Does the exterior finish on a pipe matter?

[Tim_McD]

I have a question about the pipes that what appears to be a polyurethane finish: are these types of pipes to be avoided?

I have a small no-name briar with a high gloss finish that I purchased from a local tobacconist. I have found that the bowl gets noticably warmer than the used Peterson 314, which has what appears to be a rubbed waxed finish. I am no sure if that add'l heat is a function of the finish or just the lesser grade briar pipe.

I have been tracking a number of pipes on the bay, some have a high gloss finish, and before I pull the trigger on something shiny - I wanted to get a bit more information

 

[Commander Quan]

The honest answer is it depends. There is a good chance that your basket pipe is just a lower grade of briar, and that is the reason it has the opaque finish. Someone was trying to cover up the natural imperfections of the wood. It has been theorized that these finishes hold more heat in the wood that a stained pipe, bit each piece of wood is unique so you'd be had pressed to come up with a definitive answer.

One option would be to wet sand the finish off the pipe and then either restain or leave it as a natural finish, you may uncover some fills or something else hidden under the glossy finish, but I would rather have a pipe that smokes well than one that looks good sitting on a shelf and never gets smoked.

 

[joshua1970]

^^^


to piggy back on Derrick's response... the answer is: yes and no

the most important factor with briar pipes is the quality of briar itself.... which can often be judged by its' heft (weight)

my first pipe was a Chacom which had a black glossy finish. it smoked hot, though it looked cool. lol

I've heard the theory that rusticated or sandblasted pipes smoke cooler than smooth/stained pipes as there is more surface area to disperse the ehat - but I think that's BS. it's the quality of the briar that counts, not that given the same briar there's nothing to surface area - but if one puffs slowly (the true secret of a good smoke), I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

you want a pipe that's got little heft (weight) as chances are it can retain more water than a heavier briar.


keep in mind that the briar is actually a burl located under the soil that acts as a water resevoir for the White Heath plant which is common in arid areas (*one reason there are so many flaws in the wood - sand grains, insects, etc etc) - and why rusticated and sandblasted pipes are more common. What we see as the Briar's grain is actually the capillaries within teh burl that absorb the moisture from the soil, and, post pipe, also from the tobacco one smokes in the finished product producing (hopefully) a cool/dry smoke. so the lighter the pipe, theoretically the more moisture the pipe can absorb from the condensation caused by burning the tobacco. This is also why most recommend resting a pipe after smoking it - and how many bowlfuls one can smoke before it needs resting depends again on quality of briar.... and your puffing habits

this isn't to say that glossy/painted pipes CAN'T be good smokers, but I stick with raw wood with a decent stain and a carnuba wax finish to give it that polished look.

whenever I buy a pipe online (It's been MANY years) I always ask not only the size but the weight. Over time you get a feel for the appropriate heft of pipes.

Derrick's advice is great advice, though keep in mind you may uncover a cosmetic flaw by doing so - for many that doesn't matter (function over aesthetics) but for some it does.

YMMV!

 

[PugslyCat]

I've heard the theory that rusticated or sandblasted pipes smoke cooler than smooth/stained pipes as there is more surface area to disperse the ehat - but I think that's BS. it's the quality of the briar that counts, not that given the same briar there's nothing to surface area - but if one puffs slowly (the true secret of a good smoke), I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

I have to agree with you on that being BS. I doubt that a rusticated surface would cause a cooler smoke. I had always heard that they seemed cooler to the touch and thus important if you hold your pipe a lot. They would seem cooler because your fingers would have an air space or be making very light contact with some parts of the surface instead of being uniformly pressed against the hot surface. Minor shifting of the pipe gives the holder some relief.

I tend to avoid buying pipes that I have not seen and held. I have seen so many obviously poor quality pipes in online auctions that I am hesitant to get anything from somebody that doesn't have an established reputation for dealing in quality pipes. If you are at all suspicious of anything in an online auction, run away.

 

[joshua1970]

I have to agree with you on that being BS. I doubt that a rusticated surface would cause a cooler smoke. I had always heard that they seemed cooler to the touch and thus important if you hold your pipe a lot. They would seem cooler because your fingers would have an air space or be making very light contact with some parts of the surface instead of being uniformly pressed against the hot surface. Minor shifting of the pipe gives the holder some relief.

I tend to avoid buying pipes that I have not seen and held. I have seen so many obviously poor quality pipes in online auctions that I am hesitant to get anything from somebody that doesn't have an established reputation for dealing in quality pipes. If you are at all suspicious of anything in an online auction, run away.

a wise man

it's been 10 years since I've bought a pipe - though I have bought several online but I knew and trusted the vendor to inform me of the weight/heft, the accuracy of the draft hole etc etc


and i never thought about the cooler 'feel' of the rusticated/plasted pipes but it makes sense! and proper puffing should avoid any issues with heat on one's hand - unless there is a flaw and a burnout is inevitable anyhow (just a matter of time) I've had more than my share LOL