How Hard is it to Burnout a Pipe?

[Piperjd]

Hello, I’ve asked more specific questions about specific pipes before but I have a more broad question.

-How hard is it to really burnout a decently made pipe, like a newer Savinellli, Peterson POTY, or a Dunhill?

I get the impression it’s very rare from forum posts I’ve seen, but my real issue is I find myself avoiding smoking pipes that I really love (Peterson 2021 POTY, I got into smoking pipes because of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes so that’s a big one, or other a Peterson POTY models I have, and some dunhills) because I’m mortified of burning them out and ruining them.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can smoke without the bowl getting too hot to hold, but I’m still so new to the actual looks of the inside of a bowl after some smoking so any color/wear inside of it scares me.

I’ve never even smoked one pipe long enough to build up any real cake because I keep switching to avoid any damage.

Any tips to get over this would be appreciated. I have 3 gorgeous 2021 POTYs sitting in boxes because I’m mortified of hurting them.

 

[Brad H]

Just don’t use a torch lighter and I think you will be fine.

 

[Bbailey324]

They are a fair bit tougher than your concern warrants. Don't puff like a crazy person and you should be fine. If your pipe starts feeling hot to touch put it down for a bit.

 

[Piperjd]

They are a fair bit tougher than your concern warrants. Don't puff like a crazy person and you should be fine. If your pipe starts feeling hot to touch put it down for a bit.

I think I have a sentimentality issue with some of them, and I’m babying them too much

 

[dogparkpiper]

It’s not going to happen like people fear.

 

[xrundog]

Pipes can burn through in weird places due to a defect in the wood. This usually happens pretty soon through no fault of the smoker.
I have had some estate pipes that were just burned. Usually the back part of the bowl. But sometimes all around it. To do that you have to pull hard and constant. You gotta stoke it. And some people do.
I’m a puffer. Pipes can get warm for me. But I have never come close to burning a pipe from normal use.
As long as you aren’t tasting burning wood after the first couple smokes you’re okay.

 

[warren]

Very hard if the pipe isn't already compromised. An inside pit, unnoticed by the carver and passed by any existing QC, could lead to burnout.

 

[Piperjd]

Very hard if the pipe isn't already compromised. An inside pit, unnoticed by the carver and passed by any existing QC, could lead to burnout.

Thanks!

 

[Piperjd]

Pipes can burn through in weird places due to a defect in the wood. This usually happens pretty soon through no fault of the smoker.
I have had some estate pipes that were just burned. Usually the back part of the bowl. But sometimes all around it. To do that you have to pull hard and constant. You gotta stoke it. And some people do.
I’m a puffer. Pipes can get warm for me. But I have never come close to burning a pipe from normal use.
As long as you aren’t tasting burning wood after the first couple smokes you’re okay.

Thank you so much

 

[upnorth1]

I started smoking a pipe over half a century ago. All I had was codger blends and affordable pipes, no help, no internet. Now in my 75th year I have yet to burn out a pipe. If it happened now I would be fairly confident it was a defective pipe. Don’t overthink pipe smoking. Just relax and enjoy.

 

[Piperjd]

This is why I’m here. This kind of help is priceless. Thank you sir

I started smoking a pipe over half a century ago. All I had was codger blends and affordable pipes, no help, no internet. Now in my 75th year I have yet to burn out a pipe. If it happened now I would be fairly confident it was a defective pipe. Don’t overthink pipe smoking. Just relax and enjoy.

 

[anotherbob]

Hello, I’ve asked more specific questions about specific pipes before but I have a more broad question.

-How hard is it to really burnout a decently made pipe, like a newer Savinellli, Peterson POTY, or a Dunhill?

I get the impression it’s very rare from forum posts I’ve seen, but my real issue is I find myself avoiding smoking pipes that I really love (Peterson 2021 POTY, I got into smoking pipes because of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes so that’s a big one, or other a Peterson POTY models I have, and some dunhills) because I’m mortified of burning them out and ruining them.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can smoke without the bowl getting too hot to hold, but I’m still so new to the actual looks of the inside of a bowl after some smoking so any color/wear inside of it scares me.

I’ve never even smoked one pipe long enough to build up any real cake because I keep switching to avoid any damage.

Any tips to get over this would be appreciated. I have 3 gorgeous 2021 POTYs sitting in boxes because I’m mortified of hurting them.

the two ways I've seen burn out is either someone that always smokes really quick. Like a full bowl in 20 minutes or less, or sometimes there are just hidden flaws in the material and usually that happens right away. So yeah not worth worrying about. Oh and if you do get some burn out you can repair it super easy like kindergarten crafts levels of skill.

 

[Piperjd]

the two ways I've seen burn out is either someone that always smokes really quick. Like a full bowl in 20 minutes or less, or sometimes there are just hidden flaws in the material and usually that happens right away. So yeah not worth worrying about. Oh and if you do get some burn out you can repair it super easy like kindergarten crafts levels of skill.

I was that 20 minute bowl guy and I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t even getting too hot but I was finishing bigger bowled pipes in 25 minutes easily

 

[anotherbob]

I was that 20 minute bowl guy and I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t even getting too hot but I was finishing bigger bowled pipes in 25 minutes easily

I honestly don't worry about time too much. It's only one indicator of how you're smoking. Could be how it's packed. Could be the tobacco too.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If you build up a little cake and don't use a torch lighter, one would struggle to burn out a pipe. The exception, as several have mentioned, is if there is an unseen defect in the bowl somewhere. I've had that happen twice. One was on the side near the bottom of a thick bowl. I smoked it carefully for awhile and it filled in with cake just fine.

 

[Piperjd]

If you build up a little cake and don't use a torch lighter, one would struggle to burn out a pipe. The exception, as several have mentioned, is if there is an unseen defect in the bowl somewhere. I've had that happen twice. One was on the side near the bottom of a thick bowl. I smoked it carefully for awhile and it filled in with cake just fine.

Thank you. I’ve really think I just have a lot of sentimental value attached to the specific ones I worry about because of them being Rathbone models and not being available anymore. But I usually end up buying 2 of any pipe I like because I don’t want to ruin the only one I have, lol. And like I said I’ve never even built up a cake because I’ve never smoked one enough times to do that. — it’s a big problem

 

[Waning Embers]

I was that 20 minute bowl guy and I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t even getting too hot but I was finishing bigger bowled pipes in 25 minutes easily

Cube cut in a .86"×1.6" chamber will last me around 80-90 minutes but that is a small pipe.

 

[Piperjd]

Cube cut in a .86"×1.6" chamber will last me around 80-90 minutes but that is a small pipe.

That’s nuts. I’ve had one smoke in almost a year that’s lasted an hour. It was a 2023 POTY from Peterson.

 

[Waning Embers]

That’s nuts. I’ve had one smoke in almost a year that’s lasted an hour. It was a 2023 POTY from Peterson.

Sounds good. Looks to be a similarly small chamber at .76"×1.6".

 

[didimauw]

Sounds good. Looks to be a similarly small chamber at .76"×1.6".

Yup that's my favorite size chamber, and I get usually an hour every smoke.