An advantage to bent pipes

[Benzadmiral]

I noticed this yesterday, smoking the Savinelli Long John. To me straight pipes and bent ones smoke about the same overall (though I love the upright, "Yeah, I smoke a pipe, what's it to you?" attitude of a straight). I tend not to leave my pipe in my mouth for the whole smoke, either, so the mechanical advantage of a bent (easier on the jaw) doesn't come into it. But --

-- there is another great advantage to a bent pipe. You can look down and see the surface of the tobacco as you light it, which allows you to make sure you char it fairly evenly. And for a little while you can watch the orange ember wax and wane as you draw on your pipe. I'd never thought about that before. . . .

 

[Columbo]

I noticed this yesterday, smoking the Savinelli Long John. To me straight pipes and bent ones smoke about the same overall (though I love the upright, "Yeah, I smoke a pipe, what's it to you?" attitude of a straight). I tend not to leave my pipe in my mouth for the whole smoke, either, so the mechanical advantage of a bent (easier on the jaw) doesn't come into it. But --

-- there is another great advantage to a bent pipe. You can look down and see the surface of the tobacco as you light it, which allows you to make sure you char it fairly evenly. And for a little while you can watch the orange ember wax and wane as you draw on your pipe. I'd never thought about that before. . . .

One disadvantage, depending on the air direction. The top burn will occasionally blow back into your face. At least with a straight, the bowl can be reasonably above your nose when that happens. Sort of like the chimney-roofline thing.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

There's two main things I want from a pipe. Three if you include affordability (for which I have a particularly low threshold). I want pipes that sit, and I want line of sight to the bowl, so I can see where the flame is going. Those three things don't coincide that often, but I have built a decent array of pipe that tick the boxes

 

[RookieGuy]

I have a good long Canadian that let's me do that. The bowl is far enough away that I can look down into the bowl.

 

[mr_houston]

It’s funny that you brought this up. I got my first full bent pipe this weekend - an Oom Paul. As I was lighting it, I could watch the embers light. I realized that I’d never seen that before!

 

[Benzadmiral]

It’s funny that you brought this up. I got my first full bent pipe this weekend - an Oom Paul. As I was lighting it, I could watch the embers light. I realized that I’d never seen that before!

My first "real" pipe was an Oom Paul, and in fact I still have it. I need to get it out and use it again.

 

[FarmerTan]

Man you guys sure make me miss my pipes. The absolute definition of relaxation. I'm sure there are pipes in heaven, and I ain't talking about ones attached to organs!

 

[steveclarkus]

I like them all. Depends on what mood strikes me at any given time. Smoked a full bent GBD billiard all day yesterday and a straight GBD Prehistoric all day today. One was as satisfactory as the other. That’s the beauty of pipes and their different shapes. Smoking a straight Country Gentleman at the moment.