Pipe cake

[sablebrush52]

That's interesting. Being relatively new to the hobby I've not heard that tip, but will add to my knowledge tool box!

You will still build up a thin hard carbon layer to insulate, rather than a thick soft crumbly cake. Slow and cool smoking are the key to getting the best flavors, so a thick cake isn't a necessity.

 

[bullet08]

Personally, I prefer pineapple upside down cake.

 

[Cigar City Piper]

I am also ambivalent about cake formation if it happens so be it. Generally it happens with my Latakia pipes to the point of reaming every so often but my Virginia daily drivers not so much I scrub em out with a rolled paper towel so it take somewhat forever to really get thick. Doesn't seem to make much difference to me.

 

[Choatecav]

As others have said here, we need/want a certain amount of cake buildup and I believe there is a bit too much concern and worry about it by many folks. Just smoke your pipes and if it build up thicker than the width of a nickel, then ream it out. No harm.... no foul.

 

[didimauw]

I have had no issues with or without cake. However depending on the blend and how dry it is could be a factor. Dry tobacco is imo not only better for flavor and smokeability, but makes a nicer harder cake as well. Moist aromatics tobaccos, (Carter hall is really my only example and only blend close to this category) have a tendency to make a very weak cake, that could flake off easily. Could cause burnouts if smoked without caution. I used to take whole 1/8 in chunks out of my cake, leaving massive crators, and causing me to ream back to wood.

Now days I only worry about any of the small leaf pieces barely hanging on to the chamber.

 

[Brad H]

Personally I got too many pipes to worry about cake. Unless it’s a crumble cake and I’m packing it into a bowl.

When I’m done with a pipe I just run it with a pipe cleaner and use a paper towel to wipe out the inside of the bowl.

 

[bpinkstaff]

Aromatics are damp and only cake around where the flame carbonizes them. Their moisture with dissolve cake further down the chamber. Fill the chamber half way and smoke the pipe that way until you develop the desired cake thickness.

Great answer