Can a Tobacco Chamber Be Too Wide and Shallow?

[edger]

In my experience, wide/shallow chambers don't burn evenly and require a great deal of stirring that introduces too much ash into the tobacco. This does not result ina tasty smoke especially if you are a sipper.
I smoke rough cut tobaccos and flakes mostly so the cut doesn't seem to be an issue.
Any thoughts or observations?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I think if a bowl is too wide and shallow it is more difficult to pack it just right to get a good draw. And it’s going to be difficult to burn the tobacco around the edges.

 

[bassbug]

I think it's more a question of the ratio between width of chamber and size of draft hole. A three inch wide chamber would probably be fine with a 1 inch wide draft hole.

 

[burleybreath]

I could never do well with a pot, for some reason. Just got rid of two, a Kaywoodie and a Sav Giubileo d'Oro . If I somehow manage to get the entire wad lit, the resulting cherry burns so hot that it won't even emit smoke. You let it rest a bit to cool and it goes out. Then you repeat with the same results. Then you snap the stem and toss. Problem solved.

 

[sablebrush52]

All of my pot shapes smoke very well. No problems with packing or getting an even light, nor with getting great flavors.
The pot is a great workhorse.

 

[mso489]

I like my pots especially for blends with five or six or more constituent tobaccos, to get them all going at once in a more or less proportionate mix. If I want a more lingering smoke, cuts like flake, coin, rope and plug help attain that.

On the other hand, I have avoided truly shallow bowls as simply not holding enough leaf to sustain a good smoke. But my pot shape pipes are plenty deep enough.

 

[burleybreath]

All of my pot shapes smoke very well. No problems with packing or getting an even light, nor with getting great flavors.
The pot is a great workhorse.

They're like smoking a one inch by 64 ring cigar to me. Whatever works, real or imagined.

 

[sablebrush52]

They're like smoking a one inch by 64 ring cigar to me. Whatever works, real or imagined.

Uhh...nothing imagined.

 

[mso489]

I have seen eskimo and tomato shapes, and a few prince shapes, that just look too shallow to bother to pack and light. Even with flake and plug cuts, I'd rather have a slightly deeper bowl for a longer smoke. A very small briar or cob can be nursed along for a half hour or more and sometimes works.

 

[verporchting]

I’m going to say yes; this new bowl on my trusty Falcon just isn’t working….

 

[Servant King]

I’m going to say yes; this new bowl on my trusty Falcon just isn’t working….

View attachment 139339

Jeez. That'd deliver a hell of a punch on the retrohale...

 

[verporchting]

Jeez. That'd deliver a hell of a punch on the retrohale...

The charring light is a bitch

 

[Searock Fan]

If you examine a lot of pipes I believe you'll find that a 3/4" bore is the most popular. As to depth, that seems to be a matter of style and taste.

 

[anotherbob]

I have known some people that fit in that description to a t. Just thought I'd add that. Too shallow and too wide.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Never had a problem with pots or Princes
always give a nice smoke IMO.

It's Dublins that I can't get on with.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Too wide (more than 20mm)and deep bowl is real PITA, thats why I had to sell one of my great Castello

 

[Chasing Embers]

1" wide x 2" deep, one of my easiest pipes to smoke. I wish more carvers made them like this.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't have one over 1' wide, but I do have several that are right at 1" wide. They all smoke great. I don't have any idea what my most shallow pipe is, maybe just under an inch deep? Just a guess. But, any pipe that is being manufactured will be deep and wide enough to smoke; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to stay in business. But, if you are making a pipe, and you are wondering where to push the limits of smokability... then I have no idea.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Sometimes I wonder why more pipes don't funnel down to a point at the draft hole, if most pipesmokers are just going to throw out dottle from the bottom of the bowl, wouldn't it be best to shrink the volume of the chamber there most?
Also the more narrow the floor of the tobacco chamber the closer to center the draft hole will be (one of the reasons Conical shaped bowls are arguably superior to Cylindrical bowls).

 

[jpmcwjr]

Don't like pots, and don't subscribe to the conical theory. It's easy to smoke to or very near the bottom if the tobacco is prepped right. Also I never stir the contents. Tamping for sure, but no stirring, no picking at the load.