Burning Tobacco in Wider Bowls.

[john19]

I see many prefer wider bowls, and especially for english, mixtures blends. But I have a question, about how well the smoke burns in a wider bowl. Let's say for example in bowls with 23mm(0.90") diameter. It is true that in larger diameter bowls, it is difficult to keep the tobacco lit? Maybe tobacco burns only in the center? Or chamber depth also play role with that? What is your experience?

 

[bullet08]

You'll get used to quickly light the whole surface of the tobacco. It's not really a problem. Sometimes it seems to burn only at center, but you can fix that with pipe tools/tamper. Just have to smoke long enough to pick up the tricks.

 

[john19]

You'll get used to quickly light the whole surface of the tobacco. It's not really a problem. Sometimes it seems to burn only at center, but you can fix that with pipe tools/tamper. Just have to smoke long enough to pick up the tricks.

But, you don't need to puff faster too?

 

[bullet08]

No. No need to. And you really don't want to puff.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But, you don't need to puff faster too?

Not at all. Even at a 1 inch diameter and slightly larger, I only notice a difference in tobacco capacity between large and small chamber dimensions. They are each just as easily smoked without puffing nor creating noticeable clouds of smoke.

 

[john19]

Not at all. Even at a 1 inch diameter and slightly larger, I only notice a difference in tobacco capacity between large and small chamber dimensions. They are each just as easily smoked without puffing nor creating noticeable clouds of smoke.

View attachment 175458

Thanks for Feedback.

 

[cfreud]

Cannot emphasize enough @john19: Do. Not. Puff. Faster.

 

[Chasing Embers]

@john19

I forgot to mention that you can adjust the airflow to your liking with the tightness of the pack.

 

[john19]

Cannot emphasize enough @john19: Do. Not. Puff. Faster.

I don't like to puff faster.

 

[KruegerFlap]

I have come to prefer wider bowls for their ease of smoking. I find it much easier to get the right pack on the first go and a better draw which requires less effort to keep a good cadence and burn. It all depends on your other preps though, such as making sure your tobacco is dry enough. There are so many things that can effect your burn performance and rarely is it the diameter or depth of your pipe that's the cause. I can get a good or poor performance out of just about any pipe, but if I just slow down and give more attention to how I prep the tobacco and pack the pipe then chances are it will burn well. Part of the fun of pipe smoking for me is experiencing how the same tobacco can give seemingly different flavors out of the myriads of different pipes.

 

[hyperstar]

I have a 23mm diameter bowl pipe. It's sure easier keeping it lit than my 20mm diameter bowl pipes. The pipe is hard to go out. I don't have to puff it.
And I find wide & shallow bowls are better for English blends than small & tall bowls. A wide & shallow bowl allows more of the flavor of the tobacco coming through in the smoke.
So I suggest you making a choice on your preference for blends.

 

[john19]

I have come to prefer wider bowls for their ease of smoking. I find it much easier to get the right pack on the first go and a better draw which requires less effort to keep a good cadence and burn. It all depends on your other preps though, such as making sure your tobacco is dry enough. There are so many things that can effect your burn performance and rarely is it the diameter or depth of your pipe that's the cause. I can get a good or poor performance out of just about any pipe, but if I just slow down and give more attention to how I prep the tobacco and pack the pipe then chances are it will burn well. Part of the fun of pipe smoking for me is experiencing how the same tobacco can give seemingly different flavors out of the myriads of different pipes.

I always let the tobacco dry very well. I like it much better dry.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I find for me, that I get a lot more flavor just letting the cherry burn in the center. Your flavor comes, not from the burning tobacco, but from the release of the oils in the tobacco from the leaf surrounding the cherry, so the more tobacco around the cherry, more flavor. YMMV

 

[john19]

I have a 23mm diameter bowl pipe. It's sure easier keeping it lit than my 20mm diameter bowl pipes. The pipe is hard to go out. I don't have to puff it.
And I find wide & shallow bowls are better for English blends than small & tall bowls. A wide & shallow bowl allows more of the flavor of the tobacco coming through in the smoke.
So I suggest you making a choice on your preference for blends.

View attachment 175571

I had in my mind to get a greek Alexander pipe. But finally I decided to go to Savinelli. I'm between 320, 606, 622, 904, 920. I'm thinking more about 320. I like it, and I've heard it's great. It have wide and shallow bowl. I want her for English, mixtures.

 

[john19]

I find for me, that I get a lot more flavor just letting the cherry burn in the center. Your flavor comes, not from the burning tobacco, but from the release of the oils in the tobacco from the leaf surrounding the cherry, so the more tobacco around the cherry, more flavor. YMMV

Nice advice. Thanks.

 

[Moonbog]

I had in my mind to get a greek Alexander pipe. But finally I decided to go to Savinelli. I'm between 320, 606, 622, 904, 920. I'm thinking more about 320. I like it, and I've heard it's great. It have wide and shallow bowl. I want her for English, mixtures.

Yeah, I have the 320 dedicated for English blends and some English aromatics and it really is a great pipe. Minimal relights, easy draw..the whole works. One my favorite shapes. Only down side for me is it's tricky running a pipe cleaner through the stem of the pipe during cleanup. But that can just be me. Oh, and I almost always use the balsa filter with it.

 

[john19]

Yeah, I have the 320 dedicated for English blends and some English aromatics and it really is a great pipe. Minimal relights, easy draw..the whole works. One my favorite shapes. Only down side for me is it's tricky running a pipe cleaner through the stem of the pipe during cleanup. But that can just be me. Oh, and I almost always use the balsa filter with it.

Does it hold enough tobacco? I want a big bowl, to keep me α while. It has a large diameter, but is a little shallow.

 

[Hillcrest]

I must be doing something wrong or have not learned the correct technique or am too impatient for wider chambers. I have a beautiful Comoy 215 bent billiard with a chamber of 22mmx52mm - roughly Peterson pub pipe size - but the draft hole is so large I tend to gag when smoking it. It seems to burn fast and hot.
Same with my Peterson second house pipe and my Butz choquin calabash Jr. - Even if i slow down to barely nothing - there is still too much air and smoke. From the comments here I am guessing I am not packing correctly and drawing too hard ???

 

[DanWil84]

My wide(r) and deep(er) bowled pipes like my Neerup (which is a designated english pipe) smokes just as well as my narrow(er) Flake pipes. No more relights if the tobacco has the correct moisture content than other and the draw is even easier as you have more air surface to draw in. Like Cosmic said there is also no need for a all around burn but the tobacco must have enough room to spread evenly if were talking multiple leafs.

I don't own a Sav 320, but I think it will work great with ribbon mixture tobacco.

 

[john19]

I must be doing something wrong or have not learned the correct technique or am too impatient for wider chambers. I have a beautiful Comoy 215 bent billiard with a chamber of 22mmx52mm - roughly Peterson pub pipe size - but the draft hole is so large I tend to gag when smoking it. It seems to burn fast and hot.
Same with my Peterson second house pipe and my Butz choquin calabash Jr. - Even if i slow down to barely nothing - there is still too much air and smoke. From the comments here I am guessing I am not packing correctly and drawing too hard ???

I hope someone who knows will tell you.