Have I Damaged My Pipe In My Early Attempts At Pipe Smoking?

[UKrob]

New pipe smoker (6 weeks in) from UK here

I’ve transitioned to pipe smoking from RYO ciggies, via vaping which I found revolting and unable to replicate tobacco flavour in any way

Having read tons of information and forums on line along with watching loads of videos I feel like I’m making some good progress. I still get more bowls wrong than I get right but every one that I struggle with is a lesson and, like tonight, I’m starting to get the odd one that smokes much better.

Can anyone help me with what is happening here? Have I managed to damage the bowl in my early attempts, smoking to fast and too hot?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thank you to this entire community, the information I have read here has helped me so much already

Rob


8

 

[Sig]

Keep the lighter ABOVE the bowl, not waterfalling over the rim.
You have a scorched rim is all.
No big deal, just looks bad.
Ive seen MUCH worse hanging out of some old codgers mugs.
Hold the lighter above the bowl, angle it down, and lightly suck.
You don't even need to touch the tobacco, just hold it close.

 

[UKrob]

Keep the lighter ABOVE the bowl, not waterfalling over the rim.
You have a scorched rim is all.
No big deal, just looks bad.
Ive seen MUCH worse hanging out of some old codgers mugs.
Hold the lighter above the bowl, angle it down, and lightly suck.
You don't even need to touch the tobacco, just hold it close.

Thanks for the reply Sig, I’m more concerned about the uneven section inside the bowl.

 

[dottlejockey]

I'd just scrape it off with a dull knife and made sure there's no tunnelling through the wall from a soft spot in the briar. Had this happen on smoke 3 of a brand-new Pete Newgrange. If it's just superficial, nothing to worry about. I highly doubt you're smoking hot enough that early in the bowl to have an issue. That usually happens down lower toward the bottom. Good luck and keep on pipin'!

 

[forloveoffreedom]

what kind of lighter are you using sir?

 

[UKrob]

what kind of lighter are you using sir?

A cheap, refillable gas lighter

 

[username]

A cheap, refillable gas lighter

Torch or soft flame you want a soft flame.

 

[xrundog]

That could be a pit or a defect. Looks like it burned a little bit and might cake over. I think you’re doing okay. The pipe might be okay or it might not. Nothing to do but keep going and find out.

 

[The Benedictine]

Worries should be abated! Smoke slower and allow a cake to form. Welcome to the hobby/addiction.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It almost looks like a piece of tobacco leaf adhered to the wall.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

It's fine.

 

[UKrob]

Soft flame

 

[UKrob]

soft flame

 

[forloveoffreedom]

Rim char is significant unless you’re smoking multiple bowls a day through the same pipe. Good advice on just hitting the baccy when lighting. I’ve never seen anything like that proboscis before, I’d scrape/sand it and carry on. Smoke the heck outta that pipe and keep learning. FYI, many of if wished we just purchased half a dozen Missouri Meerschaum cob pipes (country gentleman model here) and put the rest of our funds in different tobaccos early on. We all end up with potentially many sub par, yet sweet looking mid grade briars cause they’re cool looking. As you become confident and taste more, your pipe wants just keep growing. I could have smoked a dozen mentioned cobs for decades and lost little flavor fun. Maybe I would have more baccy stored instead of dozens of $100 mid enjoyed briars…..that all look neat lol. Enjoy and great sessions buddy!

 

[BingBong]

Ruined, dear boy. It's a codger pipe now, stop worrying, smoke it to destruction and enjoy!

 

[Sigmund]

If you keep at it there will be more pipes.

Light as instructed above and rim charing will happen much less.

If you get a pretty pipe you want to protect its also easier to not over fill the pipe.
Fill it and leave like a nickel or two thickness from the rim...maybe a hair more.
It will keep snazzy pipes looking good longer and easier.

A pipe is a little fire place. Its gonna get some wear but the more control you have over the fire and its location the nicer your pipes will look (and last).

 

[BenMN]

New pipe smoker (6 weeks in) from UK here

I’ve transitioned to pipe smoking from RYO ciggies, via vaping which I found revolting and unable to replicate tobacco flavour in any way

Having read tons of information and forums on line along with watching loads of videos I feel like I’m making some good progress. I still get more bowls wrong than I get right but every one that I struggle with is a lesson and, like tonight, I’m starting to get the odd one that smokes much better.

Can anyone help me with what is happening here? Have I managed to damage the bowl in my early attempts, smoking to fast and too hot?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thank you to this entire community, the information I have read here has helped me so much already

Rob


View attachment 4105698

Welcome!

I'm not sure what's going on there. But if you're wondering if you're smoking too hot/ fast, you probably are. Best to just sort of smoulder along. You'll get the hang of it. You'll know you've got it when flavors are great

The area in question looks raised. Is this accurate? If so, and it were me, I'd be scraping at it just to see. I can't help but wonder if it's a piece of tobacco like @TheIronMonkey said. Or maybe some bubbled out bowl coating, but then again it seems pale in spots. Yeah, I'd scrape at it but that's me

 

[UKrob]

Welcome!

I'm not sure what's going on there. But if you're wondering if you're smoking too hot/ fast, you probably are. Best to just sort of smoulder along. You'll get the hang of it. You'll know you've got it when flavors are great

The area in question looks raised. Is this accurate? If so, and it were me, I'd be scraping at it just to see. I can't help but wonder if it's a piece of tobacco like @TheIronMonkey said. Or maybe some bubbled out bowl coating, but then again it seems pale in spots. Yeah, I'd scrape at it

 

[UKrob]

Thanks for all the replies.

Update - I gave it a scrape and the below shows what was revealed…

 

[Sigmund]

cant really gauge how deep it is. Just smoke it.
Wipe it out after every smoke with a paper towel

Might have been a bubbled up bowl coating...hard to say but thats wood.
If the bowl is getting hot on your hands to the touch give it a rest and let it cool
warm is fine but if it is uncomfortable to hold you are smoking too hot.