How long to smoke a bowl?

[InWithBothFeet]

I'm curious, when you smoke a bowl, how long are you generally taking? My bowls generally last 20 minutes or so if everything goes smoothly. I never smoke all the way to the bottom and there is always a little that I waste at the end when it seems to get harsher.

 

[Trainpipeman]

Depending on bowl size, anywhere from 20-40 minutes.

 

[didimauw]

I consider myself a fast smoker. But I can make a Ropp Etudiant Billiard Last 45 mins to an hour. With 3 or 4 immediate relights.

Measurements & Other Details​

• Length: 5.36 in./136.08 mm.
• Weight: 0.80 oz./22.68 g.
• Bowl Height: 1.58 in./40.25 mm.
• Chamber Depth: 1.42 in./36.03 mm.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.77 in./19.68 mm.
• Outside Diameter: 125.85 in./3,196.56 mm.
• Stem Material: Vulcanite
• Filter: None
• Shape: Billiard
• Finish: Sandblast
• Material: Briar
• Country: France

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It really depends on the size of the pipe’s chamber and the cut of tobacco. I have tiny pipes that last twenty minutes at best; some deep chambered pipes will last over five hours with a crumble cut. In a pipe with an “average sized” .75" x 1.5" chamber, about ninety minutes to two hours? It varies with the way it’s packed, the dryness of the tobacco, the cut—lots of variables.

 

[Sigmund]

I aim for 45-50 minutes. After that Im pretty much ready to do something else. I use meer chips or broken clay pottery chips in the bottom of my pipe. In big pipes I use more, in small less. There are a few blends that smoke a really long time. For those I will pack an average pipe with less tobacco. I prefer a fresh pipe over old relights.

 

[AJL67]

Never really thought about how long "it should last" i smoke and enjoy, sometimes i smoke faster, sometimes I will take a few puffs and put the pipe down and pick it up 10 minutes later and relight if needed and puff a bit more until i finish it or put it down.

There are 100s of variables.

Don't over think it, pipes are relaxing and enjoyable, overthinking it can harsh the enjoyment. I like to think pipes are excellent for pondering things other than if I'm doing it right.

 

[Hillcrest]

To repeat, it depends on the size of the chamber. My Savinelli 2614ks (20mmx42mm chamber) can go 20 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes depending on my cadence. My Peterson Pub pipe (22.5mm x 51.50 chamber) can go for 1-2.5 hours or all day if I put it down and re-light later. I prefer the larger chambers for travel/work pipes because I can put it down and return to it later. I've yet to smoke the pub pipe straight through in one sitting as I don't have that kind of patience or time but I imagine it would be a very long time. The goal is to smoke slowly and sip the tobacco making it last as long as possible that's why they have slow smoking championships although I believe (but don't know for sure) that they all begin with 3 grams of tobacco.

PS read this thread, it helps:

On Smoking Slowly and the Benefits... :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

It has been 8 years since I have posted a thread about the benefits of slow smoking. I took a break to let other smokers step up and address this issue. But, I notice that a lot of new posts can easily be summed up with taking notice that smoking slow is the goal. So, here is goes... The...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[InWithBothFeet]

Thanks, I'm just trying to get a few points of info for comparison. It appears that I am not smoking as slowly as I think I am. When it goes smoothly, the bowl barely gets warm. This is 1.5 x .79 bowl. Peterson Bent Dublin #69

 

[Streeper541]

... until I'm finished.

 

[kcghost]

Until I am finished sounds about right for me, I usually last an hour-and-a-half.

 

[AJL67]

I suppose if the bowl gets too hot to touch or the tobacco is very harsh tasting then you are smoking too fast. Add that to my reply above.

 

[anotherbob]

Thanks, I'm just trying to get a few points of info for comparison. It appears that I am not smoking as slowly as I think I am. When it goes smoothly, the bowl barely gets warm. This is 1.5 x .79 bowl. Peterson Bent Dublin #69

both pipes and nasal snuff confound new users by showing them they're not as gentle or as slow as they think. One thing is how do you pack your pipe, takes a while to get that down and as far as going slow I have two hints: sip and focus not on getting smoke in your mouth (it just happens) focus on tending the ember.
But more importantly the whole thing is if you go easier and more gently on your smoking you'll probably find your self thinking wow it's even more enjoyable, but as long as you are enjoying it that is what matters most. I know a pipe smoker who freight trains his pipes smokes hot and fast. The guy is enjoying himself and they're his pipes. Oh and smoking hot increase the chance of breaking the pipe.
I smoke pretty slow but every once in a while I get an unintentionally quick smoke out of my pipes.

 

[sablebrush52]

It really depends on the size of the pipe’s chamber and the cut of tobacco. I have tiny pipes that last twenty minutes at best; some deep chambered pipes will last over five hours with a crumble cut. In a pipe with an “average sized” .75" x 1.5" chamber, about ninety minutes to two hours? It varies with the way it’s packed, the dryness of the tobacco, the cut—lots of variables.

About the same. Anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending.

 

[InWithBothFeet]

I'm just trying to figure out this flavor thing. It must be in there someplace.

 

[Trainpipeman]

I'm just trying to figure out this flavor thing. It must be in there someplace.

Some people pick up on nuances. I never have. If I like it, that is good enough for me.

 

[proteus]

When you inhale and relight and no smoke comes out. Then your done.

For me that is at minimum 40 mins and up to 2 hours.

You can also load up half a bowl. I checked and there is no law in these 50 states against loading a half bowl.

Remember though you can come back to an unfinished bowl too. You don't have finish everything in your bowl before you get to have cake.

All kidding aside don't over think. The only way to know is smoke your pipe. That's the answer for everything. Just smoke it.

 

[seanv]

If you're looking for a guideline, I would suggest focusing more on temperature of the smoke and flavor of the smoke. If the pipe stays cool and the flavor is good, you're doing it right

 

[anotherbob]

I'm just trying to figure out this flavor thing. It must be in there someplace.

the hotter you smoke typically the less flavor. Also write a review or three of the blends you've smoked. Something about planning to do that seems to sharpen the senses a bit.

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm just trying to figure out this flavor thing. It must be in there someplace.

It takes some patience, practice, and experimentation. There’s no shortcut.
Generally speaking, the slower and cooler you smoke a blend, the more flavor you get. The art, to the extent that there is any, is in finding that balance where you can keep your pipe simmering, just at the edge of going out, and sip away. That’s when the flavors come out and play.
Don’t forget to snork. Your schnoz has more flavor receptors than your mouth.

 

[InWithBothFeet]

Some people pick up on nuances. I never have. If I like it, that is good enough for me.

It's way early, but I'm beginning to think that may be where I'm at. I don't like foods that advertise "hint of..." it either tastes like something or it doesn't. No half measures.