I just ordered a Devil Anse from Moonshine Pipe Co. This is my first brand new pipe. If you were getting this and needed to break it in, how would you go about it? Also what type of tobacco should I use to break in the pipe?
New pipe. Breaking it in questions.
- Thread starter smokeymcsmokerson
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I use English blends, and do it old school: partial bowls for a bit, then full ones. Important to smoke slowly and don't overheat the stummel. I also just load full and smoke away carefully.
All the methods for breaking in a pipe work, so I’ve settled on filling the pipe and smoking it, because it avoids all the complications of trying to figure out just where I am in the process.
Fill it to the top and smoke it. I have broken in lots of pipes and filled everyone to the top. I use VA, VAper or Vabur flakes and that builds a nice hard cake within 10-15 bowls. If you don't smoke flakes then just smoke your favorite tobacco and enjoy. Cake will build eventually no matter what you smoke.
I have a decent amount of PS Navy Flake. I’ll burn that. I just st don’t wanna screw this pie up.
I don't worry about half bowls eventually moving on to full bowls. I just fill the bowl with my tobacco of choice and smoke it. If it's a naked bowl (meaning no precarb) I do take extra precautions to smoke slower and cooler. But otherwise it's business as usual. For brand new pipes I will always let it sit for at least 24 hours between smokes just to be on the safe side.
There are a number of rituals -- partial bowls, simple blends, treating the bowl with honey. If those appeal to you, read about them and follow through accordingly. Eventually, most of us just pack and smoke, and do fine. Cake building is optional, or scoop out the ash and just wipe out the bowl with a paper towel or napkin, for a thin carbon coat that needs no reaming. It's a minority approach, but many old pipe guys/gals do it.
A million different answers. Here's what works for me. Burley tobacco, full bowls. Smoke slowly, like extra slowly, the first few bowls. Set it down and let it cool if it gets too hot. Light again when cool. However, sometimes I just want to know how well a pipe is made and if there are any hidden flaws. Then I smoke, hot and heavy, quick bowls. Test that thing, but know that it's going to be a problem if there are issues. Only do this if you think that you can get it replaced.
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