Gurgling

[flumigt]

Hi! I have a VAUEN Basic pipe and right now im smoking Dragon Blend by John Aylesbury. When i smoke moister builds up in the bottom of the bowl even if i have left it out to dry for 2 hours. Does this happend because of my pipe, my tobacco or anything else.

Thanks beforehand for any answer.

 

[The Benedictine]

Probably how fast you're smoking. Slow it down a bit. Run a pipe cleaner through it after every use.

 

[flumigt]

Probably how fast you're smoking. Slow it down a bit. Run a pipe cleaner through it after every use.

Maybe a hard questions to answer, but what is a good rhythm while smoking?

 

[The Benedictine]

Maybe a hard questions to answer, but what is a good rhythm while smoking?

To each their own really. You don't want to look like a freight train smoking. I take sips every 30 seconds to a minute. Don't worry about it going out, relighting is normal.

 

[flumigt]

I also have a question about cleaning. I have seen somewhere that you can take strong alcohol like isopropyl to clean the bowl. Can i do that or will the briar be damaged?

 

[The Benedictine]

I also have a question about cleaning. I have seen somewhere that you can take strong alcohol like isopropyl to clean the bowl. Can i do that or will the briar be damaged?

Use drinking spirits.

 

[flumigt]

Use drinking spirits.

Can i use spirits with sugar in it like rum?

 

[The Benedictine]

Can i use spirits with sugar in it like rum?

You can.

 

[flumigt]

You can.

Thank you for your helpp!

 

[abecox]

There's a lot of reasons why a pipe gurgles, for me it usually is because of in order: Smoking too fast causing moisture buildup in the bottom of the bowl, some blends are moister by nature so they'll gurgle faster for that reason, and some pipes just will do that because of their architecture like off center drilling. My best advice is to slow down some, and then when you think you've slowed down enough slow down even more. The upside is that you'll get more flavor and nuance from a blend and it'll last much longer. Pipes that used to last me only half an hour now take an hour to get through for me.

Also don't sweat relights, unless you're practicing for a slow smoke contest tobacco going out is natural and when that happens for me I take the momentary break to sip a beverage or flip my record, then the pipe itself is cooler and you won't be as likely to gurgle. It gets easier with time and practice but luckily the practice is always fun.

 

[Waning Embers]

Is it a 9mm Filter pipe?

 

[flumigt]

Is it a 9mm Filter pipe?

Yes

 

[The Benedictine]

Yes

Take it out. Curse it. Toss it into the sea.


Replace your filters if you want to use them. I don't. Gives a better draw.

 

[flumigt]

Take it out. Curse it. Toss it into the sea.


Replace your filters if you want to use them. I don't. Gives a better draw.

I don't use them.

 

[Waning Embers]

Yes

Okay there's where we start. If you're smoking it without a filter, moisture is going to build up in the filter chamber. If smoking with a filter, turbulence caused by the blocked airflow will cause condensation. If smoking without the filter, you may consider an adapter or frequent use of pipe cleaners to absorb the moisture. If you like filters, you may want to try balsa ones.

 

[abecox]

Oh if it's a filter pipe I change my filters basically every smoke and if it gurgles with a filter in you're smoking way too fast. I have to really try to get mine to gurgle if I have a filter in.

 

[anotherbob]

Maybe a hard questions to answer, but what is a good rhythm while smoking?

I don't worry about rhythm I worry about sipping instead of puffing. That makes a huge difference.

 

[Sig]

In my experience its usually the pipe isn't drilled exactly right, or the holes aren't aligned exactly right.
Some pipes just smoke wet until you fix them. Some fine work with some needle files can do wonders.
Smooth everything from the button to the bowl. No sharp edges, and as graceful corners as you can get.
I have only had one straight gurgler. Most have been bent pipes. The straights are easy to fix.

 

[OverMountain]

To offer the contrarian view: my Vauens are all 9mm and I do use charcoal 9mm (dr perl…the best IMO)

I learned on a vauen pipe and was frustrated too until I refined my technique and realized what an overbuilt German panzer Vauen pipes are.

Don’t give up, and I’d say try them with a filter and SLOW down. When you think you’ve slowed down, just do it a bit more. The smallest sips are where the flavor is for me. I get better flavor with filters (everyone is different) but it helps dry the smoke out and I do get best taste in charcoal filtered pipes.

Good luck and congrats on a great panzer….Vauen.

 

[AJL67]

Say you let the back sit out for two hours is pretty well relative. I live in Florida sometimes when I put tobacco out for two hours, it’s more humid than when it started so that’s one thing to think about. For me, the dryer the better if I clump tobacco between my thumb and two fingers and it sticks together that’s usually a little bit too damp for me. I like it really really really dry. If you’re getting a lot of gurgling could be a lot of factors, but there’s nothing wrong with running a pipe cleaner down the stem every now and then and just clean it out. I have two or three pipe cleaners by me at all times when I smoke and I’m constantly running out of pipe cleaner down the stem just give it a swab real quick. I usually go through three a day and then I just toss them their pipe cleaners it’s cheap. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Just enjoy it.