So, I am in the market for a Clay pipe...

[matchstickman]

Perhaps the thinking is it positively impacts the hydrodynamics of the material, rather like waxing a meer?

I was always under the impression that waxing a meer was simply for the sake of coloring it. I would have never thought it would change the smoking qualities, but then again, I have very little experience with meers. Even so, I wouldn't see how the water dip would help it to smoke better. Maybe the thinking is that the added moisture will help it patina quicker :?:
I really honestly have no idea. Someone should try this and see how it works.

 

[locopony]

I have a clay that never gets used. I only smoked from it twice its a very good smoker I just never smoke from it. Its a 16" colonial tavern pipe. It needs a good home and a fellow who will smoke from it regularly. I'll even save ya some dough I'll trade it for an oz or 2 of latakia blend. Pipeshoppe.com has them for $18.00 plus shipping.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Old thread, but I wanted to share some initial impressions and wasn't sure it was worth a new one.
I recently bought three 16" Tavern Pipes from Penn Valley. I haven't smoked them yet, and have no reason to doubt their performance, but I must note a few defects.

One pipe had the air channel coming out the bottom of the stem about half an inch back from the end. To fix it I just carefully scored the stem and snapped about an inch off (not a big loss really) and farther in the hole is much closer to center.

The second defect was a burr somewhat restricting the air channel just at the very end of the stem, a few moments with a razor blade fixed that.

Unfortunately if you live outside the US then shipping things back costs at least $30 (or more), so that's pretty much never an option.

The third pipe was in perfect condition.
The one recommendation I have to people who buy one of these (or any clay pipe) is to coat the bit in wax, I used beeswax. It seems like even if I slobber all over the end it still starts sucking the moisture out of my lips after a minute.

 

[condorlover1]

All clays should have the glazed ends or tips in red or green. The biggest cause of lip cancer was porous clays during the Victorian age.

 

[hawke]

I have one I'll give ya. I dont care for them. Got it in a lot purchase just to try out.

Send me a PM.

 

[birddog]

That's cool Hawke. It's so cool to see pipe smokers helping pipe smokers.

 

[condorlover1]

Hell if you don't like I will happily take it! Please PM as that is my style of pipe

 

[mso489]

About clay pipes, as mentioned before, one of the oldest and best brands is Gouda, from The Netherlands. I think they

are available from various retailers in the U.S. Two points about clay pipes. Make a habit of holding them by the shank

to smoke, since the bowl can get too hot to hold. The very long clay pipes, like my 14 inch pipe, require a little focus to

handle because of their length. You want to be seated, and not bang the pipe into furniture or tip it by mistake. For this

reason, it might be easier to start with a shorter, smaller clay pipe that will handle more easily. Otherwise, they are highly

smokable and a fine tradition. With a little practice, the long pipes smoke just fine; just be mindful of the length.

 

[condorlover1]

The long ones tend to be a little on the nightmare side. They have a nasty habit of snapping or worse - particularly the ones known as London Straws which give a really cool smoke but unless you smoke in your living room expect your garden to become a potential archeological dig site down the road!