Cake Thickness

[puffy]

I know this topic has been discussed a great many times.I also know that there is generally a recommended thickness that one should maintain.As a rule for reasons that I really can't explain I tend to keep mine on the thin side of that.I have one pipe though that seems to smoke better with thicher cake than my other pipes.Is this normal or an oddity?

 

[marmal4de]

I keep my cakes fairly thin.

 

[unclearthur]

It's normal.

 

[igloo]

Very thin here . Always cork screw a paper towel after every smoke , this makes whatever cake there is very hard . A clean pipe is a happy pipe .

 

[salewis]

Puffy:
I have always heard that the cake thickness should be betweeen a dime and a nickel at the most. However, this conventional wisdom depends on bowl size, type of tobacco and personal preference. As mendtioned, it is a good idea to use a bent pipe cleaner or paper towel after every bowl smoked to ensure that you don't leave loose tobacco in the bowl.

 

[tedswearingen]

I prefer to stay away from as much carbon buildup as possible.

 

[pstlpkr]

Personally I'm not fan of more than a very thin cake.

I like to have a smooth cake in my pipe, and I accomplish this by "screwing" a paper-towel into the bowl (when necessary) when it is still warm from a smoke.

 

[bubbadreier]

I actually try not to have a cake! I like to keep it as low as possible!

 

[strongirish]

I never ceased to be amazed at how so many keep their cakes thin. I have smoked the pipe for 41 years and I like mine to be rather thick as it cools the smoke and makes for a well seasoned pipe. There is a good reason why when one buys old estates that the old timers smoked had thick cakes, they simply smoke sweeter and cooler. I do however keep my cake trimmed nice and neat and consistant from top to bottom.

 

[tiltjlp]

Strong Irish and I have agreed to disagree on the issue of cake. While I smoke cobs 95% of the time, I don't allow cake to form at all in either briar or cobs. I've never had any pipe of any kind damaged. I just happened to feel that clean pipes. and that includes cake. smoke and taste better.

 

[strongirish]

No cake to me is like breaking in a new pipe all the time. I hate breaking in new pipes. A pipe having a cake does not make it not clean, my pipes are always kept clean, I keep my cake trimmed and reamed and I clean them with everclear including the cake. But I still stand on liking my pipes with a nice cake in them.

 

[jcsnaps]

I clean my pipes thoroughly after each smoke and that includes the bowl as I tend to go for little or no cake, but to each their own.

 

[cortezattic]

I do it like igloo and Lawrence. But I suspect that strongirish is right on this issue.

 

[strongirish]

Oh yes, I beleieve each to his own and I don't claim my way is the only way. It is just my humble opinion and what works for me. But anyone that keeps a thin cake should try one pipe with a well manicured thick cake. You might just change your mind. I again point to how thick the cake is on old estates, those old timers were not lazy, they knew what they were doing.

 

[marmal4de]

Thick cake repulses me.

 

[marmal4de]

This thread was a huge help for me, it reminded me to ream all my pipes I had been getting lazy.