Do different pipe shapes work well, or not so well, with different tobaccos?

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DeWitt1912

Lurker
Oct 16, 2023
16
21
Nara Japan
I have six pipes, and so far, my choices have been purely for aesthetic reasons when choosing shapes, but I was wondering, do different bowl types lend themselves to better experiences based on certain types of tobaccos? For instance, what might a short wide bowl be good for vs a tall bowl?

I tend to like the sleek narrow shanks on some pipes, but I'm thinking these make for a hotter smoke.

Thoughts?
 

Dave760

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 13, 2023
678
6,032
Pittsburgh, PA
I've never found the shape of pipes to have any effect on smoking quality, but for me I find that bowl size does have an effect. I like Latakia blends best in smaller bowls, and Virginia blends in larger bowls.

Note that this runs exactly counter to what people told me when I was starting out with non-aromatics. The smokers I talked to suggested larger bowls for Latakia.

So you may or may not find variability in how different pipe shapes/sizes/whatever work for you. Consider it part of the adventure of being a pipe smoker.
 

DeerparkDays

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 30, 2022
233
737
Dannevirke, New Zealand
Cut might matter. I have several pipes that tend to fit folded and stuffed flakes better than others. The slim Castello billiard below (middle pipe) has never known anything else but flakes. That's the only concession to size or shape I make that I'm conscious of.

View attachment 367872
Hey Burleybreath……I notice that your Castello has a small chip missing off the stem…..lucky for you I specialise in repairing Castellos…..if you ship it to me I can repair it, free of charge because you are such a nice fellow. It will only take me say……45 years to get it fixed and shipped back to you!!!!!

verrrrrrrrrrryyyyy nice pipe!
 

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
7,754
43,197
72
Sydney, Australia
I have six pipes, and so far, my choices have been purely for aesthetic reasons when choosing shapes, but I was wondering, do different bowl types lend themselves to better experiences based on certain types of tobaccos? For instance, what might a short wide bowl be good for vs a tall bowl?

I tend to like the sleek narrow shanks on some pipes, but I'm thinking these make for a hotter smoke.

Thoughts?
I have carried out a (very) few comparisons.

Last weekend I smoked a chopped up Semois cigar in a chimney, then in a pot. I thought that the flavour was more “focused and accentuated” in the chimney.

Previously I found that English/ Oriental blends eg Penzance tastes better in a morta than a briar.

Another factor is the diameter of the airway. My preference was for the narrower.
And non- filter over a filter.

Please bear in mind that such comparisons are very subjective and subliminal factors may have a large influence on the results.
So take these as my opinions rather than fact.
 
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badbriar

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 17, 2012
891
1,628
Suncoast Florida by the Beach
I believe that the pipe shape and size can make a difference in the temperature of a smoke. Thick walled, heavier pipes insulate the hand and longer stems can give a cooler stream on the draw.
As for taste, I do not have a very discerning palate and have not observed any difference with various pipes. However, those with a more developed palate (like jiminks) have advised to use particular styles of bowls with some taoaccos. YMMV
 

minerLuke

Can't Leave
Jan 2, 2023
316
629
Vancouver BC
Theoretically, a tallish narrow bowl would be ideal for smoking virginia flakes and broad chamber like a pot would be ideal for smoking something like a complex latakia blend. Theoretically.

My best VA flake pipe is a smallish Gr3 bent pot by dunhill. The chamber is a bit broad compared to the depth but for whatever reason it absolutely sings with any virginia flake I put in to it.

However, my main latakia blend pipe is a James Upshall Canadian with a big almost pot like bowl and it really does work well with Balkan style blends. However, a group 3 Cumberland finish straight apple I have is also dynamite with latakia blends so go figure. I just go ahead and roll with whatever smokes well in whatever pipe.
 
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Sgetz

Lifer
May 21, 2020
1,776
2,010
75
UK
Some believe so. Other than aesthetics, I've not noticed a difference between one pipe or another save duration of smoking.
This is exactly it. But a nice pipe does enhance the experience. Like a nice glass for find wine.
 

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
7,754
43,197
72
Sydney, Australia
This is exactly it. But a nice pipe does enhance the experience. Like a nice glass for find wine.
I have organised and carried out comparative wine and spirits vs glasses tastings.
Those taking part included experienced wine drinkers, wine professionals plus a foremost wine writer.
Glass shape and the size matters.
it‘s not just aesthetics.
 

jaingorenard

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 11, 2022
885
3,880
Norwich, UK
Something I have noticed very distinctly in the past is that genuinely conical bowls can really focus sweetness. That's not necessarily to say that they suit one type of blend or another, but I have found that rich and sweet Virginia flakes and plugs really shine in a couple of conical-bowled pipes I have.
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
2,550
11,493
London UK
Yes. For me, it's more about chamber sizes and proportions, and quality of briar among briar bowls.

My favourite tobacco is SG Cabbie's, which is unforgiving in the wrong pipe. The best so far are my cheap Sarome 9mm filter pipes, without filters, and the Invictas, which have excellent briar. Passable in a few others, unsmokeable in some, especially group 4/5 sized bowls.

Flakes, folded and stuffed, best in group 3 conical chambers or, exceptionally, in a 20mm x 22mm chambered Prince. Ribbons are fine in big chambers as are flakes broken down small.

Picky picky picky, eh? No wonder I never married :ROFLMAO:
 

sardonicus87

Lifer
Jun 28, 2022
1,720
15,712
38
Lower Alabama
I kind of wonder if it's not so much the pipe and moreso the smoker unconsciously drawing differently because of the pipe, or not adjusting their draw because the pipe draws differently... which may not be due entirely to shape/size.

My Ropp Etudiant J16 prince beater pipe is the smallest I have, yet it's got the most easy draw of any pipe I have and you have to be careful with it, it's real easy to draw too hard... and the hole in the bit and the draft hole in the stummel/shank doesn't appear to be any larger than my other pipes. Changing your draw certainly will change how a blend tastes.

The only thing that even makes sense to me as what would change flavor is chamber diameter, and that's only going to be in regard to more complex blends in that maybe each draw is more consistent in flavor (intuitively, a broader surface area means you're more likely to get all the components at any one time than a pocket of some components and not others). But even that may not be the case, and there would be a min point where any larger wouldn't make a difference and I imagine you need a pretty damn small chamber diameter to result in potential layering of individual components rather than an even spread.

Put me in the camp of not noticing a difference based on shape or size.
 
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Mike N

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 3, 2023
967
5,927
Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
I prefer straight billiards. But the most important thing for me to enjoy a pipe now is a thin 4.5 mm ebonite/vulcanite button. I think not enough attention is paid to the part of the pipe that actually contacts the mouth.
 
Jan 28, 2018
15,123
182,252
68
Sarasota, FL
I like 1 1/2” to 2” bowl depth x 3/4” bowl id for Virginias. I’ve found Virginias don’t work well for me when they hit .85 and larger id. I believe .9 and larger id bowl are good for more complex English blends. In general, I prefer smaller bowl id but I also rarely smoke an English blend. I don’t think outer shape or shank size/length has much affect other than aesthetically. The drill is importantly, I prefer 4 mm.
 
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JackOrion

Can't Leave
Feb 3, 2023
444
3,967
West Yonkers California
The thing to do is acquire a well rounded collection of pipes and tobaccos. Spend a few years exploring then check back and answer your own question.
My experience is yes. Certain pipes work better with certain blends. Pay attention to the variables such as pipe maintenance and tobacco age and don’t underestimate the ever important state of your mind at that moment.
 
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