Bore Diameters and Impact on Packing

[bowler1]

Trying this a second time...hopefully not a double post...
I have been experimenting over the last couple of years with different pipes and bore diameters. My current pipes range from .71 to .83. Still trying to decide what I prefer. I guess I like about.75 inches, but I have some really nice pipes that are larger in diameter and I don't want to give up on them.
Whenever I smoke the larger ones though I end up having a sub-optimal smoke b/c I can't get them packed just right. I either get them packed too tight or too loose. Also I tend to get an uneven burn across the diameter of the bowl.
Should one pack a larger bowl differently than a smaller bowl with all other things being equal? Any advice on the subject would be appreciated. I also welcome any comments on the topic of bore diameter and your preference.
thanks

Matt

 

[bowler1]

As a follow up to this post, most of the blends that have given me trouble in the larger bore pipes are finer cut ribbons. Are bigger bores better suited to chunkier and less compressible blends?
thanks

Matt

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I usually save my larger diameter bowls for Balakan or English blends as it seems they do well in those pipes. It could be the level of moistness of the tobacco that is hindering the ability of your smoke.

 

[bassbug]

My current pipes range from .71 to .83

I guess I like about.75 inches

Whenever I smoke the larger ones though I end up having a sub-optimal smoke b/c I can't get them packed just right.

You get a "good smoke" with 0.75 inches, but a "bad smoke" with 0.83 inches?
Seriously? 8/100s of an inch? thats about the width of a ribbon cut. What about the 0.71 inch bowls you have? Do they also not give you the "optimal smoke? They're only 4/100s inch in difference.
I'm no expert, but I really think you're overthinking this one.

 

[Waning Embers]

How often are you using a tamper?

 

[Waning Embers]

Seriously? 8/100s of an inch? thats about the width of a ribbon cut.

May be shape of chamber. Conical versus cylinder?

 

[bassbug]

0.83-0.75=0.08....less than 1/10th of an inch
I don't understand your math.

 

[Waning Embers]

I misread. Just woke up.

 

[bassbug]

You need a good cup of coffee and a smoke
No worries.

 

[Waning Embers]

Absolutely.

 

[bassbug]

But, seeing as how our colleague is asking for possible solutions....
How about you just build up a cake of 4/100s of an inch around the bowl diameter. 4/100s reduction in radius=8/100s reduction in diameter. Problem solved.
On the smaller diameter bowls, unless they are very thin walled, 2/100s shaved off the radius (i.e. around the entire bowl) will get them to 0.75 diameter, just the size you like. I doubt very much that will do much harm or cause overheating.
Having said all this, I honestly think getting micrometers and callipers involved in pipe smoking just kinda takes the joy out of it

 

[Waning Embers]

I'm still curious if the bowls are shaped differently, and thinking too that there may be a difference in diameter of the draft hole.

 

[bassbug]

What he said
I suspect the differences lie in the size of the draft hole, not the bowl diameter.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Diameter of bowl, depth of bowl, shape of bowl, position of draught hole, cut of tobacco, type of tobacco, dryness of tobacco, far too many variables. As Bassbug states, too much overthinking of things.
I have two identical bent billiards made by Parker and they both smoke quite differently.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Personally I favor bowls between .68 and .75.

I smoke mostly straight Virginia flakes and ribbons, and a couple vaper/vabur blends.

I find a narrow bowl typically delivers a more concentrated Virginia flavor...just my opinion.

 

[pitchfork]

I dunno, but 8/100 of an inch could make a difference if the packing isn't quite right. Probably the way you're packing is just right for .75 inch bore, but not for the larger and smaller ones. With a .71 inch bore, it's easy to pack too tightly. By the same token, with a larger, .80+ bore, you have a greater chance of leaving too much room, which can cause an uneven and/or fast burn.
I would continue to adjust my packing before I'd write off certain bowl diameters, but if that's what works for you, you could just make a point of buying pipes in your preferred range.

 

[aldecaker]

It's possible that your smoking style, meaning your draw cadence and how softly or vigorously you draw on the pipe, is better suited to a certain size bowl. In my case, a 3/4"-ish bowl diameter coupled with a 1 1/2"-ish bowl depth seems to suit me very well for the majority of blends I smoke. Do I have some wider, shallower bowls for Lat bombs and such? Sure, but a 1:2 ratio of diameter to depth seems to be my magic spot. Don't feel bad for sticking to one bowl size or ratio if it works for you.

 

[mso489]

Those wider bowls will do an excellent job with more complex blends like English and Balkan, with four or more constituent tobaccos. A wide bowl gets more of the several kinds of leaf burning at once and contributing to the flavor (or that's my guess). I believe medium ribbon cut, or tobacco rubbed out to about that size, does well in a wider bowl. Shag and finer cut often does better in a smaller, narrower bowl. Not very scientific here, just basing this on my own experience. Packing and tamping go with learning the pipes and the blends in combination, so you figure that out as you go. Usually after a few bowls with a recently acquired pipe, you will develop a feel for how this goes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I have two identical bent billiards made by Parker and they both smoke quite differently.

What's your definition of identical?? Same draw, but one you like more than the other?

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Mso489, I'm noticing that a major part of old school Franch make pipes comeswith smaller bowl size, perhaps this was due to a fact that most traditional tobaccos produiced in central europe where primarly close to fine and shag cut,