Straight Grain: Better Heat Transfer/Conduction

[F4RM3R]

I've noticed on my straight grain pipes that they tend to heat up a little faster than my pipes without 100% straight grain. The heat is also distributed more evenly, with less "hot spots", which seems to happen on some pipes where a portion or area of the pipe might tend to heat up more than other areas of the pipe.

Does anyone else notice this? Is it possible that the straight grain has a better heat transfer or conductivity? The difference seems quite subtle so I could be imagining things and it doesn't drastically affect the smoking experience, as most pipes will eventually warm up all around, but it seems to happen a little faster and more evenly on my pure straight grain pipes.

A couple of my pipes I'm speaking of are a high end BC flamme grain dublin and a sandblasted vauen billiard.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've heard it before, but as my pipes get barely warm to the touch with no hot spots, I just always considered it another pipe myth.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I haven't experienced this nor can I think of any scientific reason for straight grain briar to conduct heat significantly different. Perhaps more straight grain pipes have thinner walls.

 

[bullet08]

Haven't really paid that much attention. Too busy smoking and dozing off. But I'll try to see if that's the case with my pipes.

 

[davidy97]

No

 

[Ahi Ka]

I think you should burn out a few of your good pipes and then you can report back to us how the grain differed. You really owe it to us forum members to get to the bottom of it

 

[americaman]

My pipe with the best straight grain does get hot quite quickly, but it also needs more breaking-in. George Dibos told me that grain pattern doesn’t affect smoking, so I tend to trust his word.

 

[sumusfumus]

No scientific proof = anecdotal conjecture = myth

 

[Chasing Embers]

No scientific proof = anecdotal conjecture = myth

Bingo.?

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Amazing what a quick search turns up: Thermal properties of wood - https://www.woodproducts.fi/content/wood-a-material-2
"In the direction of the grain, the thermal conductivity of wood is about twice what it is perpendicular to the grain."

 

[mikethompson]

I would think that wall thickness and cadence would have a greater effect than grain.

 

[sumusfumus]

Bingo.?

Curious about the rune scrip that follows your name. Pardon my presumption, but would you provide the translation?

 

[Casual]

No scientific proof = anecdotal conjecture = myth

You misspelled hypothesis.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Does anyone else notice this?

This does come up a lot, so you must not be alone in your observation. But, on the otherhand, it has been given whole chapters in books by Newcombe and Schrier, pipe connoisseurs. The Connoisseurs have said that there is no scientific evidence to prove this; however, if it has been given mention so many times in forums and in books, that there are obviously others like yourself that share your observation.

My straight grains smoke awesomely. But, there are so many different factors that can affect the equation, and lacking the ability to truly test the theory, hypothesis, or whatever... that the argument seems to fall into the pile of things that we can't really say with certainty. That doesn't mean that there isn't a thread of fact to your observation, but that we merely can't prove it.

I hesitate to say one way or another with any certainty, mostly because I haven't experienced it. But, I am not about to say that your observations are bunk and that it is just a myth. If it is a myth, then it goes back a loooooong way, and you are in good company.

 

[pappymac]

No scientific proof = anecdotal conjecture = myth

So. A pipe dream or a pipe nightmare?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

To add... one of the things I hear most is that textured pipes smoke cooler to the touch... this has been discussed at nauseum. So, there must be something to smooth pipes in general smoking hotter, or else this wouldn't be a thing. Whether a straight grain or a birdseye is better or worse, starts to get into the "prove it" factor, which is impossible to test. Well, impossible without someone modifying some very expensive specialized equiptment... and there is not enough of a return on the investment in pipes to do this.

 

[lochinvar]

All of these theories have been put forward, and all of them have anecdotal evidence for and against. I have a rusticated Celius that gets hot as the doorknob to hell soon after lighting. I've got smooth pipes with grain from straight to crooked that smoke cool throughout the smoke.
I think the main contributors to smoking quality would be the overall quality of the briar, how well it was cured and proper execution by the pipe maker.

 

[briarbuck]

Amazing what a quick search turns up: Thermal properties of wood - https://www.woodproducts.fi/content/wood-a-material-2
"In the direction of the grain, the thermal conductivity of wood is about twice what it is perpendicular to the grain."

To add...

"The thermal conductivity of wood is relatively low because of the porosity of timber. Thermal conductivity declines as the density of the wood decreases. In the direction of the grain, the thermal conductivity of wood is about twice what it is perpendicular to the grain. For example, the thermal conductivity of pine in the direction of the grain is 0.22 W/moC, and perpendicular to the grain 0.14 W/moC. Increasing the moisture in the wood also increases its thermal conductivity. As the temperature of wood decreases, its strength usually increases. The thermal expansion of wood in the direction of the grain is very little. In the radial and tangential directions, temperature movements are much greater. The relationship between the thermal expansion coefficients and moisture contraction coefficients of wood in different directions relative to the grain is in the same class in terms of size. "

 

[workman]

To add...

"The thermal conductivity of wood is relatively low because of the porosity of timber. Thermal conductivity declines as the density of the wood decreases. In the direction of the grain, the thermal conductivity of wood is about twice what it is perpendicular to the grain. For example, the thermal conductivity of pine in the direction of the grain is 0.22 W/moC, and perpendicular to the grain 0.14 W/moC. Increasing the moisture in the wood also increases its thermal conductivity. As the temperature of wood decreases, its strength usually increases. The thermal expansion of wood in the direction of the grain is very little. In the radial and tangential directions, temperature movements are much greater. The relationship between the thermal expansion coefficients and moisture contraction coefficients of wood in different directions relative to the grain is in the same class in terms of size. "

If those properties apply to briar as well as pine, a straight grain will be cooler to touch while a birdseye will lead more heat out of the chamber. Sooo... What do we prefer?

 

[shikano53]

I call bullshit. Why anyone would think that the grain on a pipe affects how hot it smokes needs an immediate field lobotomy. I have my pocket knife (same pocket knife used to cut my plugs) and book of instructions on how to perform the emergency surgery.