i got a new pipe for christmas and would like to hear everyones different ways that they break in a new pipe
breaking in a new pipe
- Thread starter kingthursday
- Start date
Load the pipe as normal for a full bowl. When you are smoking, be sure the pipe does not overheat. If you can't hold it comfortably, let it sit and cool down a little and relight. It is important to smoke the entire bowl. If you don't have time for that, load half way and smoke it to the bottom. What you are trying to do is build up a carbon layer on the entire bowl. You don't want to have a cake on the top half and not on the bottom. Keep the pipe out of the wind or drafts. Do NOT smoke it in a car with the window open!!! I have seen the results of this and it looks like a torch was used on the pipe. It has a hole in the side. The main thing is don't over think, or worry, just make sure it does not overheat.
+1 This is what I do. If you're unsure if your pipe is too warm place the bowl against your cheek if that feels uncomfortably warm its getting too hot, let it cool untill it feels pleasantly warm and continue. If your having trouble smoking a bowl down to the bottom do couple of 1/3-1/2 bowls to enshure your building a cake all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I also like to place my thumb over the top of the bowl and give the pipe a good shake before dumping the ash in a new pipe, I feel this helps build an even cake.
Does the rubbing a bit of honey thing in the bowl work well? I've had a few people tell me that a very light swab of honey before loading will help build up a healthy layer of cake.
You know, I'm not sure if it helps build up the layer of cake as much as it just makes the initial cake a bit sweeter.
B
buyandhold2018
My method is to decide which varietal tobacco I'll be dedicating to it. I fill it up and smoke it to the bottom... careful not to let it get hot through the break in time.
If you're new to pipes, I would start with the 1/3-1/2 full bowls smoked all the way down.
Most rookies end up with a lot of dottle in their first few bowls.. dottle doesn't burn, and unburned tobacco at the bottom of the bowl means uneven cake formation.
I used to use a very small amount of honey to help encourage even caking, along with the "cover the top and shake the ash" technique once the pipe is smoked all the way down and is cool.
I also agree that it is best to break it in with whatever tobacco the pipe will be dedicated to.
One last note: if you don't have time to finish the bowl, don't dump it. Let it go out. When you can get back to it, tamp down the ash, relight, and resume. It's not like a cigar. It doesn't get worse.
Most rookies end up with a lot of dottle in their first few bowls.. dottle doesn't burn, and unburned tobacco at the bottom of the bowl means uneven cake formation.
I used to use a very small amount of honey to help encourage even caking, along with the "cover the top and shake the ash" technique once the pipe is smoked all the way down and is cool.
I also agree that it is best to break it in with whatever tobacco the pipe will be dedicated to.
One last note: if you don't have time to finish the bowl, don't dump it. Let it go out. When you can get back to it, tamp down the ash, relight, and resume. It's not like a cigar. It doesn't get worse.
Jasonians advice was what I was going to post. I have never used anything other than tobacco to get a cake going in all of my pipes. Smoke slow, and if you have to let the pipe go out, so be it. When breaking in a pipe, I let it go out several times so I don't let it overheat.
Honey is not necessary, but can add an initial layer of carbon. You don't really need it. If you do decide to use some, make sure it is a very thin layer.
+1 on all the above. Most of all make sure it does not overheat and smoke all the way to the bottom.
+1 on all the above. Most of all make sure it does not overheat and smoke all the way to the bottom.
Part filled bowls is DEFINITELY the way to go. I have always read that you shouldnt start blazing up full bowls.
Breaking In A Pipe is covered here: http://www.peterson.ie/pipes/how-to-enjoy-your-pipe.html
I don't think honey really helps with anything. The sugars turn into a pretty poor carbon and I think it can contribute to uneven cake build. I smoked several "Yello Bole" pipes when I was younger and picked one up NOS several years ago. Even with the "professional" honey coating it wasn't that good.
+1 Stir the ash around in the bottom of the bowl with your pick, shake as described above, dump the ash out and blow through the stem. You'll have even, excellent quality cake in no time.
+1 Stir the ash around in the bottom of the bowl with your pick, shake as described above, dump the ash out and blow through the stem. You'll have even, excellent quality cake in no time.
Good advice from all. I don't believe there is consensus about full bowls or partial bowls gradually to full for a new bowl. YMMV.
A brand new pipe even when carbonized compells me to wince and stand on my toes until a reasonable cake is formed.
My experience leads to suggest that what ever the fill level bear the labor of gently smoking it all the way down. Stopping and starting later (DGT) is not a seamless cake former but certianly is a well accepted smoking habit.
A brand new pipe even when carbonized compells me to wince and stand on my toes until a reasonable cake is formed.
My experience leads to suggest that what ever the fill level bear the labor of gently smoking it all the way down. Stopping and starting later (DGT) is not a seamless cake former but certianly is a well accepted smoking habit.
I remember buying my first pipe from a tobacconist's when I was in college. I excitedly asked the old guy behind the counter how I should break it in. He gave me one of those looks that only old guys behind counters can give to a young man (a mix of exasperation and fatherly concern), and said "fill it with tobacco and smoke it." I've found it to be good advice ever since. He also talked me out spending my money on a number of accessories, so I figured he had my best interests at heart...
