New Briar, Weird Reaction Please Help

[Alex.Jr]

Hi everyone, new user here and first time posting already needing some help...

First let me say I searched the forum, google and Reddit but couldn’t find anything that explained what’s happening. So here it goes.

I have 5 pipes that I smoke daily but none of them are made of briar. Recently I bought 4 new savinelli’s and some amphora original just to have a change from the usual English, Virginia’s and vapers.

So new pipe, new tobacco ( ouch that’s dangerous ), dried the stuff, packed light and fired it up.

Smoking slowly as always, some briar taste but everything ok. Didn’t feel any bite or discomfort from the tobacco. Ended that day with 2 bowls.

Second day, second new pipe and same tobacco. And the same for the third day.

That’s when the trouble began. I just started to feel a weird mouth and tongue sensitivity, it wasn’t chemical tongue bite or burn, we’ve all been there ( and revisit sometimes ), it was something different, I had my hard palate a little bumpy and the tongue felt like it was just irritated but not burned or painful, and the next day it was almost back to normal. Just and overall mouth irritation kind of feeling.

Well nothing wrong with the technique, so what is this? I just thought, you know what? This could be something with burley, since none of my usual blends are burley based. All that burley and PH thing came to my mind and well, that must be it.

So after a few days with the pipe down I came back with my usual blend and just put that amphora stuff away.

Started smoking my SAV again and that weird mouth sensation felt like it was coming back, but not quite there. What the hell?? But now I’m smoking my usual tobacco rotation!

Woke up the next day and decided to try something. I packed 2 pipes, my old one and one new SAV.

I was quite shocked and surprised to find that my old pipe was not giving me that weird feeling and the moment I put the SAV in my mouth I felt that mild irritation again.

Just to be clear, it’s just a mild weird feeling, a mild irritation, nothing hurts or tickles or burns, but something is there, I just can not figure out what and why.

Both pipes packed lightly, smoked cool and slowly, as always.

So here is what I’ve been wondering. I know fresh briar tastes bad sometimes, but can this be related to the briar being unbroken?

Is it possible that something used in the wood, or some chemical from the natural stuff is burning with the tobacco and causing some mild irrittation? Two pipes came with the pre carbonized bowl, the other two didn’t.

I even thought of allergy from the briar, but it this even a thing? I guess and allergic reaction would be much worse than that, especially after 6 bowls in 3 days.

Has anybody ever had any reaction from a new briar other than a bad taste? Maybe tongue bite, hot smoke... anything? I’m really lost here...

I can only blame the new pipe, as all other variables were practically eliminated.

If this is really the case, do you think it goes away with the braking in process? My wife just said “ keep smoking that thing and it will burn away”.

I’m really worried about this since it’s 4 new pipes I should be enjoying.

Sorry for the long post, but I would really appreciate some help.

Thanks!

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Was there any varnish or stain that got into the chamber? Aside from that, I’m not sure what would cause your experience.

 

[Alex.Jr]

No varnish or stain. 2 bowls pre carbonized, the other 2 without.

It’s one Petite 105, one 106 billiard, and two 321s.

 

[cshubhra]

First ... welcome to the forum.
Second ... I don’t know what is your issue, (and probably cannot help) but here are the questions

1. Does your new pipes take a filter ?
2. Are you smoking with the filter, adapter or with wide open draw?
3. Can you try to draw more slowly than you normally do?

I would guess that you are drawing a bit extra steam than you normally do. It can be that the new briar itself is not fully cured, it can be a permanent flow problem with the pipe or it even can be that the draw is different from what you normally used to, because of presence/absence of filter/adapter. It this case, changing the configuration or your cadence might help you.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Did you try the Amphora in an old pipe that you know is good?

 

[Alex.Jr]

First ... welcome to the forum.
Second ... I don’t know what is your issue, (and probably cannot help) but here are the questions

1. Does your new pipes take a filter ?
2. Are you smoking with the filter, adapter or with wide open draw?
3. Can you try to draw more slowly than you normally do?

I would guess that you are drawing a bit extra steam than you normally do. It can be that the new briar itself is not fully cured, it can be a permanent flow problem with the pipe or it even can be that the draw is different from what you normally used to, because of presence/absence of filter/adapter. It this case, changing the configuration or your cadence might help you.

1 yes they do except the 105. I’ve tried with and without filter, with and without adapter.

Smoking slowly as always, breathsmoking, pipe almost going out.

I can only assume that this is something related to the wood and curing process like you’ve said, but this is driving me crazy.

 

[mso489]

Savinelli is one of the most widely sold brands in Europe and the U.S., maybe elsewhere, so there is a wide demographic of Sav smokers including here on Forums. I've never heard of sensitivity problems with Sav's as a brand, but clearly you are having a problem. You could try sanding out the bowl coating put in there to prevent over-hot smoking problems beginners sometimes have; the coating doesn't affect most people, but you could be allergic. You can sand it out then rinse out the bowl, shank and stem; a little water won't hurt the pipe, just don't soak it. As your wife says, after clearing out the coating, smoking it will form a carbon layer that should be a barrier to any residue. Perhaps it is just the one pipe, not all four? Or maybe not. I don't think this eliminates smoking these pipes for you, but it may take some work to make them right. Some use salt to absorb residue, as in cleaning a previously used pipe. Some use liquor for the purpose. I think there will be an abundance of other recommendations here, probably better than mine. I think you will like your Sav pipes once you get this break-in problem resolved; I don't think it is a deal breaker. I must have twenty or more Savinelli pipes, and though I've had chemical burn from some blend flavorings, I think, the pipes have never been a problem.

 

[Alex.Jr]

Did you try the Amphora in an old pipe that you know is good?

Since I thought the amphora was the reason I haven’t tried that. But smoked other blends I’m well used to.

 

[Alex.Jr]

Savinelli is one of the most widely sold brands in Europe and the U.S., maybe elsewhere, so there is a wide demographic of Sav smokers including here on Forums. I've never heard of sensitivity problems with Sav's as a brand, but clearly you are having a problem. You could try sanding out the bowl coating put in there to prevent over-hot smoking problems beginners sometimes have; the coating doesn't affect most people, but you could be allergic. You can sand it out then rinse out the bowl, shank and stem; a little water won't hurt the pipe, just don't soak it. As your wife says, after clearing out the coating, smoking it will form a carbon layer that should be a barrier to any residue. Perhaps it is just the one pipe, not all four? Or maybe not. I don't think this eliminates smoking these pipes for you, but it may take some work to make them right. Some use salt to absorb residue, as in cleaning a previously used pipe. Some use liquor for the purpose. I think there will be an abundance of other recommendations here, probably better than mine. I think you will like your Sav pipes once you get this break-in problem resolved; I don't think it is a deal breaker. I must have twenty or more Savinelli pipes, and though I've had chemical burn from some blend flavorings, I think, the pipes have never been a problem.

Thank you for the tips. Unfortunately it’s happening with all four. I’ve been thinking of sanding or just giving it a salt treatment.

Perhaps try to smoke some more before doing those steps? Since it isn’t a mouth destroying reaction.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Since I thought the amphora was the reason I haven’t tried that. But smoked other blends I’m well used to.

Have all of the Savinellis that are giving you trouble seen a bowl of Amphora before smoking your old regular blends?

 

[Alex.Jr]

Have all of the Savinellis that are giving you trouble seen a bowl of Amphora before smoking your old regular blends?

All except one 321.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

All except one 321.

I don’t know. Tough to say, but I’m more inclined to believe you’re sensitive to the Burley in the Amphora than to the pipes. If so, it might take a few bowls to clear that Burley out of those pipes.

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know anything except that sometimes new briars smoke harsh. My Peterson smoked horridly harshly first couple smokes. Not quite tongue bite, but not comfortable or good either. A lot like you described actually. After a thin tiny little amount of cake started forming and suddenly the pipe is as easy and cool and not ouchy even in the slightiest as my other pipes. That pipe has a coating that I blame for that. That said it also seems to be putting on the most even cake I've ever encountered.

 

[Alex.Jr]

I don’t know. Tough to say, but I’m more inclined to believe you’re sensitive to the Burley in the Amphora than to the pipes. If so, it might take a few bowls to clear that Burley out of those pipes.

I was so afraid it was the burley that I didn’t want to revisit it. But eventually I’ll have to test that.

 

[Alex.Jr]

I don't know anything except that sometimes new briars smoke harsh. My Peterson smoked horridly harshly first couple smokes. Not quite tongue bite, but not comfortable or good either. A lot like you described actually. After a thin tiny little amount of cake started forming and suddenly the pipe is as easy and cool and not ouchy even in the slightiest as my other pipes. That pipe has a coating that I blame for that. That said it also seems to be putting on the most even cake I've ever encountered.

Well, I guess I’d better smoke this thing and see how it goes. Hopefully it will go away.

 

[Waning Embers]

So new pipe, new tobacco ( ouch that’s dangerous

Not at all, I use new pipe purchases as an excuse to try new tobacco's.

Sounds like a tobacco type aversion if it's only happening with one blend. Get some Biotene to help with the irritation.

 

[Olkofri]

All this is making me afraid of buying a Savinelli. ?

 

[mingc]

How many times has this happen with each Sav and with each non-briar? And what are the non-briars?

 

[Casual]

All this is making me afraid of buying a Savinelli. ?

It should only make you afraid of reading forums. :D

 

[Waning Embers]

All this is making me afraid of buying a Savinelli. ?

Don't be.?