Please talk to me about clay pipes ...

[jcinpa]

I want to be able to smoke outside without fear of burning out my cob or briar bowls. I have not heard much about clay pipes, but I'm thinking they may be a good option. I've only seen LePeltier as a brand, although I have not looked for a lot of them.
Thoughts?

 

[taerin]

They are very awesome smokers and they color like a meerschaum (I call them the poor man's meer). They tend to be long like churchwardens and have a very dry cool smoke. The one thing I didn't like was it felt like holding a piece of coral, so I put a few layers of pipewax on it and it feels almost as smooth as briar now, very nice to the touch. I highly recomend one, provided you won't try to clench it

 

[spartan]

I want to be able to smoke outside without fear of burning out my cob or briar bowls

Many of the pipe smokers here smoke outside without fear of burning a hole through their pipe...
It's not going to happen really unless you're smoking in the wind for a good while. A gust now and then isn't going to do anything as long as you are smoking slowly on the pipe.
And of the few posts I've read about someone wanting to purchase a clay pipe this link
http://www.pipeshoppe.com/
often comes up. Everyone says they have great service and great prices. When I have a hankerin to buy a clay this is where I will get it. Unless one of the sponsors has one I like.
P&C has a deal on three small clays http://pipesandcigars.com/clpifren.html (they're like a 5 min smoke, very small bowls), and another that is a very long tavern style pipe http://pipesandcigars.com/clpifrho.html
But the pipeshoppe.com site has a tavern pipe at half the price of what P&C is showing. ::
I'd stick with pipeshoppe.com
Also I've heard good things from Lepeltier pipes. I want one of those too!

 

[pawpaw]

I love clays and I clench mine but I normaly smoke the shorter cutty style
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/love-this-dirt

 

[mp31guitar]

I like my clay. I use it for trying new blends.

 

[crpntr1]

I've got one, its a shorter billiard style, I'm not crazy about it.

 

[jcinpa]

This is timely, I'm looking at a LePeltier for the same reason, smoking outside. It can be windy fairly steadily in Chicago and I do worry about burning out bowls.
I have been looking at clay posts all afternoon and MOST (not all) smokers feel the dutch types smoke way too hot, and they are very fragile. The LePeltier actually looks very interesting, but I suspect one should get more cork joints. I have not read a post about them failing, but the fact that they sell them 6 for $6 tells me it's a maintenance item.
I've also heard that cleaning out the chamber can be a pain. I can't imagine why, though, they are water proof. You can just swish it out with hot water and let it dry. I think I'm going to pop for a LePeltier.

 

[antipodesman]

I have just gone off my clay pipes. The round stem forces my jaw askew to clench in my teeth. It becomes sore after a while. Otherwise I quite enjoyed them.
I always smoke outdoors so I use a wind cap whether clay or briar.

 

[thesmokindragon]

I have purchased several from http://www.pipeshoppe.com/

great service and orders arrived very fast.....
I would suggest a Pamplin clay w/hard wood reed...one of my fav

clays to smoke as it has a larger bowl and the wood reed is

pretty comfortable hang'in from my jaw ;-)
The Dutch Gouda style clay is also a fav of mine and they have

a combo set of this and the Pamplin on their website

 

[bentmike]

I smoke all of my pipes outside all the time -clay, briar and meerschaum. In my opinion a little breeze helps keep any pipe lit. If it kicks up too strong just cup your hand over the rim.

 

[topd]

OK Guys... Finally pulled the trigger and ordered a couple of 18" tavern pipes. I can

blame all you guys!

 

[spartan]

@Jcinpa
I would love to hear what you think of the ceramic Lepeltier pipes once you get yours.
I do imagine them getting horribly hot. Even with any precautions taken with design.
Be sure to post up pics and your thoughts!

 

[shaintiques]

Very enjpyable to smoke

 

[patriotfirst]

You know I am glad you brought this up. I have totally forgotten that I bought a clay pipe in Williamsburg years ago and never really used it to smoke. Now I'm going to try it. Thanks for the reminder.