Breaking in a New Pipe

[viktor]

Hi all, another newbie question. What does it mean to break in a pipe? I asked ChatGPT. It didn't get clearer.

(1) Cleaning before the first use -- OK
(2) Charring the Bowl: this involves partially filling the bowl with tobacco, then lighting it and allowing it to burn out -- can't see how partially filling the pipe helps but OK
(3) Gradual Smoking: during the initial uses, smoke the pipe gradually -- I usually do
(4) Cooling Periods: allow the pipe to cool between smokes -- I always do
(5) Tobacco Choice: Initially, choose milder tobaccos for breaking in a new pipe -- doest it matter if I smoke last year's tobacco that will kill all the pleasant taste?
(6) Avoid Overpacking -- OK, I don't overpack
(7) Patience: breaking in a pipe is a gradual process, and it takes time for the pipe to develop the desired characteristics -- what characteristics?

Basically, I don't get the term. What does the breaking in achieve?

Probably too late for my Raw pipe (I've had it for a month+), just curious and maybe for the next time.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What does the breaking in achieve?

No longer tasting burning wood.

1 Fill pipe
2 Light pipe
3 Smoke pipe
4 Dump pipe
5 Clean pipe
6 Repeat

 

[philobeddoe]

This ^

 

[viktor]

No longer tasting burning wood.

But the new pipe never tasted like a burnt wood.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But the new pipe never tasted like a burnt wood.

Easy break in. Not all do.

 

[viktor]

Easy break in. Not all do.

Alright, I see.

 

[viktor]

Do you guys scrap off the tar inside the bowl? It's building up it seems. It looks like tar, not a carbon layer.

 

[bullet08]

Do you guys scrap off the tar inside the bowl? It's building up it seems. It looks like tar, not a carbon layer.

After a smoke, just wipe out the chamber with a paper towel. That keeps the cake thin and hard. If you haven't smoke the pipe yet, and you see some black coating in the chamber, those are there to help with "break in" process. Some pipe smokers will remove them.

 

[viktor]

After a smoke, just wipe out the chamber with a paper towel. That keeps the cake thin and hard. If you haven't smoke the pipe yet, and you see some black coating in the chamber, those are there to help with "break in" process. Some pipe smokers will remove them.

Thanks bullet! That puts me in perspective.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do you guys scrap off the tar inside the bowl? It's building up it seems. It looks like tar, not a carbon layer.

After a smoke, just wipe out the chamber with a paper towel.

^^^^
This

 

[LeafErikson]

Thanks bullet! That puts me in perspective.

Just to be clear that paper towel business will not prevent cake. It might slow it down a bit but you will still get cake if you smoke the same pipe a thousand times.

 

[viktor]

I clean the pipe with these things from amazon, spiky for the bowl, soft for the mouthpiece.

 

[brandaves]

I clean the pipe with these things from amazon, spiky for the bowl, soft for the mouthpiece.

View attachment 278279

I use JB Long pipe cleaners, there are a ton of decent brands out there. The bristle cleaners are for removing/keeping tobacco from clogging up the airway of your pipe. I generally only use bristle cleaners while deep cleaning a pipe. Soft bristle cleaners I use each end down the bit to the bowl then fold in half and swipe out the bowl. I do that after each smoke and call that good between deep cleans which I do six months to yearly...but I'm rotating 100 plus pipes, of which I smoke 20+ on the regular.

 

[Sigmund]

If you are getting a sticky bowl you may need to airdry your tobacco a bit. Generally its pretty wet from the packet. Everyone does it differently but a lot wait until its not moist to the touch. Some dry more. its easier to keep lit as well.

I did have one estate ebay pipe that I really love. It came with a bowl coating. it wouldnt dry even in a couple of days after being smoked. It felt like tar residue after smoking for days. Finally I took it and sanded it out down to the briar. Smokes great still and now it dries as any normal pipe should.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Just to be clear that paper towel business will not prevent cake. It might slow it down a bit but you will still get cake if you smoke the same pipe a thousand times.

Just get more pipes! Several in "rotation" helps keep down that accumulation.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Hi all, another newbie question. What does it mean to break in a pipe? I asked ChatGPT. It didn't get clearer.

(1) Cleaning before the first use -- OK
(2) Charring the Bowl: this involves partially filling the bowl with tobacco, then lighting it and allowing it to burn out -- can't see how partially filling the pipe helps but OK
(3) Gradual Smoking: during the initial uses, smoke the pipe gradually -- I usually do
(4) Cooling Periods: allow the pipe to cool between smokes -- I always do
(5) Tobacco Choice: Initially, choose milder tobaccos for breaking in a new pipe -- doest it matter if I smoke last year's tobacco that will kill all the pleasant taste?
(6) Avoid Overpacking -- OK, I don't overpack
(7) Patience: breaking in a pipe is a gradual process, and it takes time for the pipe to develop the desired characteristics -- what characteristics?

Basically, I don't get the term. What does the breaking in achieve?

Probably too late for my Raw pipe (I've had it for a month+), just curious and maybe for the next time.

Don't waste time on ChatGPT, waste it here like everyone else and get accurate answers more quickly.

Since you are using cigarette tobacco and not sure what types of pipe tobacco you enjoy with it, the tobacco part of the question is hard to answer. No reason "last year's tobacco" should matter if it's been properly stored, nor be less mild just because it's not as fresh.

I have no basis for thinking a bubinga wood pipe can't perform fine, but consider getting a briar/Meer/cob - they can be had for reasonable cost and you may enjoy the differences vs. the materials you are working with at present, at least worth the experiment if you plan to enjoy a lot of pipe tobacco, IMO.

Speaking of wasting time - our first real snow of the season came overnight and 6+ weeks behind schedule (so shouldn't complain - but I need to get out and run the snow blower). The pup's first taste of accumulated snow and understandably nuts - hope she can hold it until I come home for lunch.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I read and re-read, but didn't see a mention of cigaret tobacco, nor the type of pipe.

viktor- Any improvement? I'd add: Ignore any thing regarding a charring light- sometimes necessary, often not,.

A photo of your pipe and tobacco could be useful.

 

[Briar Lee]

Hi all, another newbie question. What does it mean to break in a pipe? I asked ChatGPT. It didn't get clearer.

(1) Cleaning before the first use -- OK
(2) Charring the Bowl: this involves partially filling the bowl with tobacco, then lighting it and allowing it to burn out -- can't see how partially filling the pipe helps but OK
(3) Gradual Smoking: during the initial uses, smoke the pipe gradually -- I usually do
(4) Cooling Periods: allow the pipe to cool between smokes -- I always do
(5) Tobacco Choice: Initially, choose milder tobaccos for breaking in a new pipe -- doest it matter if I smoke last year's tobacco that will kill all the pleasant taste?
(6) Avoid Overpacking -- OK, I don't overpack
(7) Patience: breaking in a pipe is a gradual process, and it takes time for the pipe to develop the desired characteristics -- what characteristics?

Basically, I don't get the term. What does the breaking in achieve?

Probably too late for my Raw pipe (I've had it for a month+), just curious and maybe for the next time.

What I think break in does is cook the briar by the intense heat of the ember.

A lot of pipes will have a pungent taste of briar during break in, they get hot, and some snap and crackle.

Those are tannins inside being heated and boiled and altered by the heat.

After they’ve cooked, the pipe starts smoking cooler, and with better flavor.

Grit your teeth and suffer through it.

 

[dublinpiper90]

I’ll run a pipe cleaner of a high proof alcohol preferably bourbon or a brandy, then I pack the pipe half way with half and half wipe out with paper towel he next bowl and the rest are full bowls

 

[Cloozoe]

Just to be clear that paper towel business will not prevent cake. It might slow it down a bit but you will still get cake if you smoke the same pipe a thousand times.

...or twenty five