Cake Questions

[pipeude28]

Hello. So I'm breaking in some new pipes and was wondering if it's ok to alternate tobaccos to develop the cake. Say different types of aromatics and non aromatics, or should I stick with one type and brand of tobacco to build a cake up??

 

[mackeson]

There is no "Rule" and I would suggest just smoking what you enjoy to break in a new pipe.

It seems several others here do what I do and don't really allow much of a cake to build. I gently scrape the bowl with a dull pipe knife after each smoke and clean with a bristled pipe cleaner. That seems to keep my pipes smoking sweet.

As far as carryover flavor, I do have lat & non-lat pipes as well as a couple aromatic pipes, but sometimes break that routine. I personally enjoy "carryover," or "Ghost" flavors sometimes.

 

[warren]

You'll get different answers to this. Mine is do what you like and try not to make pipe smoking too complicated. You got a pipe, a blend or two you like, smoke and enjoy. Some members stick to rigid rules. Others, myself included, keep it simple. I suspect how you enjoy a pipe is fully dependent on your personality.
So, smoke in the style which you find satisfying. There really are no hard and fast rules. From cobs to Dunhills, used or new, cake or no cake, rigid rules as to blends and shapes, it's all good. Whatever gives you a satisfying bowl is correct.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Amen.
Many here feel a thick cake is not a goal, and in fact, do a bit of maintenance to reduce build up. I wipe my bowls with a damp paper towel, pushing and twisting to give a mild "reaming" action.

 

[sablebrush52]

I think that a thin hard layer of carbon is a good insulator. To get that I wipe the chamber with a couple of pipe cleaners after a smoke, or occasionally a wadded up piece of paper toweling. A cake will eventually build up, but it will be a durable one of carbon, rather than a soft thick one with bits of Tobacco embedded in it, one that crumbles and fails.

 

[meatballj]

I echo a lot of the above sentiments. A bit of ghosting back and forth between a few tobaccos you enjoy won't hurt the pipe. You'll realize what you enjoy as you make your way along in the hobby. And as sable said, a wipe out with a pipe cleaner (I normally fold mine into a u-shape and circle it around the bowl) and perhaps a piece of paper towel aids in building a thin, even layer of carbon and not some craggy consolidation of carbon.

Happy smoking!

 

[mso489]

I'm not a cake builder. Neither are several of the old timers on Forums past and present. I wipe a pipe out after any day's use leaving just a thin carbon layer. I have run this experiment for nearly 40 years and the pipes do very well. No reamers ever needed. You just smoke what you choose and the carbon takes care of itself. As they say, no problem.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

after having me consulted on this subject erlier on this site,I decided to follow to Mr mso489 and jwjrs good suggestions they gave me

 

[didimauw]

I don't ever think much pay the initial break in period. I prefer a good cake, but I do it just by simply smoking.

 

[pagan]

I don't build cake in my pipes, but I do keep certain pipes dedicated for different blends that tend to ghost, I have pipes dedicated to only English and some for blends that are Lat heavy and a few cobs for trying new blends, I don't smoke blends that have fruit flavors or heavy toppings
Follow the guidance of @mso489, he is wise beyond my years

 

[mawnansmiff]

I will smoke each of my pipes perhaps half a dozen times, only cleaning the bowl after each smoke with kitchen roll. After that I give the bowl a few twists with a British Buttner reamer just to clear any carbon build up. Not a fan of cake building myself, I prefer to have more room in the bowl for baccy ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yep, cakes are for birthdays and weddings. Guys like my uncles used to use their cake in their pipes a point of pride of sorts. They'd let the pipe totally cake up to where you couldn't squeeze a pencil in there, toss the pipe in the fireplace and buy a new Dr. Grabow. I guess it was like a race for them.

I don't let my pipes get caked up. I guess if I was buying cheap pipes, I wouldn't care as much about cakes, but my pipes mean a little more to me than to let them fill up with the creosotes of past smokes.

But, some guys like tasting the gunk left over from past smokes. I'd rather get the subtle aroma of warm briar instead.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Jay. What is like the British Butner reamer typ of?

 

[madox07]

So, I understand not everybody likes the cake ... than I ask what is the point in breaking into a pipe properly? I thought that the break in process is meant to create a thin layer of carbon, i.e. cake, in order to insulate and protect the pipe. Also, should a pipe have too much cake, what is a good way to get rid of it, or thin it down?

 

[Chasing Embers]

What is like the British Butner reamer typ of?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Also, should a pipe have too much cake, what is a good way to get rid of it, or thin it down?

A good quality reamer, or if you are careful, a sharp pen knife will do the job.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

than I ask what is the point in breaking into a pipe properly?

Some guys don't like the flavor of the new briar. Getting a small layer of creosote on the inside of the pipe helps with this. Also, getting the pores on the inside of the shank to fill up with tars and such can lead to a smoother passage of smoke with less turbulence causing less moisture to build up in the shank. Personally, I love the first few smokes in a new uncoated pipe. It gives me the best idea of how the warmed briar is going to affect the flavor. I feel like it is more of a bonding with the pipe.

But, like many have said, there are still many, many who feel like a pipe has to get broken in with a thick layer of cake to start giving them a good smoke. But, there are lots of different perspectives on this. No hard fast rules, per say.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Here you go Paul...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/British-Buttner-Smoking-Tobacco-Pipe-Reamer-Cleaning-Tool/122267584910?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3Df55cbdb6947e414b864e6a27ec3b8e12%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D141097410180
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Or, more directly:

Once you see a photo you want to display, select the full image, then Control-click (Mac) or Right-click (Windows) and choose copy image location. Now paste that URL (the full web address) into the box that pops up under IMG in the compose reply window of the thread in which you want the photo to show.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Or, more directly:

Beat you to it. :mrgreen: