Cold pipes

trouttimes · Jan 14, 2019

Often I leave pipes in my truck overnight. In the winter it is regularly anywhere from -7 to 14 when I get started. I put the pipe I going to smoke in my pocket to warm it up before I smoke because I'm afraid it might crack if I don't. Am I being too cautious or not?

cosmicfolklore · Jan 14, 2019

I have had a meerschaum crack in just bringing it from outside to inside during an ice storm. In all of my years of lapidary, I have noticed that some specimens of stones are more susceptible to thermal shock than others, even faceted stones.

It could survive well, and take something huge to fracture it, or it could just be a 50F shift in temperature that cracks it. You never know till it's too late.
There's nothing wrong with babying it a little. Better safe than sorry.

workman · Jan 14, 2019

I think you are being sensible, although smoking it should only heat the pipe gradually. Nothing wrong with a bit of caution. The only downside I have experienced with smoking in cold weather is a little more condensation in the pipe.

pipehunter · Jan 14, 2019

I don't think you're being too cautious. At our old house, it would get down to -35 in my truck at night often enough (if not regularly), and I wouldn't leave pipes overnight. Warming the briar slowly to a more reasonable temperature before introducing fire is probably prudent.
If I were to say anything, its that maybe you aren't being cautious enough. My concern would be more for the stem material. Depends what it's made of, of course, but prolonged exposure to low temperatures and/or rapid heating from cold temperatures might be tough of them over the long haul.

philobeddoe · Jan 14, 2019

When I receive a pipe in the mail during the winter months, I open the box and let the pipe acclimate to my houses temp for several hours before I dare pull it apart, so no you aren’t being too fussy in my book.

ray47 · Jan 14, 2019

Are the pipes briars? If so, I would bring them in the house. Cobs will hold up okay in the truck. I've left mine in my car overnight in the winter and summer with no ill effects. If you want to leave them in your truck, why not wrap them in a towel and put them in a small insulated container.

cosmicfolklore · Jan 14, 2019

Ohh, my bad, I assumed they were meerschaums for some reason. I must have had rocks on the brain. Ehh, although I have never seen a briar just split with thermal shock, it's still better to err on the side of caution. My luck, I would have the first pipe in history to ever just split when lit.

Plus, there is that whole condensation thing, Workman speaks of.

Chasing Embers · Jan 14, 2019

I've had a dehydrated briar crack from smoking, but any cold pipe generally is warm by the time I get around to smoking it.

cosmicfolklore · Jan 14, 2019

OK, Embers, so I am dying to know how you dehydrated your briar. Or, what is dehydrated briar?

Chasing Embers · Jan 14, 2019

It was a very old pipe. One the moisture from smoking it came through the shank, it split from bowl to stem.

saltedplug · Jan 14, 2019

smart

3rdguy · Jan 14, 2019

This is our warmest winter in awhile, not sure if it has even gone negative. I keep all of my pipes, briar, cobs and meer in my 4 seasons room. Gets pretty cool out there, I would say upper 30’s at night. I have never had an issue at those temps but I will see this weekend as it should turn negative.
Temps you mentioned I would warm them a hair, you know, your good pipes...cobs and meers..
:mrgreen:

georgebmcclelland · Jan 14, 2019

Yep, definitely smart to let them get somewhere near room temperature in your pocket before smoking. Any sort of drastic change in temperature has the chance of producing volatile reactions. Weather/storms/tornadoes, glass breaking, frying pans warping, etc.. I have no idea of the actual risk regarding briar but, like the others have said, better safe than sorry. I also agree with Ray in that cobs are a safer go-to for a truck pipe and shouldn't have any issues with temperature as briar (or at least be less of a big deal if issues occur).

mso489 · Jan 14, 2019

Sounds smart to me. Briars differ a lot in grain and composition. Even moreso stems. You might get away with never doing this, but it seems a good use of body heat.

georgebmcclelland · Jan 14, 2019

I also seem to remember Russ saying something about this subject somewhere, regarding when you receive pipes in the mail and letting them sit for an hour or two, to adjust to the room temperature, before lighting up.

hawky454 · Jan 14, 2019

Am I being too cautious or not?

I wouldn't leave them out in my vehicle overnight but that's just me.

mechanic · Jan 14, 2019

I left a cheap ebay briar on my porch overnight got down to about 32° the next morning the bit would just fall out of it never tried smoked one cold just cause of what iv read.

verporchting · Jan 14, 2019

I wouldn't leave anything I want to ever see again in my vehicle overnight because there are wretched horrible grotty little toads out there who will break into a car to steal anything that looks like it could be pawned. It would be bad enough coming out to see your doors standing open or a window broken, but to realize your favorite pipe is gone forever and some crackhead is going to be using it for ... just no.
Also, yeah, seems like the drastic temperature change wouldn't be a great idea either. I like the notion of better safe than sorry on both accounts.

didimauw · Jan 14, 2019

1. The only thing I've had go wrong with Leaving pipes in the car in winter, is stems that no longer have a tight fit.

2. Cosmic uses big words to sound smart. Too many big words for me.

3. When did "Embers" change his name?

Cold pipes

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