Need Help Smoking a Briar.

[Robin Hood]

In a nutshell:
Every time I smoke a cob it’s great; stays lit and smokes very well. Usually with the briar it is either getting too hot, or not staying lit… I realise it likely takes a bit more practice to use effectively, but specifically (so I don’t waste tobacco or injure the pipe) is it likely to be how I’m packing the tobacco, or how I’m puffing? Or both?
i love the corn cob pipes; the only real reason I want to use the briar is due to already having purchased one, and to see what all the fuss is about…

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

You're likely packing the briar too tight. Cobs have a wide open draw, you can get by with a fighter pack.

 

[elessar]

I don't notice much difference between the two. Maybe you are just overthinking it. Could be the packing as the cob kind of has a protrusion into the chamber where the stem comes in (at least mine do).

What type of tobacco are you smoking? Maybe you need a bit of dry time and light packing. You can always tamp it to tighten it up.

 

[hawky454]

Cobs have a wide open draft compared to the standard briar pipe, this is one reason I open up all my briar pipes as I find the standard airway too constricting for me. To get used to a briar vs a cob, I would start by drying your tobacco and try not to pack it as tight as you do with your cob.

 

[fightnhampster]

You're likely packing the briar too tight. Cobs have a wide open draw, you can get by with a fighter pack.

+1

 

[blackpowderpiper]

You're likely packing the briar too tight. Cobs have a wide open draw, you can get by with a fighter pack.

^^^^^^ This is where I'm putting my money. When smoking your briar, after packing, check the cold draw and see how it feels. If it's too tight, or say tighter than the draw on your cob, dump it out and try it again. Sometimes it just takes practice.

 

[mso489]

Are you comparing the same blend in cobs and briar? Different blends can have decidedly different burn characteristics,, so that matters.

If you are comparing pipes with the same blend, you may be packing the briar too tightly, just because the pipe looks more sturdy. You need some air in there to make the ember burn.

As with any learning curve, it may take some fiddling around with the briar to find the sweet spot and get in the zone.

Let the tobacco sit in the bowl overnight before firing up. A charring light may be needed, and a little gentle tamping to get the ember settled and burning. Be patient with yourself.

 

[Robin Hood]

Thanks for the advice fellows!

 

[Robin Hood]

Are you comparing the same blend in cobs and briar? Different blends can have decidedly different burn characteristics,, so that matters.

If you are comparing pipes with the same blend, you may be packing the briar too tightly, just because the pipe looks more sturdy. You need some air in there to make the ember burn.

As with any learning curve, it may take some fiddling around with the briar to find the sweet spot and get in the zone.

Let the tobacco sit in the bowl overnight before firing up. A charring light may be needed, and a little gentle tamping to get the ember settled and burning. Be patient with yourself.

I have been using the same 2/3 blends in both pipe varieties; have had some success with the briar on occasion, so it is likely a subtle change in how ive been packing the tobacco. Fine margins though!

Was just thinking as well, the shape of my briar bowl is more spherical in nature (I believe it’s called an apple, that pipe) than the corn cobs, which are cylindrical with no deviation in diameter… there is likely a scientific reason why the pack ought to be placed more loosely in a more rotund bowl?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Was just thinking as well, the shape of my briar bowl is more spherical in nature (I believe it’s called an apple, that pipe) than the corn cobs, which are cylindrical with no deviation in diameter… there is likely a scientific reason why the pack ought to be placed more loosely in a more rotund bowl?

The pipe's shape is irrelevant. The bore in a cob is much larger than most other pipes and has a very open airflow. As mentioned above, a looser pack is required for a more restricted draw.

 

[simong]

Ah, cobs! Yes, the perfect pipe for the smoker with the brain took out.
Yah, wide open draw, smokes better than any other pipe & tastes better too. Except that they don’t.
I’m of the opinion that only Americans can get away with smoking a cob, everybody else just looks like a dick.

Joking aside, if you’re starting out & seriously want to give pipesmoking a fair go, here’s what you need:
A Falcon Pipe (one bantam Algiers & one standard billiard bowl).
A Peterson ‘system’ pipe.
A Parker London Briar (£29.99 from mysmokingshop).
Lots of matches & a bit of patience, it takes time for everyone & there’s no rush at the end of the day. Take your time & enjoy it, you’ll get there.

Tobacco wise, British is best. Everything else is overhyped & underwhelming. Grab a plug of yachtsman & condor from fox’s in Dublin if you can…..probably won’t be around for much longer.

 

[kcghost]

You get a comparable smoke from the two tyoes of bowls so it would seem you're doing wrong. How you're packing the pipe is the probable culprit.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Cobs are very porous. They can sop up a lot more of the excess moisture you're generating than a briar. That moisture is what can make a bowl harder and harder to relight as you go.

Drying your tobacco a bit more (I like to fill bowls the night before smoking), packing them a little looser, and smoking slower (take smaller sips and wait longer between sips) should all help a lot. Good luck!

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I agree with the Peterson system pipe as an easy smoker for a beginner, or a Falcon as @simong states.

 

[Robin Hood]

Ah, cobs! Yes, the perfect pipe for the smoker with the brain took out.
Yah, wide open draw, smokes better than any other pipe & tastes better too. Except that they don’t.
I’m of the opinion that only Americans can get away with smoking a cob, everybody else just looks like a dick.

Joking aside, if you’re starting out & seriously want to give pipesmoking a fair go, here’s what you need:
A Falcon Pipe (one bantam Algiers & one standard billiard bowl).
A Peterson ‘system’ pipe.
A Parker London Briar (£29.99 from mysmokingshop).
Lots of matches & a bit of patience, it takes time for everyone & there’s no rush at the end of the day. Take your time & enjoy it, you’ll get there.

Tobacco wise, British is best. Everything else is overhyped & underwhelming. Grab a plug of yachtsman & condor from fox’s in Dublin if you can…..probably won’t be around for much longer.

Thanks, will look into those pipes… once I’ve amassed a healthy reservoir of tobaccos that is; for now I’m happy with the cobs as they’re cheap and cheerful for a beginner… I’m a reformed cigarette smoker so for now just want something that is reliable and delivers nice smoke with a minimum of effort! Lazy? Perhaps. But when I smoke I want to relax, not frustrate myself due to poor technique.
Different strokes for different folks - some people collect rollexes, I have a single Casio f-91. They cost 10 quid and tell the time just as well, and hold a certain retro charm for me… in time I’m sure I’ll evolve into the pipe smoking hobby more, but I like having expendable pipes I dont have to worry about too much

 

[bullet08]

Do draw test before lightening the briar. You want to pack it in such manner that there's a big air pocket at the bottom. When you test the draw, there should be very little or no resistance. Other option is load using gravity fill. Just drop in the tobacco, tap to settle and add some more and so on. Idea is to have the pipe do all the work and you sort of enjoy breathing in that smoke in leisure.

 

[WhiteCrown]

Thanks, will look into those pipes… once I’ve amassed a healthy reservoir of tobaccos that is; for now I’m happy with the cobs as they’re cheap and cheerful for a beginner… I’m a reformed cigarette smoker so for now just want something that is reliable and delivers nice smoke with a minimum of effort! Lazy? Perhaps. But when I smoke I want to relax, not frustrate myself due to poor technique.
Different strokes for different folks - some people collect rollexes, I have a single Casio f-91. They cost 10 quid and tell the time just as well, and hold a certain retro charm for me… in time I’m sure I’ll evolve into the pipe smoking hobby more, but I like having expendable pipes I dont have to worry about too much

I find cobs to be more work actually. Briars do what they do and do it well once you figure it out, everything I know about it has already been said though.

Cobs, to make them last, usually require a extra work every couple weeks or so. A little wood glue here, a little there. Maybe some pipe mud, definitely some pipe mud if you burned your shank. Then probably some more pipe mud. By that time you might fill another crack with glue, replace the stem, secure the ferrule, more glue and mud, and so-on and so-on. I am very particular about maintaining my cobs. Some folks just smoke 'em 'til they break and then buy another, that's fine too. They are cheap. I like mine well-broken in, and new ones aren't.

Enjoy your Cobs, it doesn't mean you are lazy. There's someone out there rolling their own cigars, thinking all pipe smokers are lazy because they just stuff the tobacco in a bowl. It doesn't make it true, its just a difference of perspective. If you are concerned with looking fancy, buy a Charles Towne Cobbler... actually never mind, if you are concerned with looking fancy, instead think about why you are concerned with looking fancy.

 

[timt]

Ah, cobs! Yes, the perfect pipe for the smoker with the brain took out.
Yah, wide open draw, smokes better than any other pipe & tastes better too. Except that they don’t.
I’m of the opinion that only Americans can get away with smoking a cob, everybody else just looks like a dick.

Joking aside, if you’re starting out & seriously want to give pipesmoking a fair go, here’s what you need:
A Falcon Pipe (one bantam Algiers & one standard billiard bowl).
A Peterson ‘system’ pipe.
A Parker London Briar (£29.99 from mysmokingshop).
Lots of matches & a bit of patience, it takes time for everyone & there’s no rush at the end of the day. Take your time & enjoy it, you’ll get there.

Tobacco wise, British is best. Everything else is overhyped & underwhelming. Grab a plug of yachtsman & condor from fox’s in Dublin if you can…..probably won’t be around for much longer.

Damn, tell him that he’ll look like a dick if he smokes a cob, then tell him to pick up a Falcon….that’s cruel.

 

[FLDRD]

You should pick a fine, upstanding forum member and send them the briar in question with an appropriate tin of tobacco, and let us perform the experiment for you. I might even volunteer.

One of us would be happy to smoke it for you, confirming that it's appropriately functional.

And for just a few $$ more, a video will be produced demonstrating it's fine qualities during a smoking session...

 

[Auxsender]

Ah, cobs! Yes, the perfect pipe for the smoker with the brain took out.
Yah, wide open draw, smokes better than any other pipe & tastes better too. Except that they don’t.
I’m of the opinion that only Americans can get away with smoking a cob, everybody else just looks like a dick.

Joking aside, if you’re starting out & seriously want to give pipesmoking a fair go, here’s what you need:
A Falcon Pipe (one bantam Algiers & one standard billiard bowl).
A Peterson ‘system’ pipe.
A Parker London Briar (£29.99 from mysmokingshop).
Lots of matches & a bit of patience, it takes time for everyone & there’s no rush at the end of the day. Take your time & enjoy it, you’ll get there.

Tobacco wise, British is best. Everything else is overhyped & underwhelming. Grab a plug of yachtsman & condor from fox’s in Dublin if you can…..probably won’t be around for much longer.

As an American, I resent this comment because I too look like a Dick when I smoke a cob.
#werealldicks