Different pipes for different tobaccos, Myth?

[sardonicus87]

My opinion is that it's largely a myth, with one caveat.

A different size or chamber design and/or different openness of draft hole/stem might necessitate an adjustment in cadence in order that the tobacco burn the same, because the temperature is going to make a difference, and I think a lot of smokers just don't adjust to the pipe, so the real differences aren't coming from the pipe, but from the smoker.

That or different pipes get lightly seasoned temporarily (like ghosting) from whatever was previously smoked in it and that affects the next one, and it ends up re-enforcing some existing cognitive bias/belief about it and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy loop for that smoker.

That's what I believe anyway.

I've not personally noticed a difference yet in taste between different pipes unless one was dirty and fouled up.

The one caveat is with regard to how complex the blend is... a bowl under a certain diameter might cause said complex blend to be more inconsistent as at any point, not all the constituent parts of the blend are burning in equal proportions.

 

[Chris T]

In my experience, it depends on the tobacco. 1Q to me tastes the same no matter what you smoke it in. Other blends, particularly orientals, are more flavorful in a wider, more shallow bowl. I picture it something like this: if you're eating a fruit salad, if it has large chunks, you'll taste the fruit more or less in sequence, one type of fruit followed by another. If the chunks are smaller, you'll sometimes have a bite of two different fruits in combination. Then if you put it all in a blender and make a smoothie the same ingredients are going to provide a different flavor experience. I imagine a wider bowl provides less integration of the smoke somehow... Not at all scientific but that's how I picture the difference in a narrower or wider bowl. Wider bowl, bigger chunks, more contrast and distinctive flavors.

 

[HeadMisfit]

In my experience, it depends on the tobacco. 1Q to me tastes the same no matter what you smoke it in. Other blends, particularly orientals, are more flavorful in a wider, more shallow bowl. I picture it something like this: if you're eating a fruit salad, if it has large chunks, you'll taste the fruit more or less in sequence, one type of fruit followed by another. If the chunks are smaller, you'll sometimes have a bite of two different fruits in combination. Then if you put it all in a blender and make a smoothie the same ingredients are going to provide a different flavor experience. I imagine a wider bowl provides less integration of the smoke somehow... Not at all scientific but that's how I picture the difference in a narrower or wider bowl. Wider bowl, bigger chunks, more contrast and distinctive flavors.

in theory, for english blends a dublin pipe with a TRUE triangular shaped bowl, 1 inch diamter at the top coming to a point 1 inch deep, would be the ultimate english blend pipe.

 

[krizzose]

For me it’s kinda subjectively objective. I prefer to smoke folded flakes or cube cuts in a bowl around .75 - .85 inches wide because it burns well (the objective part) for the way I happen to smoke (the subjective part). Wider than that and I start to have a bit of difficulty. For someone else, it may not matter at all. You just have to experiment and figure out what works for you

 

[Joe H]

interesting! One thing i haven’t done yet is smoking a pipe while doing yard work, how do you keep it clenched for long periods of time?

I don’t have any special technique – I just stick in my mouth and clamp down, either side; rarely the front. All of my pipes are older American factory jobs (Kaywoodie, Dr. Grabow, Medico and such). They were designed to be smoked all day so they tend to be light and easy to clench.

 

[HeadMisfit]

I don’t have any special technique – I just stick in my mouth and clamp down, either side; rarely the front. All of my pipes are older American factory jobs (Kaywoodie, Dr. Grabow, Medico and such). They were designed to be smoked all day so they tend to be light and easy to clench.

they werent designed to be used all day. they were designed to be cheap enough to buy, and then used untill they couldnt be cleaned anymore and replaced.

 

[Waning Embers]

they werent designed to be used all day. they were designed to be cheap enough to buy, and then used untill they couldnt be cleaned anymore and replaced.

The same could be said of all pipes of the era.

 

[Sig]

Not only do I notice flavor differences in different sized bowls, but a particular pipe can have the biggest difference in my experience.
Whether it be the shape of the bowl, the dynamics of the pipes internals, the wood, or just "science", some pipes just taste better.
Im currently smoking some GLP Barbary Coast in my Excelsior pipe made in Italy. Its a basket pipe from the 1980s that I bought NOS in 2010 for $10.
It is hands down my best tasting pipe. Its never given an off taste. It smokes to the bottom with one light, and never gets wet. I added the briar and ivory stem inlay about 12 years ago to pretty it up.

 

[HeadMisfit]

The same could be said of all pipes of the era.

if everyone was doing the full process pipe clean shown on reborn pipes, ya think they would have actually NEEDED to make 20,000,000 pipes a year

 

[Waning Embers]

if everyone was doing the full process pipe clean shown on reborn pipes, ya think they would have actually NEEDED to make 20,000,000 pipes a year

There was a window in that period when Kaywoodies were more expensive than Dunhills. Pipes were just seen then as I see them now, just workhorses for burning tobacco.

 

[Mury]

in theory, for english blends a dublin pipe with a TRUE triangular shaped bowl, 1 inch diamter at the top coming to a point 1 inch deep, would be the ultimate english blend pipe.

interesting! How would a triangular bowl look like or what do you look for in dimensions?

 

[Mury]

Not only do I notice flavor differences in different sized bowls, but a particular pipe can have the biggest difference in my experience.
Whether it be the shape of the bowl, the dynamics of the pipes internals, the wood, or just "science", some pipes just taste better.
Im currently smoking some GLP Barbary Coast in my Excelsior pipe made in Italy. Its a basket pipe from the 1980s that I bought NOS in 2010 for $10.
It is hands down my best tasting pipe. Its never given an off taste. It smokes to the bottom with one light, and never gets wet. I added the briar and ivory stem inlay about 12 years ago to pretty it up.
View attachment 427144
View attachment 427145

wow that sure is a bargain! my goodness pretty pipe too!

 

[Sig]

There was a window in that period when Kaywoodies were more expensive than Dunhills. Pipes were just seen then as I see them now, just workhorses for burning tobacco.

You would get along great with my uncle Rich. He's 89 years old now, and drives his 1996 Silverado he bought brand new in 96. The truck has over 800,000 miles the last time I knew, that was about 4-5 years ago.
The kicker is, he has owned a very successful home building business sinse the early 1970s. Im not sure of his worth, but he has been a millionaire for decades.
When told he should buy a new truck, he says it took him 20 years to get his seat broke in the way he likes it. "And I dont have another 20 years to break in a new truck seat!!"
He's on the work site everyday still at 89 years old. His 4 sons have all had careers and retired, but he still keeps going.

 

[Mury]

For me it’s kinda subjectively objective. I prefer to smoke folded flakes or cube cuts in a bowl around .75 - .85 inches wide because it burns well (the objective part) for the way I happen to smoke (the subjective part). Wider than that and I start to have a bit of difficulty. For someone else, it may not matter at all. You just have to experiment and figure out what works for you

interesting! I need to buy a measuring tape. So it’s more the width and not the depth?

 

[Mury]

You would get along great with my uncle Rich. He's 89 years old now, and drives his 1996 Silverado he bought brand new in 96. The truck has over 800,000 miles the last time I knew, that was about 4-5 years ago.
The kicker is, he has owned a very successful home building business sinse the early 1970s. Im not sure of his worth, but he has been a millionaire for decades.
When told he should buy a new truck, he says it took him 20 years to get his seat broke in the way he likes it. "And I dont have another 20 years to break in a new truck seat!!"
He's on the work site everyday still at 89 years old. His 4 sons have all had careers and retired, but he still keeps going.

I need your uncles contact info! This is so humbling and inspiring to me

 

[HeadMisfit]

interesting! How would a triangular bowl look like or what do you look for in dimensions?

draw a triangle, the base 1 inch wide, and the pointy part 1 inch high.

 

[sablebrush52]

Do you really notice a difference in flavor, burn, etc in the different size bowls with different blends?

Sometimes. I find that some blends offer more flavors in larger bowls while other blends are pretty much the same.
I tried the "Virginias are best in tall narrow chambers and complex blends are better in wide chambers" dictum and didn't find that to be particularly true.

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

You would get along great with my uncle Rich. He's 89 years old now, and drives his 1996 Silverado he bought brand new in 96. The truck has over 800,000 miles the last time I knew, that was about 4-5 years ago.
The kicker is, he has owned a very successful home building business sinse the early 1970s. Im not sure of his worth, but he has been a millionaire for decades.
When told he should buy a new truck, he says it took him 20 years to get his seat broke in the way he likes it. "And I dont have another 20 years to break in a new truck seat!!"
He's on the work site everyday still at 89 years old. His 4 sons have all had careers and retired, but he still keeps going.

Sounds like my grandfather, they don’t make em like that anymore man.

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

I’ve found that there are too many variables to draw strict rules. Generally, I like smaller chambers for Virginias and large, wide chambers for English blends, and outside of that it’s pure trial and error for me. Even the broad generalizations I’ve drawn here don’t hold all the time.

 

[telescopes]

I am currently smoking my father's blend, Lazy Bones in an Oom Paul. The Cavendish is forward and the cherry is lightly present as a topping note. Because the Cavendish is taking a more forward note, I have lost the vanilla and any Virginias that are normally present are missing. This is not the case when smoking the tobacco in a smaller bowled billiard. Normally, I would be aware of the change in flavor notes but dismiss them because I frankly don't care. But now that I sit here testing it all out, what I normally would be only normally water of I can say without a doubt is real. And now, thanks to this stupid experiment, I've ruined the blend for smoking in the Oom Paul - a pipe I like for long smokes. Thanks for nothing stupid thread, LOL.