I almost flushed a pipe once. Wellington bowl broke free in the bathroom, stood there still clenching the stem while debating.
Do You Believe In The Cake? Yes or No
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Sooo before, after, or during? ?
Got lucky, plus it was my bathroom so it was clean. Still sterlized it. Had it been a public one I would have just left it while wondering why the hell I was smoking a pipe in there to begin with.
Until proven otherwise, I deem the need for cake a pipe myth.
Who has measured the temperature of the burn passing into the walls of a bald chamber compared to one with cake. But if so, how much heat will degrade the walls so as to know what cake, if any, is required? Does cake in fact insulate at all?
As in any number of practices in the pipe world, we believe things without any proof whatsoever because something would seem causally related.
Who has measured the temperature of the burn passing into the walls of a bald chamber compared to one with cake. But if so, how much heat will degrade the walls so as to know what cake, if any, is required? Does cake in fact insulate at all?
As in any number of practices in the pipe world, we believe things without any proof whatsoever because something would seem causally related.
It's not the chlorine that makes it nasty.. it's the poop. Florida's sewage and clean water live amongst each other.. It's what happens when you build cities on top of a swamp.
I can't remember, where in Florida you live.. But I saw a documentary, a few years back, about this problem in the everglades. I've never looked at public water the same again.
I have often wondered if the chemical make up of a persons local water might effect the benefit, of a water flush..
We should get the chairman of the board of water & pipes to chime in.. @jpmcwjr
Yes, no liquids in the bowl except you need to get rid of a crossover taste and smell by the salt/alcohol method and you don't have the opportunity for a ozone treatment.
Possibly the cake can provide a more even distribution of heat,? not necessarily lowering it. This would be especially helpful on some cheaper pipes that might have "hot spots" but probably less noticable/necessary on a nicer pipe with better briar or a straight grain.
Just a theory
Here's another beautiful picture!
It's how all my pipes are treated.
It's how all my pipes are treated.
I was about to chime in about how the way I smoke and clean my pipes might be considered neglectful by some here, but...
Also no cake crew checking in. I don't bother wiping out my bowls after every smoke though. I just wait until I notice a little cake forming, then I "ream" it with a paper towel and a little bit of grain alcohol. That mostly wipes the cake out and leaves just a little layer.
Certainly that could be the case at times. But the risk of a burnout is highest on raw briar, so a coating helps some.
I could have posted this word for word. Preach the good word, brother.
Nah.....
For me, cake is nothing to get excited about. My favorite smokes have come from brand new, virgin bowls in well made pipes. I haven't had a pipe that smokes hot or badly due to not having enough of a cake. I used to just leave the cake to build up but in recent years I've started wiping out the bowl after a smoke. I think there is so much more than caking of the bowl that gives you a bad or good smoke.
For me, cake is nothing to get excited about. My favorite smokes have come from brand new, virgin bowls in well made pipes. I haven't had a pipe that smokes hot or badly due to not having enough of a cake. I used to just leave the cake to build up but in recent years I've started wiping out the bowl after a smoke. I think there is so much more than caking of the bowl that gives you a bad or good smoke.
I will say this for all the new guys. Cake is extremely important if you want to get the most out of your smoking experience. There is no debate, there are no questions, building a proper cake is one of the most important things you can do to get the best smoke possible.
all the deniers can moan and wail about there being no need for cake, but the professional pipe smokers I know swear by it and these guys who have been smoking 40 plus years are the ones I trust. My interest in a 10 year old newbie smoker has no knowledge I care about.
all the deniers can moan and wail about there being no need for cake, but the professional pipe smokers I know swear by it and these guys who have been smoking 40 plus years are the ones I trust. My interest in a 10 year old newbie smoker has no knowledge I care about.
You trust only those that have smoked 40+ years? Trust them about what? Whether you can get a totally enjoyable smoke without a cake? Why not just try it yourself and decide if you personally like cake or not? We all know the "cake rule" that many have but there is no 40 years of "knowledge" involved. You let cake build and see if that smokes better for you than if you don't. It really comes down to personal preference. Just like English vs. Aromatics and bent vs. straight. I thoroughly enjoy smoking without a cake and find no difference from smoking my pipes that have a text book, must-or-else-cake.
I've only smoked for 35+ years and that makes my opinion totally invalid so I'll be back in 5 years to say this again.
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