find a tobacco like this--hang on to it for life! Abingdon is a full Balkan style blend with a generous measure of Cyprian Latakia, seasoned with fine red and lemon yellow Virginia tobaccos,and enhanced with rich Oriental leaf. Abingdon is bold and assertive, while retaining a stylish finesse.
Come to think of it--those are the reasons I married my wife! I guess I'll Keep Her! (and the Abingdon!)

--Happy Smoking, Eric

Can't get a pipe cleaner to go in the pipe without it getting "hung-up"?
If your pipe is a Savinelli "convertible" pipe (it can be smoked with the 6mm balsa system filter--or sans filter--with the 6mm plastic filter adaptor--here's the solution: Using the adaptor--take a small sharp blade from a pocketknife, and gently chamfer cut a bevel in the inside diameter of the hole going thru the middle of it--on both ends--you will get a better airflow--and the pipe cleaner will slide right thru with ease.

Does your pipe have a loose tenon peg on the mouthpiece? Solution:
Remove mouthpiece from pipe and give it a good clean, inside and outside--including the tenon. Dry it--then brush on a little clear nail polish on the outside of the tenon. Let completely dry before re-assembling the pipe. The varnish will snug up the fit of the mouthpiece (sometimes all it's only 1/10000th of and inch!)

It Works for me..Best Wishes, Eric

At the little town of Borup, just a few miles from Copenhagen (Kobenhavn) the world's most efficient, modern and clean pipe factory stays busy producing about 300,000 pipes per year--with approximately 80 to 100 processes to finish each individual pipe--one by one, with quality controls and inspections including at each stage. Stanwell produces some of the best factory made pipes in the world--for a few reasons: Their pipes are crafted with style, beauty and technical innovations. Quite an accomplishment!
Some of the qualities I like about the Stanwell pipes are the fact that some of their shapes were commissioned from Mr. Sixten Ivarrsson, Mr. Tom Eltang and Mr. Jess Chonowitsch. Their works speak for themselves, as some of the world's finest. The technical innovations of Stanwell insure proper seasoning of the briar wood, a perfect fit of mouthpiece and shank of the pipe, and the use of a Delrin plastic tenon that can be replaced without being fitted--the connectors come in two standard sizes--that only the outside of the mouthpiece has to be fitted with minor work. The Delrin tenon is also engineered to be slightly flexible-not brittle, and makes it easier for removal of the stem for cleaning, without breakage. In 1942, Mr. Paul Nielsen started Stanwell pipes--out of neccessity for all pipe smokers in Denmark--because during WWII, the normal supply of fine briar pipe was cut off from England-the premier pipemakers of the world in those days. Stanwell even made functional pipes of beechwood, because he could not get briar during the war. Now, in modern times, pipesmokers all over the world benefit from Stanwell pipes because they are affordable, uniform, beautifully styled, and most of all they smoke great. Every Stanwell pipe that I have owned and smoked was and is an enjoyment, and a super value for every pipesmoker. If you happen upon an assortment of Stanwell pipes, and see or know the shape you like the most--what's fun is finding the uniform shape you like and suddenly discovering one with and exceptional, beautiful grained wood!
Stanwell pipes are on sale right now at www.OutwestTobacco.com
Here is an example of one of mine--it's a shape number 62 with a straight grain around the entire bowl, in the Stanwell Legend finish. When shopping for it, I looked through approximately 100 pipes before I found it! That was fun! What a VALUE!
Try a Stanwell pipe and let me know what your thoughts are! Best Wishes, Eric

Good airflow is the secret to a great smoking pipe! Too many times I have seen some beautiful pipes (artistically beautiful), and discovered that I could not get hardly any airflow through it--to smoke the pipe. Rather than toss away a potentially great pipe--that someone took some time and trouble to make--I learned some things: namely, following some great advice given by a man by the name of Mr. Rick Newcombe, in his book "IN SEARCH OF PIPE DREAMS".
Here's how to do it:
First, examine your pipe to make sure it is clean on the inside. This is the most common problem of reduced airflow--a dirty pipe. Take the necessary step to clean it.
Next, determine if there are any obstructions in the airway from bowl to the lip of the bit. If you have a filter--throw that away. If the pipe still draws hard (and it shouldn't) determine if the problem is with the mouthpiece or the shank of the pipe. Most likely it is both.
Now for the fun part!
Obtain some wood drill bits (size 11/64",3/16",9/64",1/8",5/64") and a Variable speed 3/8 drive electric drill.
Begin by slowly redrilling the shank of the pipe until the bit just enters the bottom of the inside of the bowl. Stop. Don't do anything else to the wooden shank of the pipe. Now--for the mouthpiece. Take a sharp pocketknife, and chamfer the hole on the inside of the tenon peg. Remember--always drill slowly--and pull out waste material often, when drilling hard rubber, vulcanite or lucite plastic. Go slow--because the plastic will melt of you have too much friction. Picture in your mind the length of the mouthpiece, and use the 9/64" bit one third of the length, then the 1/8" bit another third and lastly the 5/64" through the lip. Run a fluffy pipe cleaner through the whole pipe to make sure all the trimmings are gone. Now smoke your pipe and enjoy how easy it is to puff. Caution: because the pipe now is way easier to draw--don't smoke to fast, because you don't have to smoke fast anymore--the pipe will stay lit, longer. It worked for me!
Best Wishes and happy smoking! Eric Whitaker