Am I the only person that doesn't break in a pipe using 1/3 or 1/2 bowls?

[dmkerr]

I've heard about that process for years but have never adopted it. I fill the bowl to normal levels (a wee bit below the pipe rim) and smoke the tobacco slowly, never allowing the pipe to get too hot. I smoke the baccy down to the bottom of the bowl, usually with a ribbon cut straight virginia - something nice and sugary that will help the carbon adhere to the bowl Never pipe any burnouts or problems with cake on the bottom. Anyone else break in new pipes this way? It sure seems to work faster and with fewer hassles, but am I tempting fate here?

[jamz]

I dunno, I never had the patience to break them in. Then again, I also usually only smoke it halfway to 3/4 of the way down too, so that's all that gets caked up.

[IrishCamel81]

All my pipes were precarbonized so I typically just filled to the top. If I dont get all the way to the bottom, I try to save some ash in the bowl, cover it with my hand and shake it so it coats the top and bottom evenly.

[DSturg369]

I sometimes start with a 1/2 bowl or 2 with a new, unsmoked pipe. With estates, I load it near full as you described and just enjoy. No problems so far.

I don't like a lot of cake on any of my pipes so I clean out the bowl with a wadded-up papertowel after every smoke.

[Dedalus]

I've been breaking in 3 of my pipes with the 1/3 then 1/2 bowl method because of the way they are drilled (air hole does not reach the bottom of the bowl, and therefore I'm experiencing a soggy heel). The 1/3 bowl method with super-dry tobacco is really helping me form that bottom of the bowl cake. I'll smoke 1/3 about 10 times, then 1/2 about 5 times before filling a full bowl.

For my pipes that are properly drilled I don't worry so much about an aggressive break in period. Maybe 2-3 half bowls, then off to the races.

[brianwalden]

I also just fill it up all the way and take it slow. But sometimes it's tough to get all the way down to the bottom of the bowl. I guess I'd rather deal with a moist bottom of the bowl than mess with smoking 1/3 or 1/2 bowls. I just don't have the willpower to fill a new pipe with only a third of a bowl, I wanna smoke the whole thing from the start.

[brianwalden]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

I don't like a lot of cake on any of my pipes so I clean out the bowl with a wadded-up papertowel after every smoke.

I'm the same way, I fold a pipe cleaner in half and give it a whirl around the inside of the bowl. Would I be better off just making sure any dottle is out and letting the rest of the bowl be?

[Mad Hatter]

I always smoke regular bowls, new or not. Part of the 1/2,1/3 bowl wisdom could come from a new pipe's tendency to heat up due to lack of seasoning and carbon cake so I figure as long as you make a point to keep the tobacco burning cool you'll be ok. I didn't used to worry about heat so much but varnished bowls can develop spiderwebbing in the varnish and it looks like crap.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I always smoke regular bowls, new or not. Part of the 1/2,1/3 bowl wisdom could come from a new pipe's tendency to heat up due to lack of seasoning and carbon cake so I figure as long as you make a point to keep the tobacco burning cool you'll be ok. I didn't used to worry about heat so much but varnished bowls can develop spiderwebbing in the varnish and it looks like crap.

Have you (or anyone) stripped a varnished pipe and simply polished it with a smooth matte finish?

[RJpuffs]

The key is to smoke it down to the bottom - to avoid excess moisture from starting to stagnate down there. Until a cake forms, that goop is going to get into the briar and turn it into a "cheese-like" spongy mess (technical term: wet heel). Smoking in thirds generally allows the cake on the bottom to start earlier than the higher part of the bowl, thereby protecting it a little better.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

Have you (or anyone) stripped a varnished pipe and simply polished it with a smooth matte finish?

No I haven't. I have four that are like that, all blasts. Of the four two are dyed purple and one black so at this point I don't feel experienced enough to attempt that without messing up the coloration.

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

The key is to smoke it down to the bottom - to avoid excess moisture from starting to stagnate down there. Until a cake forms, that goop is going to get into the briar and turn it into a "cheese-like" spongy mess (technical term: wet heel). Smoking in thirds generally allows the cake on the bottom to start earlier than the higher part of the bowl, thereby protecting it a little better.

I really don't have an issue with a wet heal on new pipes these days since I have enough pipes to give each a good rest, not to mention that I've gotten better at smoking in general. After smoking I always make sure to shake the ash and pay close attention to see that the heal is getting coated, more so than I worry about the sides.

Kudos to the poster who raises a low heal with patiently building cake. You have much more patience than I do.

[drastic_quench]

I always smoke full bowls - I just make sure to smoke to the bottom. Most of my pipes have nice thick walls, so I'd really have to be hard on them to heat up anyhow. One thing I've tried recently is sprinkling some too dry tobacco in the bottom of my bowls, then loading the bac with the proper moisture. My idea is, if the proper moisture stuff winds up too soggy to effectively smoke, the too dry stuff will become a bit more moist (instead of soggy) and be just right. It seems to work.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

Have you (or anyone) stripped a varnished pipe and simply polished it with a smooth matte finish?

Yep! And it was a "varnished" pipe rather than just a pipe with dark stain. This was pore-covering varnish. Wanna talk wet heel? The varnish on this pipe made sure of it by choking off the briar's natural porousness. I buffed off the varnish on a buffing wheel and re-stained it natural. It looked like crap because of all the fills the varnish was put on to hide but it sure smoked a hell of a lot better.

P.S. NOT recommended unless you're handy with a buffing wheel. Ever see the movie "Tommy Boy" where he tries grinding that metal tin and the tin goes flying? That can happen! I toasted a pipe stem early in my career. Good distance, though!

[Dzrtrat]

Fill'er up and smoke'er down.

[plexiprs]

Am I the only person that doesn't break in a pipe using 1/3 or 1/2 bowls?

No, you are not. I load up and smoke. I do always make sure to avoid overheating, even in spots. The 6-second rule works!