Making the Jump to Larger Bowls?

[AroEnglish]

So I’ve got it in my head that I need a large pipe. I'm primarily a clencher and someone who smokes on the go but I’m thinking a hefty pipe that feels weighty in the hand would be good as a house pipe.

The largest bowl I’ve smoked is a BriarWorks Oom Paul which is about 0.97 cu in. I’m thinking about getting a pipe made that would be 1.57 cu in which is over 60% larger. Another option is to buy a factory pipe that I’ve been eyeing that’s in between these two at 1.17 cu in, 20% larger than the Oom Paul.

Do you guys think I should go start with the smaller of the two to see if I actually like pipes that are that big or should I just make the jump to the big boy right away?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Going by those dimensions, I have no idea if you're talking about a small or a large pipe. Never heard of them being measured that way

 

[TheWhale13]

Yeah I've never seen cubic inches being used when measuring pipes. Sure, it probably works, but unusual.

 

[AroEnglish]

Yeah fair enough! I did the math to measure volume so it might be easier to compare but it is pretty unconventional. Here are the dimensions of the chambers:

BriarWorks:

• Chamber Depth: 1.89 in./48.01 mm.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.81 in./20.57 mm.

Billiard:

• Chamber Depth: 1.84 in./46.74 mm.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.90 in./22.86 mm.

Dream Pipe:

• Chamber Depth: 2.00 in.
• Chamber Diameter: 1.00 in.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeah fair enough! I did the math to measure volume so it might be easier to compare but it is pretty unconventional. Here are the dimensions of the chambers:

BriarWorks:

• Chamber Depth: 1.89 in./48.01 mm.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.81 in./20.57 mm.

Billiard:

• Chamber Depth: 1.84 in./46.74 mm.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.90 in./22.86 mm.

Dream Pipe:

• Chamber Depth: 2.00 in.
• Chamber Diameter: 1.00 in.

That’s pretty smart, but works best if they are truly a U-shaped chamber. If conical V-shaped, not so much.

My largest pipe is a tad over 1” wide. It’s a bulldog that I had Dan Chlebove make for me. I have a fee right at 1” which I like also. I use the biggies for bitey blends, strong burleys, and Englishes. For me, bitey blends calm down in a wide pipe, and strong burleys tend to not hit my head as hard in one also.

I also keep a few .5” and .6” in my arsenal as well. But, most are .7-.85”.

 

[Coreios]

I have a big pipe. For a long time it was my favorite. Now I look at it and think it's over the top. Its like 2.5 deep. I now smoke normal size pipes. My taste in everything pipes keeps changing as I move forward. From what I smoke to what its in, stems, bowl shapes. I even had a homemade wooden tamper I loved, now I use a standard tritool. Not sure if others experienced this.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

In general,I don't care for larger pipes. But I also primarily smoke flakes. But one and try it, then you'll know what you like.

 

[AroEnglish]

I have a big pipe. For a long time it was my favorite. Now I look at it and think it's over the top. Its like 2.5 deep. I now smoke normal size pipes. My taste in everything pipes keeps changing as I move forward. From what I smoke to what its in, stems, bowl shapes. I even had a homemade wooden tamper I loved, now I use a standard tritool. Not sure if others experienced this.

I definitely experience this. It seems to just be human to have a change of tastes as time goes. I used to like just normal proportioned and sized pipes but now what I want are either tiny or large chubby pipes (I hate that there’s not a better word than "chubby").

 

[ADKPiper]

Right now I'm really liking large diameter bowls.
At the moment I'm smoking my Rossi which has a .92 inch diameter bowl.
It smokes excellent.
It does have a shallow semi v shaped bowl and it smokes fantastically.
Burleys and English in that one for me as well as mentioned earlier.
But that covers most of my smoking.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Dream Pipe:

• Chamber Depth: 2.00 in.
• Chamber Diameter: 1.00 in.

That's right around the lower end of what I usually smoke, my smaller pipes. I really enjoy them.

Thus is what one of mine looks like with those exact dimensions.

 

[OzPiper]

I have a couple of large EXEXEL bowls. Sorry, too lazy to get out the callipers
Both Barlings coincidentally.


I also have a couple of Danish pipes that have surprisingly large/deep chambers

My preference is for a 30-40minute bowl.
I get bored easily
Unless it is a blend whose flavours evolve throughout the smoke.
And there are not too many blends that do that.

 

[OzPiper]

A W.O. Larsen Walrus with a surprisingly large (deep) chamber


And a Stanwell Shape 186 by Anne Julie

 

[K.E. Powell]

I prefer somewhat larger pipes myself. Peterson's XL sized pipes and larger American-style pipes from the likes of Boswell are very appealing to me.

Even though I prefer large pipes, I do keep pipes of all sizes and shapes around, or at least as best I can; my collection pales in comparison to many here.

The reason I carry many different sizes and shapes is to help me have options to suit any situation or mood. Small pipes are good for travel, or for sampling quickly basic tobaccos used for blending. Larger pipes are great for longer sessions and to help me really tease out all the different flavors of particularly complex blends. I tend to favor billiards, brandys, and apples for shapes, but I've plenty of other shapes too, each with their own aesthetic and smoking characteristics. I think everyone should have one big house pipe, something to really sit down and enjoy over a very long period. I know my Boswell oom paul fits that bill, and it is my go-to when I'm watching a movie at home, because it will last me most of the movie.

For bigger pipes, especially if you are a clencher, get one with a generous bend. And go ahead and be adventurous! Get yourself a nice sized house pipe. It may not be the pipe you smoke most often, but it is one that serves a purpose and will a delightful companion in the right circumstances.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I prefer somewhat larger pipes myself. Peterson's XL sized pipes and larger American-style pipes from the likes of Boswell are very appealing to me.

Even though I prefer large pipes, I do keep pipes of all sizes and shapes around, or at least as best I can; my collection pales in comparison to many here.

The reason I carry many different sizes and shapes is to help me have options to suit any situation or mood. Small pipes are good for travel, or for sampling quickly basic tobaccos used for blending. Larger pipes are great for longer sessions and to help me really tease out all the different flavors of particularly complex blends. I tend to favor billiards, brandys, and apples for shapes, but I've plenty of other shapes too, each with their own aesthetic and smoking characteristics. I think everyone should have one big house pipe, something to really sit down and enjoy over a very long period. I know my Boswell oom paul fits that bill, and it is my go-to when I'm watching a movie at home, because it will last me most of the movie.

For bigger pipes, especially if you are a clencher, get one with a generous bend. And go ahead and be adventurous! Get yourself a nice sized house pipe. It may not be the pipe you smoke most often, but it is one that serves a purpose and will a delightful companion in the right circumstances.

I recently bought a Peterson House Pipe since I'd been eyeing a larger pipe for longer, reading sessions (and the reasons you state). The stars aligned with a flash sale and I couldn't pass this one up. The chamber depth is 2.21 inches.

I haven't had a chance to break it in yet, but I am looking forward to the christening and companionship for years to come.

 

[The Clay King]

I recently bought a Peterson House Pipe since I'd been eyeing a larger pipe for longer, reading sessions (and the reasons you state). The stars aligned with a flash sale and I couldn't pass this one up. The chamber depth is 2.21 inches.

I haven't had a chance to break it in yet, but I am looking forward to the christening and companionship for years to come.

View attachment 194417

@The Amish Tyrant I remember seeing a giant clay pipe at a museum exhibition once:

Giant Clay Tobacco Pipes

Do you think I should get one? I'd like to find out how much they hold and how long they take to smoke.
@Chasing Embers says "Now that's in my pipe size area"
A King Size clay for the Clay King!

 

[OzPiper]

@The Amish Tyrant I remember seeing a giant clay pipe at a museum exhibition once:

Giant Clay Tobacco Pipes

Do you think I should get one? I'd like to find out how much they hold and how long they take to smoke.
@Chasing Embers says "Now that's in my pipe size area"
A King Size clay for the Clay King!

Some of the old meerschaum kalmasch would hold a substantial amount of tobacco.

Not a "I'll fill her up and smoke a bowl while I potter around the shed/garden/backyard" proposition I'd imagine.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

@The Amish Tyrant I remember seeing a giant clay pipe at a museum exhibition once:

Giant Clay Tobacco Pipes

Do you think I should get one? I'd like to find out how much they hold and how long they take to smoke.
@Chasing Embers says "Now that's in my pipe size area"
A King Size clay for the Clay King!

I agree with @K.E. Powell in that eventually every pipe smoker should have a large pipe (and a smaller pipe for stronger blends).

If you don't have a larger clay pipe, then this one may be what the Clay King needs to have a diverse pipe selection at a reasonable price:

Giant Antique Cutty (Black) - Old German Clay Pipes

Buy this Old German Clay Giant Antique Cutty (Black) tobacco pipe from Smokingpipes, hand-crafted from quality German clay by Markus Fohr.

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[bullet08]

Peterson XL pipes are what I used to smoke and still do. On a good sunny, I might fill up my House Pipe for good leisurely smoke. But with recent temperature drop, smaller pipes came in handy for 45 min or so of quick smoke. Thing is, you can always fill half way in larger pipes, but can't fill more than the chamber size on small pipes.

 

[Smoke Wagon]

I recently got a large Savinelli. It’s a great smoker! Get a big pipe if you want one.

 

[gervais]

Most of my pipes are roughly 1.6" deep. I don't ever really get through a whole bowl in a day, sometimes I'll have the same one going for 2-3 days here and there. I have smaller ones for strong blends and ones almost 2 inches deep. Personally I wouldn't want it any deeper than 2. That's pushing it to begin with for me. Good to have options though! Pipes of all shapes and sizes!