Pipes With a Restrictive Draw

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I have what I consider a shitpile of pipes. Some here have MANY more. Those sick puppies... Even though I've accumulated quite a few pipes, I'm left with small minority of pipes that smoke perfectly for me. Also worth noting, mostly those are the cheapest pipes. Also, I dont own expensive pipes... Mainly because I'm afriad they'll wind up in the reject pile.

Almost all my culled pipes are culled for a restrictive draw.. with a few used pipes culled for a strange flavors I can't get rid of.

I hate a flavor robbing, restrictive draw... It causes you to puff and work hard to keep the pipe lit. This causes a gurlgle sometimes, and with those conditions you're more likely to get tongue bite.

Usually filter pipes with no filter have good, open draws. That's pretty much all I'll buy at this point, so my problems are basically solved. After coming to this solution I am left with some questions.

• Why are so many pipes made with a restrictive draw?

• What am I missing here?

• Is there a reason for a tight draw?

• Do you have now, or have you had a pipe with a draw that is too open?

 

[Sigmund]

Its the problem is in the briar you can always drill it out if its straight. If its in the stem it gets more complicated. If its a curved stem you are pretty much screwed.

I think a lot of older pipes had restriced bores. They seem to have evolved. I cant say for sure but mass produced pipes that were for uninitiated may have been made to reduce mouth burns. Just guessing.

 

[PaulRVA]

I’ve been smoking the $#!+ out of IMP Meerschaums, Castello’s and a Cob and this is because of the open draw! Check them out !

 

[Sigmund]

Put the pile of pipes on ebay and get what you like.

 

[Jahman7]

I'm not nearly as experienced... But I have had the privilege of smoking both types of pipes as you describe it.

I actually prefer the restricted draw for sipping smoke. It seems to concentrate the flavors as it enters my mouth and it eliminates the need for plumes of smoke to thoroughly enjoy it.

I also find it better for detecting the gurgle so as to get rid of water content as I smoke rather than puff past the water. The water just adds bitterness to the smoke, IMO.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Put the pile of pipes on ebay and get what you like.

As I said. I have plenty of good pipes to smoke. I was just opening up at discussion about how people prefer the draw of the pipes they smoke.

I may sell some pipes on ebay, but I really hate to pass off pipes that I feel like provide a bad smoke. Some were gifts, ect.

I dont have a problem that needs to be solved, just posing a thought for discussion.

 

[Sigmund]

As the above post shows, some people like the pipes designed differently. It doesn’t make them bad smokers. I get the gift thing though.

If you like. Filer pipe sans filter you like a super open draw. In comparison most pipes will be restricted.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I'm not nearly as experienced... But I have had the privilege of smoking both types of pipes as you describe it.

I actually prefer the restricted draw for sipping smoke. It seems to concentrate the flavors as it enters my mouth and it eliminates the need for plumes of smoke to thoroughly enjoy it.

I also find it better for detecting the gurgle so as to get rid of water content as I smoke rather than puff past the water. The water just adds bitterness to the smoke, IMO.

Could be that a more restricted draw is for a different smoking style.

I never really understood what it means to sip. I just put the pipe in my mouth and breathe in through my nose, smoke goes in my mouth, and I repeat.

 

[Sigmund]

Maybe its not worth it but you could try a few meer chips or keystones in the bottom of those pipes. They provide an air space under the tobacco. It might feel more free to you. Espect since some of those pipes are gifts you want to keep. It would be nice to feel comfortable using them.

 

[Jahman7]

Could be that a more restricted draw is for a different smoking style.

I never really understood what it means to sip. I just put the pipe in my mouth and breathe in through my nose, smoke goes in my mouth, and I repeat.

What you described is what I consider "sipping", where a subtle amount of smoke enters the mouth with each draw instead of plumes of smoke caused by a suckling action.

Probably works great to not have restriction in the draw with that style. That is generally how I smoke too, but I pack the pipe to make the draw what I want.

Sometimes tight so I need to use a suckling motion to get the smoke out (great for a plumey and thick smoke) , mostly just loose enough for an easy draw.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

What you described is what I consider "sipping", where a subtle amount of smoke enters the mouth with each draw instead of plumes of smoke caused by a suckling action.

Probably works great to not have restriction in the draw with that style. That is generally how I smoke too, but I pack the pipe to make the draw what I want.

Sometimes tight so I need to use a suckling motion to get the smoke out (great for a plumey and thick smoke) , mostly just loose enough for an easy draw.

The suckling is exactly what I try to avoid.

Plenty of pipes are so restrictive that they'll make a whistling sound when you draw on an empty pipe.

That's the advantange I see in a very open draw. If it's unrestricted enough, you can change the draw by packing the pipe tighter.

If the pipe already has a whistle and won't even pass a cleaner before you pack it, you're already up shit creek.

Many pipes are made like this, and apparently it's intentional.

I've had stinger pipes I tried to love, but just like that girl with the big ass from my younger days... You eventually have to face facts and quit trying.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I've never been comfortable with the term restrictive. I don't want to play with semantics, and I don't have a better option. But it just doesn't feel very accurate for the situation. I prefer older Italian pipes as a general rule, and most of them would likely fall under restrictive by today's standards. That's the thing. TODAY'S standards.* Like others have said, the narrower draw concentrates flavor, and I've never had a pipe of any sort where I was tugging on the puff. That's where I have a little push back on the term. If I had to really work at smoking a pipe, I think restrictive would be appropriate. I'm not a sipper either. To me, the wider draw adds more air to the pull, lessening the robustness of the smoke. The older, original Ashtons are some of the most beautiful pipes, with some of the lightest, densest, most "perfect" briar I've ever held in my hands, but he opted for a more open draw. Back then, we were a little more obtuse about the engineering of a pipe. Now I realize that is why I never kept any of those Ashtons. And then around ten years ago, I had a Boswell that is likely the best feeling pipe in hand I've ever owned, but the draw felt like I was smoking out of something with the diameter as large as a McDonald's straw. Tons of air, but almost no flavor. It was such a bummer to have to move it onto someone else. I loved to hold it and look at it, but 100% of the time, the smoke was disappointing...all because of the massive draw.

Threads like this make me cringe. I buy all my pipes on the estate market, and THE biggest factor for me is fingers crossed that someone hasn't opened the draw on the pipe and not disclosed that. I'd rather the top be a little burnt or for it to not pass the pipe cleaner test than to have one of those older pipes reamed to new diameter because it is the preference of the day, and yeah, it is a phase. People loved smoking pipes for a hundred years with that narrower draw. Enough of the diatribe. It's clear people are smoking differently, and I'd by lying if I fully, and truly, understood how.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Some are way more attuned to the pipes natural draw than others. I am pretty agnostic when it comes to airways; loading and tamping being my adjustors.

 

[vosBghos]

That is pretty much why I only collect cheap Brighams sans the filter for outings and Ser Jacopos for home use, dependable open draw every time. Though I have a few others here and there these always deliver the flavor.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

just saying , I got my Blakemar back from the repairshop with a brand new tenon inseretd,but I have to admit while the job was performed masterfully this very new tenon resulted in completely different draw open as hell which I happen to dislike

 

[Sig]

I've had pipes that I find have a tight draw, but the new owners find it fine.
I guess even this can be subjective sometimes.
If its a pipe I like, I fix it.
I have not found a pipe yet that couldn't be opened up with enough persistence.
Needle files, drill bits or a piece of sand rope, they can all be worked.

 

[Hillcrest]

I guess, based on the above implied definitions, I prefer the restrictive to normal draw on a pipe. I do have pipes with a wider draw which I can now enjoy now that I have learned proper packing and sipping and slow smoking. Specifically, a Comoy London Pride 215 bent billiard 20mmx50mm chamber; I have read that Comoy's traditionally had a 'restricted' draw and some shied away from the brand. I could never smoke mine because the draw was as open as a cob sans filter. Then I read @Chasing Embers suggest to someone else packing differently. Now I can enjoy it but only for slow sipping. All that being said I like all of my pipes because they smoke differently ... but I too have favorites.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I prefer open draw as well, I can't think of any pipes I now own I would consider restricted draw. I seem to recall it was American artisans that led the evolution to a more open draw. Brian Ruthenberg pipes are really open, I'm fortunate to have 2. Jack Howell and Ryan Alden both have great drills and open draw. Rad Davis was a great carver with open draws. Seems like many Italian pipes, especially Castello, are quite open.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I’ve been smoking the $#!+ out of IMP Meerschaums, Castello’s and a Cob and this is because of the open draw! Check them out !

+1 on this

 

[OzPiper]

I’m a devotee of old Britwoods.
I prefer their more restrictive draw