Latest PAD - Bruce Weaver Bent Apple

That pipe is screaming for flakes. Love the contrast stain which really sets off that wonderful blast. Congrats.

That is an awesome looking Weaver. Great color and great blast. I agree about his stem work, the 2 I have are both very comfortable. Congrats on your new addition.
I also smoke flakes exclusively and find the cube cut method works best for me. I get a nice consistent burn along with a cool smoke and great flavors. Give it a try sometime.

Dude! That's killer! What's the length on that bad boy!
@peck? Why do we say that is screaming for flake? What makes a pipe more or less desirable for flake tobaccos...?

The stain and grain are fabulous. Workmanship is stunning. Congrats!
How's she smoke mountainman?

@peck? Why do we say that is screaming for flake? What makes a pipe more or less desirable for flake tobaccos...?

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Same question!

@peck? Why do we say that is screaming for flake? What makes a pipe more or less desirable for flake tobaccos...?

Click to expand...

I find larger pipes - group 5 or 6 or larger - are best for English or Balkan blends. I think you need the larger size to allow the orientals to open up, at least in my experience.
With a flake pipe (and, in particular, if you use the fold and stuff or cube cut method), I look for a smaller size bowl to allow for a concentration of the VA flavours - ideally, a group 3 to a smaller group 5, with a group 4 being the sweet spot for me. Some also say that a conical bowl is best for smoking flakes because it also operates to accentuate the concentration aspect - I get this in theory but to me the size of the bowl is more important than the shape of the bowl itself. What is key to me is that the bowl diameter should be no more than 3/4 of an inch (.75) and not too deep (1" to 1.5") to allow the flavours to concentrate and to minimize moisture build-up at the bottom of the bowl (which I find flake tobacco is particularly prone to).

With a flake pipe (and, in particular, if you use the fold and stuff or cube cut method), I look for a smaller size bowl to allow for a concentration of the VA flavours - ideally, a group 3 to a smaller group 5, with a group 4 being the sweet spot for me.

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Got it Peck, just the info I was looking for. I've also Heard that flakes can get bitey, but it only stands to reason if they are prone to moisture buildup at the bottom of the bowl.
I managed to get a tin of Irish Flake and I'm thinking of picking myself up a small Peterson Bent Bulldog with a P-Lip as a Father's Day present to myself, and the whole flake pipe justification just may be the push I need! The P-lip is a bit of a turn-off for me, but I have so few choices at my local so-called B&M.
Thanks again.

dottie, I would not go for a p-lip. I had one and in my opinion you lose flavor because the smoke is directed to the roof of your mouth where you have no taste buds. There are tons of places online to buy pipes, you are not limited to a b/m. Most have free shipping or orders of 95 plus. Check out our sponsors.
I have flake pipes that have a bowl width of 13/16 and find those to smoke flakes very well. Many of mine are also .75 and the jump to .82(13/16) really doesn't do anything to the smoking properties that I have seen. I do not own any pipes that are 7/8 or 1 inch as that is too big for my tastes. If you are going to delve into flakes, I would suggest a Dublin or Apple as your first pipe. I have a good number of both of those shapes and love the way they smoke. The other shapes I own are Rhodesians, Brandy's, Billiards, Cherrywood, Poker and Lovat and all of them smoke my flakes extremely well.