Do clay pipes build cake over time ?

[Bobbiy]

I found a new clay pipe for sale that i might purchase but i'm wondering if cake buildup (over time) will result in having to replace the pipe, as i hear that clay pipes in general are quite fragile

Reaming the pipe is out of question i assume, due to its fragile nature.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

You could sand the cake out instead of reaming.

 

[mso489]

Avoid cake the way many of us avoid cake in our briar pipes. After scooping out the ash, wipe out the chamber with an abrasive paper towel. This will preserve the clay pipe in its original configuration without cake.

In the case of briar, it maintains the diameter of the chamber in its original form and obviates the need for reaming and the wear that imposes on briar pipes.

 

[FurCoat]

Yes it will. Twisted paper towel after every use will keep it under control. If it starts to build sandpaper is my perfered method of removal.

 

[anotherbob]

ovens or fire clean clay pipes good.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

Not only will a clay build up cake, it will become saturated with oils—robbing the pipe of some of its more desirable qualities, in my opinion. Put clay pipes in red hot coals now and then and let them cook awhile. they will be free of both cake and oils and smoke like a dream

 

[JimRoseLV]

Not only will a clay build up cake, it will become saturated with oils—robbing the pipe of some of its more desirable qualities, in my opinion. Put clay pipes in red hot coals now and then and let them cook awhile. they will be free of both cake and oils and smoke like a dream

In the Sherlock Holmes stories it's said that he was so lazy about cleaning his pipes that his clay pipes were black.

 

[Searock Fan]

Don't smoke em, but suspect most don't last long enough to build much cake. I'm still trying to figure out why some people "do" smoke em.

 

[anotherbob]

Don't smoke em, but suspect most don't last long enough to build much cake. I'm still trying to figure out why some people "do" smoke em.

because they're affordable and smoke amazingly. From my experience the clay acts as a very good heat sink and even if you puff like a train the chance of experiencing burn in your mouth is almost nil, plus they work well as a shank (prison stabbing device) or as a cudgel.

 

[jpberg]

The build cake, and you can ream them. No worries.

 

[AJL67]

I kind of like the idea of putting them in a fire on a nice cool night, sit out side smoking and baking the crud out of a your clay pipes.

 

[PipeIT]

because they're affordable and smoke amazingly. From my experience the clay acts as a very good heat sink and even if you puff like a train the chance of experiencing burn in your mouth is almost nil, plus they work well as a shank (prison stabbing device) or as a cudgel.

Forgot to mention, they don’t add flavor, they are neutral and they don’t ghost.

@Searock Fan If someone wanted a more neutral material over a Cob, but couldn’t afford a meerschaum, that is where a clay really fills the void.

It’s my understanding, they are the purest, most neutral material to smoke in, at the lowest costs, and a great way to test blends.

If you have some heavy Aro Ghosting blends, clays are great for this, since hey don’t ghost.

You don’t have to worry about dedicating blends to a clay, since every blend will smoke neutral in them. One clay for all blends...

Every pipe smoker should try a clay pipe once or twice, there is literally nothing bad to knock about them, for what they offer, pure clean, neutral unadulterated smoke, non-ghosting at the lowest costs.

What’s not to like...

 

[PipeIT]

@halfdan has to be the only person here that smokes only clays.

@halfdan on average in a month, how many different blends would you say you smoke in a clay?

And, if you can remember, what’s the most amount of blends smoked in one month in a clay?

And did you ever notice at any time, the flavors from one blend being tasted in another blend, or any ghosts?

Thanks

P.S. And how is cake for you, or how do you clean?

 

[ThermionicScott]

there is literally nothing bad to knock about them, for what they offer, pure clean, neutral unadulterated smoke, non-ghosting at the lowest costs.

What’s not to like...

The tiny draft holes aren’t my favorite.

 

[condorlover1]

@PipeIT : you have just overloaded @halfdan main frame brain computer with that number of questions!

 

[The Clay King]

@halfdan has to be the only person here that smokes only clays.

@halfdan on average in a month, how many different blends would you say you smoke in a clay?

And, if you can remember, what’s the most amount of blends smoked in one month in a clay?

And did you ever notice at any time, the flavors from one blend being tasted in another blend, or any ghosts?

Thanks

P.S. And how is cake for you, or how do you clean?

@PipeIT Yes I only smoke clays. I can't remember the most blends I smoked in one month in a clay but at the moment mainly Gawith blends; mostly Ennerdale Flake, Full Virginia Flake and Coniston Cut Plug. The most blends I ever smoked in a clay would be when I received a sample pack of bulk blends from forum members and at the Nottingham Pipe Show. I don't get ghosting from different blends in my clays. Currently smoking GH Ennerdale Flake in my clay.

 

[The Clay King]

I kind of like the idea of putting them in a fire on a nice cool night, sit out side smoking and baking the crud out of a your clay pipes.

@AJL67 I'd like to try it at clay pipe era re-enactments if I take part in them (Lace Wars, Sealed Knot etc).

 

[PipeIT]

The tiny draft holes aren’t my favorite.

There are different styles being made, and several Old German with stems on them.

hmm

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[Michigan_Bill]

Forgot to mention, they don’t add flavor, they are neutral and they don’t ghost.

@Searock Fan If someone wanted a more neutral material over a Cob, but couldn’t afford a meerschaum, that is where a clay really fills the void.

It’s my understanding, they are the purest, most neutral material to smoke in, at the lowest costs, and a great way to test blends.

If you have some heavy Aro Ghosting blends, clays are great for this, since hey don’t ghost.

You don’t have to worry about dedicating blends to a clay, since every blend will smoke neutral in them. One clay for all blends...

Every pipe smoker should try a clay pipe once or twice, there is literally nothing bad to knock about them, for what they offer, pure clean, neutral unadulterated smoke, non-ghosting at the lowest costs.

What’s not to like...

What he said. I like my clays very much, always a good smoke.

 

[ThermionicScott]

There are different styles being made, and several Old German with stems on them.

hmm

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I just measured the holes in my clays with hex keys and got 2mm for the Williamsburg Pottery tavern pipe, and 1.5mm for the regular-scale clay I bought in an antique store circa 2000.

Do newer clays have a more open draw than that?