Honey Cured.... Pipe?

[Keith O]

My local B&M girl advised to cure a new pipe with a thin smear of honey inside the bowl, taking care not to get it on the exterior. Said that it helps it form the cake. I hadn't seen this, but have only been lurking a week or 2...
I bought a cob to try as well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My local B&M girl advised to cure a new pipe with a thin smear of honey inside the bowl, taking care not to get it on the exterior. Said that it helps it form the cake. I hadn't seen this, but have only been lurking a week or 2...
I bought a cob to try as well.

I've done that on many. Spread a thin layer of honey and shake ash in the chamber to coat it. Folks have done that for decades but it's not necessary. Certainly don't do it to a cob since cake build up isn't at all needed in them.

 

[chilllucky]

Check out the Savinelli Miele pipes. They come with a honey bowl coating!

You got old, but still valuable, advice about treating a new bowl. There are a lot of odd methods out there for breaking in a pipe by creating cake in the bowl. They all work well enough to have supporters.

 

[Keith O]

So, shake ash from a different pipe?

 

[mso489]

I've had my local independent pipe shop owner do that on a pipe or two I bought. I think it is based on cake building, which I don't do, but it didn't do any harm either, and it was fun to momentarily subscribe to the old ritual, and who doesn't like honey? I just scoop out the ash, wipe out the bowl with a stiff paper towel or paper napkin, and maintain a thin carbon layer. No reaming is needed, and the chamber remains its original size more or less.

 

[judcole]

I've heard this, and I know some oldtimers swear by it. I know some others swear at it. I have never done it, or seen the need. The pipe will build cake nicely without it.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I have done this treatment to several of my pipes which were either reamed or come from factories like with naked 'chambers, there might be some advantage to this method at least it seems that the carbon layer starts to build-up faster and thus may give some hypothetical? protection to brand new (or reamed) bowl chamber

 

[Chasing Embers]

So, shake ash from a different pipe?

That, cigar, or wood ash. I use maple.

 

[mortonbriar]

I already have ants in the house, no honey smearing for me! Its kind of fun that the ritual exists though...

 

[Daniele Pipa]

is a technique invented by Sandro Pertini (former Italian president) a great pipe smoker. it is partly loved and hated in Italy. I use to spread honey, only when the pipe is new. prevents briar burns, and favors the formation of the crust
Sandro Pertini - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Pertini

 

[augiebd]

I also use maple syrup and activated charcoal instead of ash.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Honey will help build the cake faster. You don't need to put ash in it. Just smear a thin coat of honey, pack the bowl normally and smoke as you usually wood.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You don't need to put ash in it.

Just makes it less sticky for the first couple of smokes.

 

[mikethompson]

I've heard of honey curing in new pipes done at the factory, but never by the end user.

Seems like more mess to me, but I'm sure there is something to it.

 

[Merton]

I believe that Claudio Cavicchi always put a dab of honey on his otherwise uncoated bowls. Great pipesmoker BTW.

 

[Merton]

Pipe maker and he actually is a great pipesmoker too

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, honey is messy. It's the sugars in it that carbonize and help jump start a cake. But coating with just sugar is faster, less messy and has more carbs per ounce than honey. In any event, neither is necessary. If you mix in ash you will be building a soft cake. I am careful to remove all ash from chamber and stem.

 

[daveinlax]

I've tried honey and watered down honey but I found it created a soft false cake that chipped off easily. I just smoke new pipes gently for the first few bowls to break them in.

 

[seanv]

^^ This

 

[Keith O]

I've tried honey and watered down honey but I found it created a soft false cake that chipped off easily. I just smoke new pipes gently for the first few bowls to break them in.

How do you smoke "gently"?