breaking in a pipe

[guevara]

Do I just smoke half a bowl full. Leave it 24 hours, then start smoking full bowls.

Thanks in Advance.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by guevara

Do I just smoke half a bowl full. Leave it 24 hours, then start smoking full bowls.

Thanks in Advance.

If you have a brand new pipe, it could take a while to break the puppy in. Start with 1/3 bowls, about 5 or 6 of them. Once a day or twice a day with a break in between is fine, but don't smoke them back to back, give the briar a chance to dry/breathe between smokes. Keep the pipe on a desk or table to air out, vertical with bowl down preferrably, never in a drawer or box.

Then 2/3 bowls again 5 or 6 of those. Same rest, don't push the pipe too hard.

Finally go for a full bowl, be sure to smoke it down to the bottom the first several times. A day rest between bowls is a nice break for the briar, don't want to get it saturated or stinky.

After about 5 to 10 full bowls, the pipe should start smoking dryer and cooler. Be patient, like a new girlfriend/wife/husband, pipes take time to tame and break in

[[OT] Loki]

I smoke full bowls from day one

[Rolando]

Originally Posted by [OT] Loki

I smoke full bowls from day one

Me too. I am just more conscious to smoke them all the way down in the beginning.

[guevara]

I'm still waiting for my pipe and tabac to arive.I read you should only smoke a pipe every 24 hours. Is this true?
Also, why do you have to break in a pipe.What actually happens?


Thanks

[ColoradoLeaf]

What is a good way to pack a half bowl? The three layer method on a smaller scale?

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by ColoradoLeaf

What is a good way to pack a half bowl? The three layer method on a smaller scale?

That's what I do. I've been starting my pipes at half bowls instead of the suggested 1/3. 5 bowls at half then go to full. I smoke a pipe once a day at the max. It pays to have enough pipes to rotate them for doing this. Has worked great so far. Good luck.

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by guevara

I'm still waiting for my pipe and tabac to arive.I read you should only smoke a pipe every 24 hours. Is this true?
Also, why do you have to break in a pipe.What actually happens?


Thanks

When you break-in a pipe, you are building up a carbon layer of deposit on the walls and bottom of the pipe chamber. This build-up will help the pipe smoke cooler and dryer. Eventually the carbon layer or "Cake" will build to the point it will need to be trimmed. By that time you will hopefully have enough experience with a pipe that you'll know what to do. Good luck.

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by [OT] Loki

I smoke full bowls from day one

I do this with cobs and lesser brands, and with little ill efect so far.

[guevara]

I brought a cheap beginers pipe but I'm still going to break it in.When my pipe is fully broken in, can I smoke a bowl once a day?

PS
How long does a bowl normally last for anyway?

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by guevara

I brought a cheap beginers pipe but I'm still going to break it in.When my pipe is fully broken in, can I smoke a bowl once a day?

PS
How long does a bowl normally last for anyway?

Sure, 2 or even 3 times a day.... for briar wood. If it's some other material like "brylon" or something then even more. Just be sure to run fresh pipe cleaner through it after every smoke and store the pipe "bowl down - stem up" to let it dry a bit between smoking and it'll be fine.

As far as how long it lasts, that all depends on the tobacco, how it was packed, how hard you smoke it.... lots of variables but a good packed avreage bowl should last at least an hour or more. But again, lots of variables. Have fun and good luck.

[guevara]

This is the pipe I brought http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk/index...man=197&cat=67 the top one

Nothing to look at but I'm new to pipe smoking so it will be alright. What can I use instead of pipe cleaner?

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by guevara

This is the pipe I brought http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk/index...man=197&cat=67 the top one

Nothing to look at but I'm new to pipe smoking so it will be alright. What can I use instead of pipe cleaner?

My first was a Cherrywood as well, nice. You really need to get some pipe cleaners, and not the one's used for crafts but good, absorbant pipe cleaners. They will help insure your new purchase lasts a long time and in good shape. Like these....

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipecleaners.html

or these.....

http://www.4noggins.com/index.asp?Pa...S&Category=163

[Mad Hatter]

Those smoke great and if the stem wears out you can have a better one made for it or buy extras. Shouldn't be much break in with it. At the price you can smoke several bowls a day in it so just smoke and go.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Rolando

Me too. I am just more conscious to smoke them all the way down in the beginning.

Thats the key - most new pipe'rs end up with soggy dottle, so the bottom never gets hot/caked and ends up getting soggy (a wet heel). Going from bottom-up in filling, ensures the pipe breaks in evenly.