How Big Is Too Big?

[americaman]

I prefer larger pipes, because I usually smoke once or twice a day and I want to enjoy it. I have a Joura in a Group 6 size, and three Barling EXEXELs with two of them being Group 6 size (one with a chamber diameter over an inch) and the other being about a Group 5.

This is the Barling with the monster chamber, at over seven inches long:

 

[ssjones]

And that is why I only have one Ferndown, they are simply too large for my taste. Early on, I would buy large pipes, then realize later, they don't get smoked, so most were resold. I have a few for when I retire. I just hope to have all of my teeth at that point!

 

[mtwaller]

Those are truly some prodigious pipes, gentlemen. I’m worried that this one wouldn’t get smoked much, as some have pointed out. I might let this one pass me by. I would love a Ferndown or 12 someday... but a *** might just be a bit much.

 

[mso489]

I react to weight more than size, and then it depends on the comfort level of the weight on your teeth and jaw. Some people are obvious to anything smaller than a Volkswagen, but my molars like something well under 2 oz. Also leverage as relates to weight; a straight pipe and/or a longer straight pipe puts more weight on your teeth than a bent, especially an Oom-Paul. Just in terms of big bowls, I find them perfect for shag cut or dry leaf that burns fast. A nice deep bowl accepts plenty of tobacco and lets it burn a little longer. Five Brothers and Semois favor a deep bowl.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I’ve had my eye on a nice Ferndown for a hot minute... but it is, to put it bluntly, an excessively large pipe. Overall length is just under 7”, and the chamber is apparently 15/16” wide by 1 and 15/16” deep.

Cure my ignorance... what the actual hell does one smoke out of such a pipe? The price is right, but my goodness. I want it... but I don’t know what the heck I’d do with it.

I'm a big fan of wide bowls but have to admit they're mostly just for aesthetics or to let you burn through your tobacco faster.

It is possible that some blends will be more balanced with a wider bowl as you get more components burning at the same time, but I doubt anything over 1" provides any functional value.
Looking at one of my own pipes that I bored out to 1-1/8", that makes 15/16" looks pretty reasonable.

Just let it cake in a bit and it won't be significantly different from normal pipes.
Also consider most pipes with such a wide bowl are measured at the rim and cone down to a smaller diameter fairly rapidly, just don't fill it to the top if you don't want to waste tobacco.

 

[ssjones]

If you see a Ferndown two star - grab it, they are pretty rare.

 

[ak2000]

I like big pipes and I cannot lie...

Moretti




Sasieni



Capitello



Caminetto

 

[LOREN]

I know it's childish, but I can't help from responding to the title of the thread with... "That's what she said" ?

 

[jamesc]

I smoke cigars ranging anywhere from 5 grams to 15+ grams so I enjoy smoking the larger pipes since they can accommodate the larger volume of tobacco so I can get the same nicotine hit I'm used to.

 

[petes03]

I’m not a fan of bowl I.d’s any bigger than .850. I have a few, but I don’t smoke them that often. I find it hard to get an even burn in them. I don’t mind a deep bowl though, as long as the diameter is good. Here’s a pic of my biggest pipe, a recently purchased Ardor Old Briar. That’s a group 4 Dunhill Root Oom Paul next to it.

 

[blueeyedogre]

Most of my pipes are small.... 2's to small 3's..... but I have one chacom horn that is huge. 7-8" in length and the chamber is 1" by 2". I save that for long drives where I roll out a couple flakes, fill it up, and enjoy a 1 1/2 to 2 hr smoke.