A Rumination on the Superiority of Good Briar

[sablebrush52]

Thank you sir. Still struggling with whether I want to fully chance it and "lose the taste of the pipe" or apply a coating. I'm not sure how much I believe that quote which is why I'm struggling.

That "taste of the pipe" is an interesting conundrum. A number of smokers are vehemently opposed to chamber coatings because they claim it gets in the way of the "taste of the pipe". Then again, a lot of smokers don't like the taste of burning briar, that "taste of the pipe. People bitch about having to "break in" a pipe, which is basically getting rid of the "taste of the pipe". Evidently the "taste of the pipe" was something so many found unpleasant that Linkman's capitalized on it by mechanically "pre-smoking" their pipes. Once there's a cake, how much pipe is one tasting? But, it is also true that a few are enchanted by the transitory "taste of the pipe".
Maybe it's a pipe smoking-centric variation on the male right of passage, akin to being suspended by hooks placed through one's pecs for days in a sweat lodge, working one's way through Pigalle, or bungee jumping off the summit of the Matterhorn.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't think I have ever seen someone argue that aesthetic grain had any impact on smoking. By the time I got on here, "you can't smoke grain" was pretty much dogma.

I don't like bowl coatings, but not because it prevents me from smelling the warmed briar. I just had rather smoke them without. I think of it as bonding with the pipe. It's not based on any logical thing, I just like it. But, most of my pipes came coated, so it's obviously not a deal breaker. But, if I am ordering something custom, I'll request it not to be coated.

I can still smell the warm briar aroma from a 100 year old pipe. I don't want to taste actual burning pipe, but the aroma of slightly warmed briar. I can smell it from someone else smoking a pipe in proximity. It's that pipey smell. It separates the pipe aromas from all of the other forms of tobacco smoke. There are obviously other differences, but to me, it's what distinct the pipe smoking aroma from just burning tobacco.

Like warmed oak has a smell, warmed cherry, warmed walnut, all of the woods have their distinct aromas. I dig that.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I don't think I have ever seen someone argue that aesthetic grain had any impact on smoking. By the time I got on here, "you can't smoke grain" was pretty much dogma.

I don't like bowl coatings, but not because it prevents me from smelling the warmed briar. I just had rather smoke them without. I think of it as bonding with the pipe. It's not based on any logical thing, I just like it. But, most of my pipes came coated, so it's obviously not a deal breaker. But, if I am ordering something custom, I'll request it not to be coated.

I can still smell the warm briar aroma from a 100 year old pipe. I don't want to taste actual burning pipe, but the aroma of slightly warmed briar. I can smell it from someone else smoking a pipe in proximity. It's that pipey smell. It separates the pipe aromas from all of the other forms of tobacco smoke. There are obviously other differences, but to me, it's what distinct the pipe smoking aroma from just burning tobacco.

Like warmed oak has a smell, warmed cherry, warmed walnut, all of the woods have their distinct aromas. I dig that.

After you've smoked one for a while, the transition area between the bowl and shank holds that smell even when cold. I'm often caught at work just smelling pipes with concerned looks from the voyeurs.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

After you've smoked one for a while, the transition area between the bowl and shank holds that smell even when cold. I'm often caught at work just smelling pipes with concerned looks from the voyeurs.

I have caught myself smelling my pipes, ha ha. Especially when I am trying to pick one out for a new blend.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

How long must one ruminate in order to experience this?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Please read the very recent article by Greg Pease. HERE

I am concerned when we use an article by Greg to shut down conversations, especially by a moderator. I love Greg, respect the hell out of him, and I will buy his blends till I no longer can, but he is damn sure a LOOOOOOONG way from being a God ordained master of pipes and tobaccos. Yes, he may know more than the majority of us, even me. And, he may have been writing about these topics since before most of the board was born, but we might as well just ask Greg everything if we think this. What point is the forum then? "Lets talk about what Greg says..."

Briar Lee, you've got a tough room here. I want you to feel welcome to this forum, and don't be afraid to post any topic you want to talk about. And, if someone pulls the Greg is F'n God card, I will be the first to stand up for you. Also, keep in mind, that I will be the first to defend Greg if someone goes shootin' off on him. He is to be respected for his work in our hobby, but I won't put him on a pedestal, and I am pretty sure he don't want to set on one either.

 

[jpmcwjr]

In all fairness, I must point out that good quality briar does not become hot and especially not scolding hot during the first or subsequent smokes - unless you tchoo tchoo train your way down the bowl.
And it certainly doesn't sweat, either.

Becoming hot is more a function of the thickness of the wall or drawing too fast or often. Not to say there is no difference among heat transfer attributes in various briars—but it'd be minuscule.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Becoming hot is more a function of the thickness of the wall or drawing too fast or often. Not to say there is no difference among heat transfer attributes in various briars—but it'd be minuscule.

Yeah, this fellow barely gets warm to the touch.

 

[telescopes]

All things being equal in terms of drawl, tobacco, how the pipe is smoked, the briar between different briars stands as the independent variable. Tightness of the grain can be considered a variable. Without a smoking machine to test pipes, my hypothesis that grain tightness may impact the conductivity of heat transfer.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

All things being equal in terms of drawl

Drawl, ha ha.

my hypothesis that grain tightness may impact the conductivity of heat transfer.

Why wouldn't the openness of the pores allow more transfer of heat, as in the larger grain patterns?

I don't think anyone can say what is or isn't when we talk about the characteristics of briar. I posted a thread just a year ago or so about how my thicker walled pipes smoked way cooler, and they do. Not the walls staying cool, but the smoke.
People lost their minds. I think that there is an element of magic, irrationality, and counter-intuitiveness in all aspects of the hobby. That, and the logic of pipesmokers makes no rhyme nor reason.
"I smoke for flavor not nicotine," two posts latter, "smoking for taste is ridiculous, can't no one taste them things in the smoke." Ha ha! Just a bunch of blind people trying to figure out what this thing is that we're trapped inside of.

 

[telescopes]

Drawl, ha ha.


Why wouldn't the openness of the pores allow more transfer of heat, as in the larger grain patterns?

I don't think anyone can say what is or isn't when we talk about the characteristics of briar. I posted a thread just a year ago or so about how my thicker walled pipes smoked way cooler, and they do. Not the walls staying cool, but the smoke.
People lost their minds. I think that there is an element of magic, irrationality, and counter-intuitiveness in all aspects of the hobby. That, and the logic of pipesmokers makes no rhyme nor reason.
"I smoke fort flavor not nicotine," two posts latter, "smoking for taste is ridiculous, can't no one taste them things in the smoke." Ha ha! Just a bunch of blind people trying to figure out what this thing is that we're trapped inside of.

Drawl - isn’t that descriptive of an Alabama smoker, long and slow. I heard ya’all smoke with a “pacific “ dialect.

 

[telescopes]

I would imagine a tight grain better retains heat in the bowl. I admit I might be wrong in the absence of a ”labatory”.?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Drawl - isn’t that descriptive of an Alabama smoker, long and slow. I heard ya’all smoke with a pacific dialect.

An Elizabethan Drawl, ha ha.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I am concerned when we use an article by Greg to shut down conversations, especially by a moderator. << Snipped bits out >>

That's BS, Michael. "We" - meaning me in this case- did not "shut down" conversations- we're at a full five pages now.

And, if someone pulls the Greg is F'n God card, I will be the first to stand up for you. Also, keep in mind, that I will be the first to defend Greg if someone goes shootin' off on him. He is to be respected for his work in our hobby, but I won't put him on a pedestal, and I am pretty sure he don't want to set on one either.

No card, no God, no pulling intended.

I posted a link to that article because it is relevant to this thread and quite recent. So, pull your head out, mate!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

That's BS, Michael. "We" - meaning me in this case- did not "shut down" conversations- we're at a full five pages now.

No card, no God, no pulling intended.

I posted a link to that article because it is relevant to this thread and quite recent. So, pull your head out, mate!

Adding it to the moderation made it look like part of the moderation. My bad.

 

[telescopes]

Now ya’all see here, this here pipe of mine smokes like aunt Margo’s red velvet kaaake except’in better like cause she she don’t use noth’in but whipped cream for the top’in. (Said while pointing the stem at you just to emphasize the seriousness of this here accusation).

She don’t buy her no kaayke From Walmarts! Bahkes em herself.

 

[telescopes]

That's BS, Michael. "We" - meaning me in this case- did not "shut down" conversations- we're at a full five pages now.

No card, no God, no pulling intended.

I posted a link to that article because it is relevant to this thread and quite recent. So, pull your head out, mate!

He’s a southerner. You can’t be using any high sounding England type talk. Cosmic speaks American.

?

 

[telescopes]

In All seriousness, this is an informative thread.

 

[jpmcwjr]

He’s a southerner. You can’t be using any high sounding England type talk. Cosmic speaks American.

?

Yeah, but he's sneaky; he understands a whole lot.

I wonder, Michael, can you do a decent British accent? I bet yes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeah, but he's sneaky; he understands a whole lot.

I wonder, Michael, can you do a decent British accent? I bet yes.

Hell, barely anyone can knows what I am saying now, much less if I start talking funny voices.