Breaking in a Pipe

[mp31guitar]

I have a peterson 03 that I did'nt break in properly. I smoked only 3/4 of a bowl for a while in it. Now it seems when I want to smoke to the bottom of the bowl it goes out at 3/4 and I have to keep relighting the tobacco to get to the bottom. Can I fix this if I ream it out, give it a good cleaning and start smoking to the bottom of the bowl??

 

[mp31guitar]

By the way I'm smoking an aromatic virginia.

 

[hauntedmyst]

The doesn't sound like a break in issue but a packing and technique issue. A pipe that goes out has nothing to do with break in.

 

[mp31guitar]

I use the, well I dont know what its called. I lightly fill the bowl and tamp till its 1/3 full and sprinkle some more tobacco till its 2/3 and so on.

 

[bigvan]

Sorry, I'm afraid your pipe is ruined.
KIDDING!
I don't think you have an 'improperly broken-in pipe'. It sounds like you fear that you've only built up a cake on the top 3/4 of the bowl (with no cake at the bottom 1/4). This would imply that you've NEVER smoked down to the bottom. EVER. I doubt this is the case.
If you're having problems keeping the bottom of the bowl lit, I'd say it's due to an improper pack or (more likely) the "gunk" (technical term) left by many aromatics.
But a good cleaning will never hurt.
Let me know how it works out.

 

[mp31guitar]

I have noticed the tobacco is moist at the bottom. I have slowed my puffing but no matter how slow I puff its always moist at the bottom. Is that normal??

 

[chawz]

Some pipes just arnt good smokers, break-in is over rated, but yeah its probably the packing. Try different densitIes.

 

[pstlpkr]

I have noticed the tobacco is moist at the bottom.

The term for this..... Wait for it.......
Dottle!
You might try packing with the "Frank" method that may help... til you get the hang of it.

It's a PITA, but it's a good method.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJP0JaNRw6Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U5QbtyNxhA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMtHOAiO8CI&feature=related

 

[colorduke]

Put some pa in it fire it up get in car roll window down drive fast with pipe out window do twice pipe broke in.

 

[pipetrucker]

Aromatics tend to contain a lot more moisture than non-aromatics. Packing it a bit more loosely would probably solve the problem. You could also try setting out some of the tobacco to dry out a bit before packing.

 

[mlaug]

A certain amount of dottle is completely normal. I'm not sure 25% is, but it depends on the factors previously pointed out.
If you're trying to fire up the wet bottom of a bowl and having no luck keeping it going, just dump it and move on.
No harm and no foul. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[smoker]

Like mp31 i too have problems with the bottom of my pipes being wet. I have just watched franks vids lawrence has posted and i must say it works my pipe has stayed lit longer than it has ever done before and i'm hardly drawing on it. The tobacco hasn't spilled out over the top of the bowl like it usualy does either and the smoe is alot cooler and tastier too. Normaly i just stuff light n puff Thanks lawrence for the vids.

 

[dd951]

Hi mp31,l let me walk you through my break in method, it may help you.
Make sure your tobacco is dry, let it dry at least an hour, if it is otc maybe more.
1. fill your pipe to about half way, pack it gently till it is about

1/4 to 1/3 full, draw on the pipe, there should be very little resistence.
2. light your pipe smoke it all the way to the bottom, do this for 8 to 10 times, being

carefully to take small sips and letting your pipe cool between smokes.
3. fill the pipe to about 3/4 full and pack it down to about half A bowl and repeat no 2.
4. now you are ready to try A full bowl, fill the bowl about half way, pack it gently till

it is about half way, pack it gently till it is about 1/3 full, then pack it full again

packing it till it is about half full, then fill the bowl and pack it down, I usually leave

1/8 inch from the top, this packing you will have to test for yourself, no two of us

do things the same way, so you will have to feel your way through it.
Good luck, hope this helps some

 

[admin]

@colorduke

Put some pa in it fire it up get in car roll window down drive fast with pipe out window do twice pipe broke in.

LOL man! I would have been disappointed if someone didn't post that.

 

[jimbo]

@colorduke
Put some pa in it fire it up get in car roll window down drive fast with pipe out window do twice pipe broke in.
LOL man! I would have been disappointed if someone didn't post that.
---------------------------------------------
I hope everybody takes that "advice" as a joke and doesn't actually try it. :crazy
I try not to have any dottle left in the bottom. This means smoking the pipe all the way to the bottom regardless of how many relights it takes, and how "gamey" it gets. This is necessary to char the heel of the bowl.
With a new pipe, when you smell/taste burning wood, STOP. You are starting to burn the briar. Let it rest, gently tamp and relight. You will notice that the bare wood taste will eventually go away and the inside of your bowl will be lightly charred to insulate it from future smokes.

 

[PeriqueMyInterest]

It sounds like you should dry out your tobacco a lot more. The Frank Method helped me out a lot when I was new to pipes but then I stumbled upon this video from the B&M in my home town:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOJUoEM4P14

It has helped me out more than any instructions I have received before.

 

[whitebriar]

>>>Put some pa in it fire it up get in car roll window down drive fast with pipe out window do twice pipe broke in.>>>
i'm sure that is tongue in cheek --However;

when i was a young lad of 15 i asked a geezer the best way to break in a pipe--he told me to do as you suggested--naive and gullible, i followed instructions--i never did like or trust that man until the day he died--the method was rough on the pipe--possible i drove faster than he had intended??

 

[colorduke]

There is a 91 year young fellow not to far from me who actually still does it.

 

[tslex]

I'm s three-layer-pack kind of guy.
Assad, that video is spiffy and I agree with it completely.
As I've said before -- The Frank method (while I am sure it works) is just too. . . German . . for me. I have to apply that level of attention to detail at work -- I do not want to have to do so when relaxing with a pipe.

 

[pstlpkr]

for me. I have to apply that level of attention to detail at work -- I do not want to have to do so when relaxing with a pipe.

I have to agree with you on the above... to some degree.

Then again... there is something there is to be said for "The Ritial" of pipe smoking.