Any special break-in procedure for a new morta pipe?

[nortac]

With the impending arrival of the 2019 BL LE, and my recent order of a Rattray morta, is there anything special that should be done with morta, as opposed to breaking in a new briar pipe?

 

[nortac]

I guess the answer is no. ...Bueller, Bueller...,anyone?

 

[bberg100]

Never had one, understand they don't require much break in. Will see when the LE gets here.

 

[KellyG]

I too have never had a morta pipe and am wondering as to break in.

 

[KellyG]

I did find this article: You Should Smoke A Morta Pipe I don't know if the article is accurate or not, but it is on the internet, so...

 

[bberg100]

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. - A. Lincoln

 

[KellyG]

Also, this: from PipesMagazine.com a response about Morta, from NOLA Cajun (Tony Ducote)


"1. Morta should always be smoked slow...depending on the thickness of the wall, a Morta pipe has the potential to become very hot, similar to Meerschaum
2. Yes, you can smoke back to back bowls with no rest..just swab the inside of the bowl with a fluffy pipe cleaner....you do NOT want a cake to build up in a Morta pipe
3. Yes it is possible to burnout a Morta pipe...remember Morta is Semi-petrified wood...the could be hidden soft spots or imbedded fungus in the wall that could burn out...I have around 25 Morta pipes, and even some of the best constructed Morta bowl can have hidden flaws
4. There is no break in required for a Morta pipe...definitely do not put honey in it...,it is semi-petrified wood....you don't need to treat the bowl..."

At that time, five years ago, NOLA Cajun said all he smoked were morta pipes.

 

[nortac]

Thanks for the reply's!

 

[Price]

I've got a handful of mortas, and I've never done anything special to break them in. Just smoke 'em. The advice about minimizing cake buildup is solid - while a small layer won't hurt it, the relatively linear grain pattern does make it susceptible to cracking if you allow a big cake to form (it builds up pressure in the bowl while smoking), so just ream it out lightly when it gets to about the thickness of a dime.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I've got a handful of mortas, and I've never done anything special to break them in. Just smoke 'em. The advice about minimizing cake buildup is solid - while a small layer won't hurt it, the relatively linear grain pattern does make it susceptible to cracking if you allow a big cake to form (it builds up pressure in the bowl while smoking), so just ream it out lightly when it gets to about the thickness of a dime.

That is me- insert tobacco and smoke. Good advice about cake. I tend to not let much build up in any of my pipes.

 

[TexLaw]

I've got a handful of mortas, and I've never done anything special to break them in. Just smoke 'em. The advice about minimizing cake buildup is solid - while a small layer won't hurt it, the relatively linear grain pattern does make it susceptible to cracking if you allow a big cake to form (it builds up pressure in the bowl while smoking), so just ream it out lightly when it gets to about the thickness of a dime.

Ditto. Just load, light, and smoke. I never let any significant cake build up.

 

[Hirsute]

I’m especially careful to go slow when breaking in a morta. They can overheat quickly! Also, I think fresh morta tastes pretty bad for the first smoke or two. Not everyone thinks so, but keep this in mind if you “don’t like it” right away. It’ll get much better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DanielStauffer]

If so you will get instructions from the buyer, hopefully not.

 

[nortac]

No problems with the initial few smokes with my morta from Rattrays. I was a little surprised that the bowl was carbonized from the manufacturer. I would have thought that would not be needed with morta. So I'm not sure how that affects things, so I'll just roll with it. There were no specific instructions pertaining to morta, just very general instructions on "how to smoke a pipe".