Smoking to the Bottom While Breaking in a New Pipe

[gaws]

Hello!
I've been smoking pipes for some years now, first with some cheap pipes, then a mid-range Ratos pipe, which I just recently lost. I never thought about reading up on pipes and never talked to anyone who knew their stuff so I taught myself - probably not very well either.
I like it a lot though so when I lost my Ratos I decided to kick it up a notch, and bought a beautiful Nørding freehand pipe. This time I want to get things right, so I've been reading up on basic tips and tricks as well as how to break in a new pipe.
Now to my question: most people say that when breaking in a new pipe, it's important to smoke to the bottom - exactly what does that imply? Should there only be ashes left in the bottom? Even though I really try to smoke to the bottom there always seem to be some strand of tobacco left unburned.
Also, how am I supposed to clean the bowl afterwards? I figured the pipe tool should hurt the cake? Should I just leave everything except the loose ashes? How can I tell if a good cake is forming?
I apologize for this confused torrent of questions and thank you in advance for any help. Oh and finally, I'm grateful for any good advice you have to give, including advice unrelated to my questions.

 

[cajunguy]

Here's the gist as I understand it: since most people don't tend to smoke to the bottom, it's important to smoke at the bottom when breaking in the pipe so you can develop a good cake to protect the bottom. This is why a lot of folks espouse the "three stage" method, which is smoke x-number of bowls 1/3 capacity, y-bowls at 2/3 capacity, and z-bowls at full capacity.
Hope this helps. I'm trying this with a pipe I just finished restoring. Typically, I just fill 'er up and smoke it. :D

 

[mso489]

I try to follow that break-in method, with smaller amounts of tobacco, a fraction of the bowl. Even so,

it takes a while to get the cake of carbon to evenly fill the bottom of the bowl, even when I go with the

smaller percent of the bowl packed for a number of fills. Never seems to be a problem. I still end up

with some unburned tobacco, and don't try to smoke every last flake. It is probably good to give the

carbon at least a chance to start caking the lower part of the bowl. But if feels to me like a superstition

in which I am a contented participant.

 

[pstlpkr]

Welcome Gaws.

I too smoked a pipe for many years before really understanding how to do it .... "right?".

To me there really are no right-ways or wrong-ways to break in a pipe.

However; I'm of the old stuff and puff school.
The advise given above does have merit, and is good advice.
Here is another area of advise that may be of some material use to you.

These are opinions, and YMMV. (Your Milage May Vary)
When breaking in a pipe you might consider smoking an old codger blend, rather than an OTC Aromatic.

A tobacco like Half & Half, or Carter Hall will build a decent "starter cake" quickly, without ghosting your pipe..

Smoking an OTC Aromatic may build a cake in a hurry, but it will be soft from the Propylene Glycol. (PG)

The PG will cause a wetter smoke and not permit any real development of a cake in the bottom of the bowl.

(IMHO) In My Humble Opinion.
I would also recommend screwing a paper towel tightly into the bowl after each smoke (while it's still warm) this will smooth out the cake and develop a good solid base.
And, lastly... I have been smoking a pipe for over 30 years... While I have pipes with a cake in the bottom, I don't believe it to be all that important, when compared to a good, smooth, hard, and thin cake.
Just remember smoking to the bottom isn't the reason for smoking a pipe... and burn out is rare.
Good luck to you and again...

Welcome aboard!

::

 

[allan]

Welcome to the forum, Gaws
From what I can gather reading this forum, there are 2 schools of thought:
1: smoke the new pipe in thirds; smoke the first third for several bowls to the bottom, then for for 2/3rds to the bottom, then the whole pipe to the bottom
2: just smoke the pipe and don't worry.
There seems to be no definitive answer to this age old question. I now think with modern made briars of good quality, it probably just doesn't matter.
Allan

 

[gaws]

Thank you everyone for your help! I'm still not sure about the cleaning:

I use a dull pipe knife. You can use that or the spoon on a Czech pipe tool. I remove the debris (bits of tobacco and ash) from the bowl, scarping the sides gently. I then use a dry paper towel and "ream" the bowl with it. Then I do the pipe cleaners drill on the shank and stem. This keeps my briar bowls at my preferred dime's thickness and I can't remember the last time I used a reaming tool on my pipes.

The advice above sure sounds nice, but what I don't understand is how a cake can build up if the pipe is this thoroughly cleaned. My previous pipes I just stuffed and puffed and cleaned decently so I never thought about whether there was any buildup (cake) or not. Therefore I'm not even sure what it should look like. Just carbon sticking to the sides of the bowl? Sounds fragile. Not sure what is just remnants that should be cleaned up, and what is desirable cake buildup.
Thanks for your patience!

 

[chopz]

i'm of the second school. my 2 cents:
if you're able to harm the cake with the pipe tool it's not cake worth keeping. i scrape the inside of my bowl pretty hard and i use bristly pipe cleaners to wipe around the inside of the bowl too. i can't get the cake to budge, although small amounts will scrape off in a powder as if reaming. smoking half bowls and 3rd bowls is ok to do any time, but not necessary. the cake will gradually even out in the long run and if not, reaming can even it out.

 

[chopz]

and as far as what cake should look like - more like a hard tar residue than carbon - i imagine what parts of my lungs might look like after years of cigarettes.

 

[admin]

Here's something you guys may have missed since it's buried at the top right of the home page:
Covering My Ash

 

[nsfisher]

Seldom, if ever, do I smoke a bowl more than 2/3rds to the bottom. I find at this point that the baccy loses much, and would rather scrape it out and refill. To date, I've had no burnouts or related mishaps. I do, however, "waste" a lot of baccy because of this method, but I figure that if I'm not enjoying the bottom 3rd of the bowl, why should I try to smoke it? Very good chance that my method may be wrong, but, I've been doing it this way for 18yrs and I reckon it is much too late for me to change. It works for me, but may not for others.

 

[wayneteipen]

When I first started, I broke my pipes in using the 1/3 rule. I stopped after a half a dozen pipes in because I just don't have the patience for it and, to be honest, I don't notice any difference. It may be that I primarily smoke Va's and almost always to the bottom. It is important that the heel see enough heat to bake the tobacco residues into a cake. Cake does protect the briar but more importantly it helps wick away moisture to help ensure a dry, flavorful smoke. The bulk of your moisture is typically going to collect at the bottom of the chamber.
I like chopz posts above. That's sort of how I go about building cake too although I'm not as aggressive with the pipe cleaners. I've found that a cake that builds slowly tends to be harder and better at doing it's job.

 

[javajunkie]

FWIW, it sounds like we are both going through a similar process, learning or perfecting technique and trying to treat a new pipe the "right" way. I am currently breaking in a pair of Peteys (and, I know, it's going to take a minute!). For me, smoking to the bottom is an exercise in form, being able to repeatedly get all the way through a bowl mostly cleanly and without relight. "The bottom", to me, is a couple of loose carbonized flakes and scraps amongst ash; if there is not enough unburned tobacco to actually restrict the airflow while air is passed through it while burning, you pretty much killed the bowl.
As for cleaning, I bend a cleaner around my finger, creating a U shape, and use that in the bowl interior, after getting anything out of the shank. This may make it a slower trip for me, but between all the tobacco to try, and practice on my pacing and tamping/ ashing, I have plenty to learn and do along the way. o)
Happy smoking!

 

[nsfisher]

@mikephillips
Ya mate, I do always fill the bowl. It is actually disgusting how much baccy I waste but........
And I too, also cannot tolerate letting baccy sit in the bowl and relighting it later. When I am done, I am done. Always a new fill up for me.

 

[kashmir]

I used to think it important, to build heel cake. Now I don't think its that important. Just enjoy your pipes, knowing there are no hard and fast rules.

 

[alancairns]

I have never enjoyed relighting a pipe hours after it has gone out. It always tastes foul, and i get prickles on my tongue. This is a pity, because often I don't have time to smoke a full bowl, but there it is.
Alan

 

[tbradsim1]

Smoking to the btm of your pipe is like foreplay, you know you gotta do it to get the goody, been so long since I"ve done it did I say it right? LOL. The old cajun :rofl:

 

[sparroa]

Fisher,
I'm like you - whenever the tobacco stops tasting good, its gone. It usually leaves a fair bit of unburned tobacco in the bottom. Certain blends and certain pipes tend to reduce the problem, but there is often some waste.
I figure it's not worth crying over spilled milk or a few scraps of baccy.
DGT is also not for me. I have never once enjoyed a pipe that's been relit...

 

[easterntenderfoot]

This thread just answered all the questions I was about to ask regarding the subject. Thank you, gentlemen.

 

[julesholling]

I was just about to ask a question about breaking in a pipe and building a good cake. This has answered everything.

This It's worth checking the forums before posting.
Thank you all for the tips and advice here.