And in some, like one of mine, when it starts to peel off of the walls, you really start to wish they never did it in the first place.....Supposedly, some manufacturers add a coating to the bowls to accelerate the building up of cake
If you're having to pull that hard on it, then you're probably packing it too tight. They say to fill your pipe and check the draw as you do. If it feels like sucking on a milkshake, then it's too tight, dump it and reload. It should be like sucking water through a straw. Fill it looser than you think you need to, and believe me, it took a lot of practice to understand myself. You can always tamp it down if it's too loose while you smoke. It's easier to tamp it down if it's too loose than it is to loosen it if it's too tight. That might help curb the amount of draw you feel you need as well as the burning too hot issue. If you puff on it like a dragon, then no amount of loose packing will help.so I have to puff hard to get a good drag. Otherwise no smoke comes out.
This right here. This is some of the best advise I think we can give a new pipe smoker. It's a question often asked and answered here. And I think it's one that will end many new pipe smoker's woes. I would say also, forgo all the different crazy packing techniques, and save those for later when you've gotten a feel of how the packed pipe should feel when drawn and smoked. Unless you're working on folding flakes, you really don't need to worry about techniques. Otherwise you may be loading and unloading your pipe, repeat, repeat, repeat, until it's right. I personally don't bother with all the mumbo jumbo myself, anymore. Simply, lightly, sprinkle some tobacco in the bowl, press it down lightly so it's not sticking up over the bowl, and check the draw. If it's obviously too loose, add a touch more, and press it down again. As already mentioned, it's easier to adjust an already smoking bowl if it's too loose, than it is one that's too tight. As you acquire new pipes, you'll learn the shank drilling is more open on some than others. So this method will save you a lot of time and troubles. I think, often, as new smokers, we tend to make things more difficult than they really are. But time, patience, and practice and experience will reveal to you what works best for you... and likely sooner than you'd think. You will also learn some blends will burn easier if packed a bit tighter or looser depending on the cut of the tobacco, it's moisture level, and even the components within the blend.If you're having to pull that hard on it, then you're probably packing it too tight. They say to fill your pipe and check the draw as you do. If it feels like sucking on a milkshake, then it's too tight, dump it and reload. It should be like sucking water through a straw. Fill it looser than you think you need to, and believe me, it took a lot of practice to understand myself. You can always tamp it down if it's too loose while you smoke. It's easier to tamp it down if it's too loose than it is to loosen it if it's too tight. That might help curb the amount of draw you feel you need as well as the burning too hot issue.