Pipe Break In

[super8mm]

I am getting started breaking in my Peterson Shamrock, Peterson says to start by only filling the bowl half way I have done that for about a week and it is going good as it takes me about 50 to 70 minutes to smoke a half bowl.
With those numbers a whole bowl will take me about 2 hours and I don’t always have that much time.
In reading I understand it is ok to leave a pipe with tobacco in it and finish later maybe even the next day. So now my questions.
If I leave it until the next day should I clean the steam after it cools
Do I let it go out and then tamp the tobacco or wait until I get ready to relight it to tamp it?
Thanks

 

[doctorthoss]

You're over thinking this process. Breaking in a pipe is an important process, but it's not a complicated one. There are many schools of thought as to how to do it, but do you know what? I've never seen anyone really screw it up. Heck, many guys don't do anything unusual at all -- they simply smoke the pipe as normal, because so long as the pipe is smoked it will eventually be broken in.

Personally, I smoke 1/3 bowls for 5 smokes, than 1/2 bowls for 5 smokes, and then I don't worry about it anymore. Smoke slowly until a thin later of cake has developed (the bowl will be completely black when this happens, except for perhaps a few lighter spots at the very bottom). You can fill it in staggered increments if you want, or just fill it to the brim and go every time. Just remember to smoke it SLOWLY, as you don't want the bowl heating up too much before the cake has built up enough to protect the pipe's walls.

Cleaning your stem shouldn't be a problem. Heck, I run a pipe cleaner through the stem 2 or 3 times during each smoke and then do it again when the bowl is done. So yeah -- go ahead and clean it.

Don't worry about the tamping here at all. Again, don't over think this. Tamp as often or as rarely as you want, so long as the pipe burns well. The only thing I'd worry about is making sure that I tamped lightly. Just let the tamper drop naturally onto the tobacco, without adding extra pressure from your hands/wrists.

 

[super8mm]

Thanks doctorthoss, I just dont want to mess up my pipe and wasnt sure if one way was better than another.
I dont tamp unless the draw seems to not have any restiance at all and that part seems to be working ok. Hardest part is keeping it lit evenly but I am getting better at that now too.

 

[numbersix]

All fair questions super8mm. I agree with doctorthoss, break-in isn't as critical as you might think - generally speaking, it will happen naturally no matter what you do. And leaving tobacco in a bowl to smoke later won't harm the pipe but the tobacco may not taste very good later on (tho some do okay). If you do so, you may want to dump out the ash that's on top before leaving it for another time.
I would also run a pipe cleaner through as soon as you're done - just to get rid of the excess moisture build up (which won't harm the pipe, but it may make it taste sour next time you pick it up).
Also, IMHO, tamping is important in keeping a pipe lit. If your pipe seems to be going out, a light tamp with a draw will usually get it going again, saving you a relight. Good luck.

 

[super8mm]

Thanks numbersix, it is a bent and I have to let it cool off to take the stem off to clean. Most of the time I am not realy relighting it more of keeping the burn even across the bowl if that makes sense
Before I even lit it up the fist time I had to call the store to make sure it was just a twist apart as it did not want to budge and I didnt want to twist it off before I ever got to try it.
I have even just thought of good way to expand my collection, I have a neice that works for a large computer comapany and travels the world, she is working in Copenhagen now, I am going to see if I can get her to pick up a pipe for me when ever she goes to a new country :D

 

[numbersix]

I have to let it cool off to take the stem off to clean.

Good for you. I should have clarified that I meant to run a cleaner thru both the stem and shank together if hot. I never remove a stem if hot, tho military bits are fine to do this with (which is another reason I prefer them).

she is working in Copenhagen now, I am going to see if I can get her to pick up a pipe for me when ever she goes to a new country

Nice idea, let us know how that works out.

 

[ravkesef]

+1 on what everyone said. There are four principal ways of breaking in a pipe, and in no particular order, they are:

1. Smoke it by fractions, (half or thirds) until you're up to a full bowl.

2. Fill it to the top and smoke it.

3. Coat the bowl with honey, fill it and smoke it.

4. Any other way you choose.

You see, breaking in is what naturally occurs when you smoke a pipe, so it really doesn't matter how you choose to do it. The one important thing is to run a cleaner through it when done. Even if you haven't smoked it all the way down, or if the pipe won't pass a pipe cleaner, run the cleaner down as far as it will go so it will absorb excess juices.

Rule 5 and most important of all: enjoy your new pipe. That's why God brought the two of you together.

 

[super8mm]

Thanks numbersix but you raise another question for me what is

tho military bits are fine to do this with

I will hit her up after Christmas as she is a bit busy right now, during Thanksgiving she bought a house and a bunch of her friends helped her move in and then she had to go back to Copenhagen, she got home last Wed and is starting to unpack and get ready for Christmas :lol:

 

[super8mm]

Thanks for the advice Eric, I am in the process today of putting together a order of sampler tins and some cobs.
wife even wants a cob to try, I will see if my new card work after getting it replaced because of Target

 

[mrjerke]

Here's my break in process. Load it up. Smoke it. Enjoy. Repeat.

 

[super8mm]

oops

 

[super8mm]

That sounds like the KISS method Jordan
Thanks

 

[kalvort]

I'm with Mr Jerke on this one. Just load it normally and smoke a drier tobacco preferrably. They will break in with time!

 

[super8mm]

I am at that point now with my Petereson and will start that way with the cobs that I ordered a bit ago, of course for the free shipping I just had to order a $100 worth of goodies :wink:
Thanks kalvort

 

[bill708]

Break in: moisten the pipe bowl with saliva and light.

 

[super8mm]

Thanks Bill that is one I had not seen, does that make the ash stick to the side of the bowl to build that cake up?