Pipe Thickness

[cosmicfolklore]

In my conversations with Skip Elliot, Briary owner since the 70's and pipe maker, he conveyed that the saps in the briar evaporate out with the years. I have had one pipe that has had a "green" taste to it, which is awful, but I think that even when the taste dissipates the sap still adds to the conduction of heat. So, the older it is, the less conduction of heat there is. But, this bring us back to whether a well insulated pipe may make us feel more free to puff a tad bit harder, making the tobacco burn hotter?
I know that when tobacco burns hotter with a full cherry in the bowl, we don't taste as much flavor, because it is the evaporation of whatever it is in tobacco surrounding the cherry that we taste, not the actual combustion of the leaf inside the cherry. There is also the debate about whether the heat of the smoke affects "bite" as much as just the acidity of the smoke. And, there is the burn on the tongue from having the smoke focused on one spot on our palate or mouth.
I have a 1920's Genuine French Briar full bent bulldog that Skip gave that is very brittle with age. It does seem to stay cool to the touch while smoking, but I don't get any briar flavor at all. I do love the look of the pipe and the smokability of it, but it is that subtle aroma of the briar that I love. So, I don't go for that pipe as often as one of my newer pipes. Many disagree on this flavor, but that's just my preference. And, this is why some prefer meerschaums and mortas.
But, I'd also love to hear the take on this from others.

 

[zack24]

It's interesting- my lightest and thinnest pipe comes in at around 23 grams- Group 1 with 1/8" wall- I use it mainly with flakes and have no issues with heat. I've also found that sandblasted pipes tend to be cooler to the touch- maybe that's the effect of the additional surface area radiating the heat more efficiently…

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Why do you think that is, Zack? Is it the briar you are using, it's age? and, can you duplicate that?

 

[goldsm]

To clenching pipe I think most important matter is a balance of pipe.

Even it has thick wall and heavy weight like danish freehand pipe.

When a balance is right it's very comfortable to clench.

Sometime I do use the softy bits to clench better or some balance.

 

[zack24]

Why do you think that is, Zack? Is it the briar you are using, it's age? and, can you duplicate that?

I'm not sure- all my briar I buy direct from the cutter in Southern Italy- he's unusual in that he only uses Calabrian briar- most suppliers use briar from all over the Med… It all seems to smoke consistently cool…His boiling of the briar, drying, and aging is the same process as when his grandfather did it…
I have a Pete and other commercial pipes that seem to smoke hotter consistently…Not sure why…
My wife however, when she first started smoking would inhale and exhale- she can take any pipe to a red furnace glow in five minutes…She's learned how to smoke with a proper cadence and that problem has gone away…

 

[settersbrace]

I have a LaRocca 'Bene' billiard that I paid $50 new for. It has thick walls, (a hair over a 1/4") and appears at first looks to be a heavy club. The flame grain and polish on it is remarkable and what immedietly sold me on it was its ultra light weight. I have not been able to locate the 'Bene' in any of the current inventories so I have no clue as to when it was made but can say that it's an ultra cool smoker that broke in quickly and has that nutty briar flavor that so many of the high grade worshipers wax poetic about. If my BM would have had any more of these in stock, I'd buy every one. My personal feeling is that it's all about the age of the briar, how and how well it was cured and of course, how well it's drilled. When all the stars align, it is possible to have all the essential qualities of an expensive hand carved masterpiece wrapped up in a $50 factory pipe. I often stare at this sweet smoking gem and muse that the person who finished it knew it was a good one and took a little extra time on it. If you haven't read Dr. Fred Hanna's essays on brand vs. briar, you should. Can a thin walled pipe smoke cool and sweet? Absolutely. I love a brawnier looking briar myself that is light and easy to clench. But that's just me.

 

[foggymountain]

Cooler smoke.