Freezing Temperatures And Robust Briar

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

Hi everyone, it is very cold here in Québec (-20°C/-4°F), and I wanted to know if there is a possibility that my pipe may break due to thermal shock when I'm smoking it outside. I would rather look silly here with a question like this than break my favourite pipe. Thanks in advance!

 

[Skyfall]

Not sure about that, but those cold temps make it easier to break the stem if ya drop it!! Almost like dropping glass.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Hi everyone, it is very cold here in Québec (-20°C/-4°F), and I wanted to know if there is a possibility that my pipe may break due to thermal shock when I'm smoking it outside. I would rather look silly here with a question like this than break my favourite pipe. Thanks in advance!

I can’t answer your question. That is pretty cold. Better to ask before you become “Vlad the Pipe Destroyer”

 

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

Not sure about that, but those cold temps make it easier to break the stem if ya drop it!! Almost like dropping glass.

Thanks for the tip! I wouldn't be too worried about dropping and breaking the stem, since there is a thick layer of snow covering everything here. But I've noticed that an army mount might not be the best type of tenon-stummel connection when smoking in winter ; it tends to fall off if I'm not careful enough, the cold affecting the volume of the vulcanite.

 

[Skyfall]

Well the cold makes it extremely brittle.
I lost a nice camenitto due to cold.

 

[warren]

Pipe comes out of a nice warm pocket, stuffed and lit, nice warm cherry exuding heat, held in a warm hand, I've had no problems over many years smoking, some of it in waaay below zero temps (North Slope oil fields). Anecdotal info is all I can offer.

Of course, if the pipe already has some unseen/unknown defect....all bets are off I suppose.

 

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

Thank you, I'll keep in mind that vulcanite is fragile when cold and that I do not need to be tense when I'm out and about, smoking in the winter.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Thank you, I'll keep in mind that vulcanite is fragile when cold and that I do not need to be tense when I'm out and about, smoking in the winter.

May I suggest buying a few inexpensive corn cob pipes for the extreme weather. All of your anxiety will disappear.

 

[warren]

I should point out most smoking was in the truck when Slope temps reached -20 or so on the Slope.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I haven’t dealt with temps that cold, but while camping I have lit up my briars at well below freezing temps with no problems. And the pipe was not warmed up but 17 degrees—or whatever the temperature was

 

[Hillcrest]

I've never had a problem but then I only smoke lesser pipes in that kind of cold and not for very long...then I dump it and come inside. The pipe usually lasts longer than I do ...

 

[didimauw]

Pipe comes out of a nice warm pocket, stuffed and lit, nice warm cherry exuding heat, held in a warm hand, I've had no problems over many years smoking, some of it in waaay below zero temps (North Slope oil fields). Anecdotal info is all I can offer.

Of course, if the pipe already has some unseen/unknown defect....all bets are off I suppose.

I was going to brag about the cold here in Wisconsin, and say how I've never had any issues with my pipes. But I cant complain about the cold anymore now Warren! Make me look like a sissy here.

 

[RL Bucktails]

i would imagine some wicked moisture smoking in those temps?

 

[OzPiper]

Antarctica explorers Roald Amundsen and Sir Ernest Shackleton were noted pipe smokers.
I doubt they gave any thoughts to coddling their pipes

 

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

i would imagine some wicked moisture smoking in those temps?

The cold affects way less the humidity of the smoke as you would think. It is a less harsh, colder smoke, for sure, but I haven't noticed improved humidity (apart from the occasional water drop dripping from my mustache )

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The air around the outside would be confection cooling. The heat on the inside is touching the inside of the bowl and it's therefore conduction heating. No comparison between the two. The heat transfer from conduction is far greater than convection. Bottom line, you're pipe should be fine.

Now if the pipe were outside for an extended period of time to where it could cool down to the surrounding ambient temperature, and then you smoked it, different story. The rapid heating would cause expansion and could very well damage the pipe.