I see so many pics of guys pipes that are really full of cake, I smoke everyday but I don't have any build up in my pipes. Do I need the cake? am I missing something
No Cake?
- Thread starter Old School 3319
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You dont need to build a thick cake. I usually wipe my pipes out with a paper towel after a smoke. There will eventually be a carbon layer built on the chamber walls. Smoke slow and this will be all you need.
A very thin layer is desirable IMHO. More than that is a PITA. Count yourself lucky.
Thanks I use a pipe cleaner and wipe out with a paper towel after every bowl
A thin layer of carbonization is desirable to enhance the briar's natural fireproofing. The caked layer of ragged ash inside a pipe is not. A majority of smokers seem to like cake and find it improves the flavor of their smokes. I join the others above who scoop out the ash after a smoke and wipe out the chamber with the roughness of a paper towel (or napkins, or a tissue, depending on what's available). But I don't build cake. The think a carbon layer, which is not caked at all, does the job of cake. The pipe never needs reaming, so reamer damage is not an issue, and equally good, the chamber remains its original diameter through the life of the pipe. Cake building smokers take great satisfaction in letting the cake develop, and in reaming from time to time, and I sure don't begrudge them that. I just don't do it, and feel more satisfaction doing it my way, or the other way, along with many others.
Yup. Cake happens! But a wipe with a paper towel, or even just a flush with hot tap water keeps the cake to a minimum. And that cake is the good kind, containing no ash. It won't crumble or crack.
I usually have a very thin layer of cake if any.
But I often wonder if the quality of briar makes any difference once a little cake is developed? It's often heard that some pipes are made with old or a certain kind of briar the makes them smoke better. But once there's a little cake lining the bowl, how does that make any difference, unless we ream back to bare wood each time we smoke? Or am I just being stupid and over thinking this?
But I often wonder if the quality of briar makes any difference once a little cake is developed? It's often heard that some pipes are made with old or a certain kind of briar the makes them smoke better. But once there's a little cake lining the bowl, how does that make any difference, unless we ream back to bare wood each time we smoke? Or am I just being stupid and over thinking this?
Cake will make your pipe smoke cooler and if you dedicate your pipes your smokes will be tastier.
I like about a dimes worth of cake in my pipes.When I a, done smoking I let the pipe sit for either a few hours or over night and take a couple of fluffy pipe cleaners double them over and wipe out any ash or left over tobacco. My cake builds quickly and is really hard. I smoke flakes and plugs exclusively and in my expedience cake forms quickly and it insulates my pipe very nicely.
I like about a dimes worth of cake in my pipes.When I a, done smoking I let the pipe sit for either a few hours or over night and take a couple of fluffy pipe cleaners double them over and wipe out any ash or left over tobacco. My cake builds quickly and is really hard. I smoke flakes and plugs exclusively and in my expedience cake forms quickly and it insulates my pipe very nicely.
Any recommendations for English flakes? I've tried out MBHH Latakia flake and Gawith Balkan flake. Both were decent, but a little flat to my taste.
Not on Team Cake myself. My bowls get a pass with a pipe cleaner or paper towel after every smoke, so it’s just a super thin layer.
You NEED the cake!
Well no. Probably not. But I DO.
I don't wipe the bowl out ever. She just keeps growing and growing.
Isn't she beautiful???
Well no. Probably not. But I DO.
I don't wipe the bowl out ever. She just keeps growing and growing.
Isn't she beautiful???
I thought this thread was going to be about a disappointing birthday you had.
I don't have any cake in my pipes. I wipe them out with a paper towel when I'm done and that's it.
I don't have any cake in my pipes. I wipe them out with a paper towel when I'm done and that's it.
Just curious, and only asking.....
At some point, your pipe will hold only half a load of tobacco compared to when it was new. Will you address the cake build-up at that point?
And a tin of tobacco lasts FOOOORRRREEEEVVVVVEEEERRRR.
Hahaha yes eventually the cake starts to chip away, and I ream it. I've reamed this one 5 ish times this year, at this level of cake.
I think I'll start doing this with my CH pipe. I've always wiped them out, but it'll be interesting to see the effect of cake.
I've started growing a cake in a couple older cobs just for experimentation purposes, to see how it effects flavour, moisture, and if it actually cracks cobs.
I have cracked many a cob with my cake. Then fill with wood putty and smoke.
I've had cobs start to crack around the shank level after smoking frequently without cake buildup, and from forgetting them outside in the rain.