"Breaking In" A Briar Pipe? Fact or Fiction?

[cosmicfolklore]

I had no idea you are the one who said that about rivers. So true!!

You are probably just kidding me, but I was not the one who said that originally about rivers (for the sake of someone who might read this), but I have said that pipes are like the way rivers are depicted in that saying.

 

[bullet08]

Pipe usually doesn't overheat, if it ever did. Smoke is more consistent. And it gets that tobacco sweet.

 

[Bushido]

I think there is something to it, but it depends on the smoker and the pipe.
I suspect a few things are going on with ‘breaking in’

1. The briar was not well aged, and smoking it over a few months is actually ‘curing’ it.
2. Forming a cake sometimes improves the performance
3. The wood is no longer being charred
4. The smoker is adapting to the pipe

I have had the experience of buying a new pipe in which nothing tasted good. In fact there was almost no taste. I kept smoking it with mostly Carter Hall to see if it would change. Finally gave up after a few months consigned myself to selling it for cheap. A while later, I gave it one more try. suddenly blends started to taste great in it. It was like somebody threw a switch. During the same time, all my other pipes tasted as they always do. I think it may have finally ‘broken in.’

Of course, it could all be in our heads

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I tried casting the bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the bowl with a dab of honey where no cake had formed. So far, not a lot has happened. We'll see.
I think a lot of the unpleasant taste in that lower part of the bowl is dissipating. Again, we'll see.
Patience has always been my shortcoming.

 

[BingBong]

I think pipes are a bit like shoes. Some, they're reliably comfy from day 2, others take months before you hit the sweet spot and they become favored.

 

[bpinkstaff]

Normally the biggest thing I've experienced is the pipe getting hot easily when it's not been "broken in" fully. I'm just more careful to keep my pace very slow until a little bit of cake starts to build and insulate the pipe walls. Most the time when I'm breaking in a new pipe I'll actually smoke two pipes at once. I'll smoke one that's fully broken in a few minutes put it down take a few Puffs on the new pipe put it down and flip flop back and forth.

Well said!

 

[ItsKarl]

Wet aromatics always dissolve cake in my pipes. I use them to clean away any buildup in my meerschaums.

Now, that is both interesting and encouraging!

 

[Merton]

Breaking in an uncoated Castello or Radice is a real pleasure. Completely enjoyable

 

[JohnnyBeach]

I just finished a pipeful in the pipe I have been working on. It lasted about 42 minutes and burned most of the tobacco except for the last 1/4 of the bowl. I did not notice very much bite and did not have to relight, so maybe things are looking up.
My wife noticed the tobacco odor when I got home. She's not happy.