How Hard is it to Burnout a Pipe?

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HeadMisfit

Can't Leave
Oct 15, 2025
455
316
burning a pipe out is rather hard to do. If the pipe was made from quality briar.

Now, barring internal defects in the pipe, and an idiot who cant tell when the burning tobacco starts entering the draft hole, the burning out of pipes is caused by one thing.

Careless use of torch lighters.
 

Chris T

Starting to Get Obsessed
Aug 3, 2023
138
297
South Florida
The only one I've had burn out was a small Peterson bent calabash that looks similar to the "Junior" line that's available now. I smoked it about a dozen times and it developed a big black spot on the heel. I took it back to the Tinder Box and it was replaced without question. That was around 1988. I'm still smoking that replacement. So I'm led to agree that if it happens it's likely a fault in the pipe, and would be evidenced pretty early on.
Well dammit. Make it two now for me. I ordered this one just last month. I think it was my 8th bowl just now.
 

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OverMountain

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,517
5,321
NOVA
Hello, I’ve asked more specific questions about specific pipes before but I have a more broad question.

-How hard is it to really burnout a decently made pipe, like a newer Savinellli, Peterson POTY, or a Dunhill?

I get the impression it’s very rare from forum posts I’ve seen, but my real issue is I find myself avoiding smoking pipes that I really love (Peterson 2021 POTY, I got into smoking pipes because of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes so that’s a big one, or other a Peterson POTY models I have, and some dunhills) because I’m mortified of burning them out and ruining them.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can smoke without the bowl getting too hot to hold, but I’m still so new to the actual looks of the inside of a bowl after some smoking so any color/wear inside of it scares me.

I’ve never even smoked one pipe long enough to build up any real cake because I keep switching to avoid any damage.

Any tips to get over this would be appreciated. I have 3 gorgeous 2021 POTYs sitting in boxes because I’m mortified of hurting them.
Without a wood defect, I’d say almost zero. Ships aren’t made for the harbor, even though that’s where the safety lies…tied alongside a pier that’s never trod upon.

Fire up those pipes sir and LIVE!
 

OverMountain

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,517
5,321
NOVA
I’m close to 50 now and realizing it’s time to “send it” on most things. I hope you enjoy them even more now, and like recommended above use a soft flame lighter or a match.
 

Eireprof

Can't Leave
Feb 9, 2025
453
5,569
Hudson Valley, New York
I’ve been smoking for almost two decades, I never let cake build up, I have only about a dozen pipes so I smoke each one often. I’ve never had a burnout. Use soft flames and you should be good to go unless there is an imperfection in the briar. In that case you won’t be able to do anything about it anyhow.
 

skydog

Part of the Furniture Now
Jun 27, 2017
664
1,740
As others have said, outside of a hidden flaw it is exceedingly rare. I've bought well over a hundred estate pipes and even the worst looking overflowing cake lava pipes are fine underneath all the cake.

That said, I got a group of pipes recently where every single one was toast inside. They all were worse on the left side so I suspect some guy lit his pipes with his right hand and used a torch lighter. I would never use a torch lighter because I've never had a problem getting a pipe lit with a bic or zippo and the risk isn't worth the reward. The briar was absolutely charcoal and would've been too thin to smoke once I scraped/reamed down to good wood. I returned them on eBay since the burnout issues weren't disclosed and the seller was very professional offering me a full refund.
 

Bassman65

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 30, 2022
770
1,330
Canada
I’ve never burnt one out, but I also rotate quite a bit. I also haven’t been smoking as long as many.

In my opinion, however, you can’t enjoy it if you don’t use it. If you ever did burn one out, it would look as good on display as if you never smoked it. At least you would have gotten enjoyment out of the one you used.

Life’s too short not to enjoy what you like.
 
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MisterBadger

Lifer
Oct 6, 2024
1,154
9,924
Ludlow, UK
There was that annoying guy who claimed to burn out Dunhills, Savinellis, Peterson's, anything in only one week and was creating stink about it. Sadly, no pics were ever forthcoming but he got a lot of advice about technique.
Could that have been the same guy who posted with an Ozarks accent on here about a year ago, who insisted that GH rope twists tasted like fresh air compared to the way they did 100 years ago? ;-)