How to avoid rim darkening?

[allan]

Black coffee?
Never heard of that trick, but I'm going to give it a go.
I was obsessive about my pipes, but now I'm more relaxed. I agree, if one is going to sell a pipe, keeping it pristine is certainly the way to go.
But, for an old shoe, I just let it age naturally.

 

[condorlover1]

Dear, dear old Haja, my favorite Hezbollar fighter taking on the world with his bare hands and trusty 'Bik' lighter :rofl:

 

[saltedplug]

Heat literally scorches the top of the bowl. But a level of my pack about an eighth of an inch from the top, which helps a great deal.

Smoke drifting up likes to deposit in black on the rim. After every smoke it's spit and a cloth.
My rims do darken over time, but certainly not like they used to.

 

[keith929]

The only sure-fire method to prevent rim darkening is to put the pipe back in the sleeve and not smoke it.
In other words now matter how hard we try rim darkening happens. It is just a by product of enjoying our pipes.
We can lessen it's effects but it will happen. IMHO it gives a pipe character.
Unless a pipe was brand new I wouldn't trust an estate pipe without some degree of darkening around the bowl. :puffpipe:

 

[boilermakerandy]

The only sure-fire method to prevent rim darkening is to put the pipe back in the sleeve and not smoke it.
In other words now matter how hard we try rim darkening happens. It is just a by product of enjoying our pipes.
We can lessen it's effects but it will happen. IMHO it gives a pipe character.
Unless a pipe was brand new I wouldn't trust an estate pipe without some degree of darkening around the bowl. [:puffpipe:]

Spot on. I don't worry about it, to me it's no different than a meerschaum taking on color from smoking. I actually like the character it adds to my pipes. I should probably clarify though that the darkening on mine is an accumulation of tars from the tobacco and not the result of flame being held to the briar while lighting.

 

[david555]

I agree with Clark; leave a little room at the top of your bowl, don't pack it completely full and it shouldn't darken so much.

Otherwise, you could just get black stained pipes so you don't see the effects.

 

[jorgesoler]

None of my pipes has charred rims. So what do I do? I just light the pipe perfectly straight (not at an angle) and keep my lighter at a 90 degrees. When lighting your pipe you should come with your lighter from the top to reach the inner bowl only for a second. The most important thing is not to linger. Don't worry if you don't get it going in one go as you can keep trying. And remember the song: straighten up and fly right!
PS. Watching this video might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMtHOAiO8CI