How to Break in a Brand New Pipe?
- Thread starter gankdalf420
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Breaking in a pipe should be a joy and not a chore. Getting a new pipe is like getting a new bike or a new baseball glove when you were a kid. I still get giddy as a kid when I get a new pipe. I hope I never lose that feeling.
When I break in a pipe, I fill it to the top and smoke it as I would normally smoke my pipe. I am one of those that believe a nice hard cake the thickness of a dime makes for a cool and flavorful pipe. I am also of the belief that a clean pipe is a happy pipe. For me there is nothing grosser than a dirty pipe with tons of goo in it.
My procedure for cleaning my pipes is as follows. I let my pipes cool over night then break the pipe down. I will take one or 2 fluffy cleaners depending on size of the bowl and wipe the inside of the bowl and then blow through the shank. I then take either one or 2 brislte cleaners again depending on the size of the shank, double them over and run them throught the shank, first twisting them and then running them back and forth. I will continue with the bristle cleaners until they come out clean. I then take one or two bristle cleaners and run them through the stem. I then take one or two fluffy cleaners and run those through the stem. Many of my pipes have stems that can take two cleaners and some of my pipes have a shank diameter greater than 4mm which can handle two cleaners doubled over through the shanks.
For deep cleanings I use Everclear, shank brush, bristle and fluffy cleaners along with Obidisian Stem Oil and pretty much do the same as above. I have never or will I ever use anything that is not drinkable on my pipes. Isopropyl alcohol has never touched one of my pipes. I also never rub the inside of my bowls with any type of alcohol. When needed I will take a pipe knife and use that to scrap and even out my cake.
When I break in a pipe, I fill it to the top and smoke it as I would normally smoke my pipe. I am one of those that believe a nice hard cake the thickness of a dime makes for a cool and flavorful pipe. I am also of the belief that a clean pipe is a happy pipe. For me there is nothing grosser than a dirty pipe with tons of goo in it.
My procedure for cleaning my pipes is as follows. I let my pipes cool over night then break the pipe down. I will take one or 2 fluffy cleaners depending on size of the bowl and wipe the inside of the bowl and then blow through the shank. I then take either one or 2 brislte cleaners again depending on the size of the shank, double them over and run them throught the shank, first twisting them and then running them back and forth. I will continue with the bristle cleaners until they come out clean. I then take one or two bristle cleaners and run them through the stem. I then take one or two fluffy cleaners and run those through the stem. Many of my pipes have stems that can take two cleaners and some of my pipes have a shank diameter greater than 4mm which can handle two cleaners doubled over through the shanks.
For deep cleanings I use Everclear, shank brush, bristle and fluffy cleaners along with Obidisian Stem Oil and pretty much do the same as above. I have never or will I ever use anything that is not drinkable on my pipes. Isopropyl alcohol has never touched one of my pipes. I also never rub the inside of my bowls with any type of alcohol. When needed I will take a pipe knife and use that to scrap and even out my cake.
That could be true of any lesser brand/make of briar. It can also be true of some highly regarded marques, though less common.
My estimate of when my pipes are broken in ranges from a half dozen bowls to over 50 for a few of them.
My estimate of when my pipes are broken in ranges from a half dozen bowls to over 50 for a few of them.
I don't even understand this whole "breaking in" concept. Pipes are constantly in a state of transformation, like a living thing... like a woman. You get a virgin pipe. You learn what makes it sing, and show it what you like; try a few different tobaccos in it, and see what she likes. Why start off wanting it to be used, enjoy that new briar flavor, bond with it, get it's DNA in your system. Clean it. Keep your cake beaten back to whatever you think you want. Then soon you'll want to deep clean it. But, if it starts getting to where you choose it less and les, ream her out and polish here, a make over, so to speak.
When does it smoke best? I enjoy it all. Give me a fresh virgin to enjoy, or a nice MILF pipe, a nice divorcée estate pipe. I could really care less about "breaking in." Just enjoy it. And, if you don't want to smoke for 45 minutes, just choose another method. But, I have had very few cigars that lasted less than 45 minutes. Personally, I want hours of smoking, hours upon hours.
When does it smoke best? I enjoy it all. Give me a fresh virgin to enjoy, or a nice MILF pipe, a nice divorcée estate pipe. I could really care less about "breaking in." Just enjoy it. And, if you don't want to smoke for 45 minutes, just choose another method. But, I have had very few cigars that lasted less than 45 minutes. Personally, I want hours of smoking, hours upon hours.
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