Macheath

It's not so easy. I only started about a year and the hardest part is packing the pipe. It has to feel like you're drawing a good cigar, but the tightness of the pack is a matter of preference and experience. I still get it wrong part of the time. To start, you want some really experienced smoker (years of experience) to either show you how to pack or pack it for you so you know what it feels like to smoke.

You buy the pipe tobacco; either crumbled up already, sliced, or a solid block (called a plug). The latter two types need to be crumbled up before going into the pipe.

I've heard, when filling a pipe, that the first third is packed relatively loosely; pushed (tamped) down with the little finger; the second third more firmy (index finger) and the final third with the thumb. This is only a rough guide - in the end, it's about experimentation.

Smoking: hold a match (long matches are preferable) just over the bowl and draw air through the pipe. The flame will be sucked down over the leaves and they will begin to ignite. When lit, you'll need to keep pulling air through the pipe to keep it lit. Expect to go through a few matches. If it's packed poorly, don't be afraid to repack and start again. The bowl of the pipe should be quite warm to the touch.

Tobacco should be a little moist. Some smokers even put a small sliver of apple in their tobacco pouch if it's too dry. The more a pipe is used, the better it gets - if you find one you really like, stick with it. They used to have pipe smoking competitions. Competitors got ONE match to light their pipe. When their pipe went out, they lost.

When finished, clear out the bowl. Use pipe cleaners to keep it clean, or you'll be sucking on nicotine.

Don't worry, figuring all this shit out through trial and error is kinda fun.

Last thing to know? - alt.smokers.pipes

Anyone else, feel free to correct me.