Break-in Time?

[coldbowl57]

Title and post edited for capitalization. -jpm

How many bowls do you put through a briar/cob/meer to consider it broken in?

Does the type of tobacco impact the processes?

Are there any other factors that impact this process?

Thank you for your wisdom and patience.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The pipe is broke in when it's broke in. It will tell you by the way it smokes. I smoke a pipe the same from the very first smoke, haven't found a reason to do otherwise. So I guess technically, my pipe are broken in from the very start.

 

[didimauw]

Lately I've been buying more new pipes at once than I used to. Lately Ive been about 10 or so bowls for meerschaums and briars to really start smoking good for me. Cobs usually 5.

 

[bullet08]

I don't break in my pipe. But do notice change at later date.

 

[Chasing Embers]

How many bowls do you put thru a briar/cob/meer to consider it broke in?

As many as it takes the given pipe.

Does the type of tobacco impact the processes?

Nope

are there any other factors that impact this process?

Other than just smoking it, nope.

 

[burleybreath]

I don't consider a pipe broken in until I've dropped and dented it a few times, the pipe has developed a cake, and it has become rank from neglect. I then spruce it up as best I can, clean, polish, and rest it a bit. If it then smokes well, I consider it broken in. But I'll go out on a limb here and say that perhaps a more non-personal definition of "broken in" would be useful. If anyone has one, it ain't I.

 

[warren]

Meers need no break-in! None! They should smoke pretty much the same from the first bowl through the years until your death with it firmly implanted between your bluish, cooling lips.

Some here complain about the initial taste of a cob but, I've never experienced such.

 

[kcghost]

I just don't do this. I just light up and enjoy.

 

[coldbowl57]

Some here complain about the initial taste of a cob but, I've never experienced such.

same here with my cob.

 

[Merton]

The pipe is broke in when it's broke in. It will tell you by the way it smokes. I smoke a pipe the same from the very first smoke, haven't found a reason to do otherwise. So I guess technically, my pipe are broken in from the very start.

This is so very true. As an uncoated bowl lover, i enjoy the entire process of learning about the particular pipe.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

This topic has come up before, and it seems to be a matter of of personal taste perception.
Some say they can't taste the difference between a well smoked pipe and a new one,
While others choke half to death.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The old saying, “you can never step into the same river twice…” I see pipes like rivers, theyre always in transition. I don’t have a break in “period” nor a designated goal. I just enjoy a pipe from the first smoke through all of the transitory smokes thereafter. YMMV

 

[crashthegrey]

As always, a complicated question. Everyone's idea of a broken in pipe is different. I think absolutely on average, somewhere around a dozen bowls is when a pipe starts to smoke how it will predictably in the future for the most part. Insert as much ambiguous language as necessary to make this as wishy washy a statement as possible.

 

[warren]

I'll go out on a limb and say a pipe is broken in when you, the smoker, is comfortable with it and are over the "newness." I really think a new or used, new to smoker, pipe breaks in the smoker. If you have strict routine you must follow. the pipe is broken in when the routine is complete. But, the reality is, when you are comfortable with the tool ... it's broken in.

That is if you insist a pipe must be broken in.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Agree. Anywhere from zero with a Meer, to 5-20 for a briar, and no idea on a cob. That's just my take, and there is no "rule".

 

[That Guy]

The pipe is broke in when it's broke in. It will tell you by the way it smokes. I smoke a pipe the same from the very first smoke, haven't found a reason to do otherwise. So I guess technically, my pipe are broken in from the very start.

This ^^^

 

[That Guy]

You'll hear a thousand different methods on this topic. Most of my pipes are dedicated to certain blends so I'll load them up and smoke them like I normally would. Only difference is not rushing and overheating the pipe. I just make sure I go a little slower and I'm a little more gentle with it

 

[karam]

I considered my Peterson 120 army broken in after sanding the crappy coating of the chamber off. Other than that got just one other brand new pipe, and gave it a water flush today after a few bowls. Will see how it will smoke, but smokes fine for me from the first bowl with tobaccos i know. It DID have a coating in the chamber, but nothing like the plastic gunk of the Pete.

 

[anotherbob]

It's different from pipe to pipe. I've only had one honestly where it was a really highly noticeable difference. Where it kind of actually wasn't that great for the first ten smokes and then it went to being a great pipe after that.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

For me a pipe is broken in when I hold it in my hand and say to myself " This feels like my old friend." Sometimes that can happen with a new pipe straight out of the box, and sometimes never.