The Draw?

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Nov 20, 2022
2,774
27,996
Wisconsin
A filter pipe has a wider opening if no filter in place and irregularities if filter is in place. This will increase the turbulence. The flow goes from fast narrow channel to slower wide channel and back to fast narrow in the bit. The smoke will swirl and collect in there. I am not going to try to decide if that is good or bad, just a fact. I do worry that the irregularity will lead to collection of moisture and buildup and lead to souring, but I don't know this to be a fact. I don't like to buy filtered pipes for this reason, although I do own a couple.
 

Coreios

Lifer
Sep 23, 2022
1,637
2,722
42
United States Of America
I like the open draw of cobs. I have more control over the draw with how I pack it. My Peterson has a snugger draw; I always pack it loose. I also tamp it a lot lighter.

Not saying I would pick up a cob over a Peterson, but I ain't hatin a cob draw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: anotherbob

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
4,203
55,115
Casa Grande, AZ
Before I figured out how dry my tobak should be, and shook off the triple pack myth (baby, lady, man firmness), the “bigger is better” made sense.
Now that my draw and techniques have gotten better, I’ve found that I prefer 1/8”-5/32” size draft holes.
I have straightened and opened up stems that were too narrow.

That said, I still smoke rather fast-I utilize the breath technique which helps, but I clench probably 80%+ of the time I’m smoking. As my ability to recognize nuances in flavors I may be further motivated to adjust further….

Long story short, I’m pretty sure it’s an evolutionary process prone to spoiling by overthinking.
I guess I’ll just be over here going “I don’t like that, maybe I’ll try something different” regarding every aspect and enjoying the journey, much as I wander through life in general😉
 

hawky454

Lifer
Feb 11, 2016
5,338
10,234
Austin, TX
Ah cosmic, always ready to play the provocateur. Well done!

I’ve never bothered to alter a pipe but I love a wide open airway. Can’t say I buy into the flavorless smoke of an open airway theory but I’m willing to pay more attention and report back…scratch that, I’ve been paying attention and I’m not buying it.
Yeah, I’m with you on this. I do open most of my pipes up. I even opened up my Meerschaum’s because I can’t stand a restricted draw and the standard airway is too restricted for my tastes. I don’t touch Neerup pipes though, his are wide open, he does it right. I also prefer filtered pipes for this reason, I just smoke them without the filter and they smoke effortlessly and I rarely have to stick a pipe cleaner down there to clear it up because the tiniest bit of tobacco can stop up some of those tiny draft holes. Another thing to consider is, the longer you smoke your pipes the smaller the airways get, it takes a long time but they do narrow as carbon builds up.
 

huntertrw

Lifer
Jul 23, 2014
5,878
7,618
The Lower Forty of Hill Country
In an article titled Your pipes should have an easy draw, which appeared in the Fall 1997 issue of Pipes and Tobaccos magazine, author and pipe-smoker Richard Newcombe explains his theory that increasing the diameter of a pipe's draft-hole improves the smoking experience. He favors 5/32" as the ideal diameter. I have tried this on the poor performers in my pipe collection, and I must say it works; the others I leave as is.
 

timt

Lifer
Jul 19, 2018
2,844
22,739
I don’t touch Neerup pipes though, his are wide open, he does it right.
Interesting, I didn't know that. I assume that's the case throughout the entire line of Neerup? I've always kind of liked how Neerups look, now they look even better.
 

hawky454

Lifer
Feb 11, 2016
5,338
10,234
Austin, TX
Interesting, I didn't know that. I assume that's the case throughout the entire line of Neerup? I've always kind of liked how Neerups look, now they look even better.
As far as I can tell, I believe so. I have 7 now and they all smoke great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: timt
Jul 26, 2021
2,419
9,818
Metro-Detroit
I enjoy an open draw. My favorite draw is a cob and none of my briar pipes come close to the same openness.

I own one briar that I plan on getting rid of based on the restricted draw (since I'm not very handy and don't want to damage the pipe). Shame, since I like the shape and it was my first non-basket pipe.
 

AJL67

Lifer
May 26, 2022
5,491
28,121
Florida - Space Coast
Yeah, I’m with you on this. I do open most of my pipes up. I even opened up my Meerschaum’s because I can’t stand a restricted draw and the standard airway is too restricted for my tastes. I don’t touch Neerup pipes though, his are wide open, he does it right. I also prefer filtered pipes for this reason, I just smoke them without the filter and they smoke effortlessly and I rarely have to stick a pipe cleaner down there to clear it up because the tiniest bit of tobacco can stop up some of those tiny draft holes. Another thing to consider is, the longer you smoke your pipes the smaller the airways get, it takes a long time but they do narrow as carbon builds up.
I've done this i have a Sven that's actually a 9mm filter pipe, and every now and then when the mood hits i'll load that with some sweet Virginia and smoke it without a filter, have to hit it lighter, but you get such a powerful draw off of it, have to take it slower than normal but it just hits right sometimes and reminds me more of smoking a cigar, for whatever that's worth .. probably not much to most people here.
 
  • Love
Reactions: hawky454
Feb 12, 2022
3,591
50,698
32
North Georgia mountains.
Find what you like and stick to it, or try to at least.
4.2mm is the perfect draw to me so I try not to go much smaller than that. Can't stand a tight draw

I noticed certain pipes I had that had this trait but wasn't sure it was the culprit for the great smoke. I read Rick Newcombe's books and discovered this size air way then talked to some of the carvers of the pipes I was enjoying. That's how I landed on this size air way working best for me. It's also shown me what factory pipes I don't enjoy and why, which has helped save some coin and headache
 
Last edited:

Jbrewer2002

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 17, 2023
676
5,010
Somerset Ohio
Personally I like “some” resistance in the draw. I guess in 20 years I never gave the size of the opening a thought because every pipe I have ever picked up unloaded had to open of a draw for me. I usually just add a smidge of resistance in the way I pack. If while smoking it gets a bit to open I tamp lightly. Always seems to work. Yea once in a while I over tamp :( I can usually correct that with a pick or pipe cleaner through stem if it will pass all the way to the bowl. I’m just a simple smoker so try not to think about it too much. Seems that i really enjoy my smoke better.
 

mosin1932

Lurker
Jan 10, 2023
18
147
I agree on draw. Curious though ... why not nickel plate the cylinder as well ? After all the brass frame, steel barrel, hammer, trigger are done and barrel cut back from 7.5" to 5.5 " ...
I don't know what movie/show that clip is from, but it looks like that pistol is based on the 1858 Remington percussion pistol which was unique because it had a solid frame above the cylinder as opposed to the cheaper pistols that had an "open top". This solid frame meant you could remove the cylinder without having to take the whole gun apart and in turn you could carry multiple loaded cylinders with you to quickly reload by replacing the entire cylinder as opposed to having to manually reload all 6 chambers. So, the cylinders were closer to the replaceable magazine of today, which you wouldn't want to waste money plating because it will likely get lost/not aways be in the gun.

Maybe the prop-master took all this into consideration, or they just couldn't find the original nickel-plated cylinder anywhere lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hillcrest

Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,805
19,341
Connecticut, USA
I don't know what movie/show that clip is from, but it looks like that pistol is based on the 1858 Remington percussion pistol which was unique because it had a solid frame above the cylinder as opposed to the cheaper pistols that had an "open top". This solid frame meant you could remove the cylinder without having to take the whole gun apart and in turn you could carry multiple loaded cylinders with you to quickly reload by replacing the entire cylinder as opposed to having to manually reload all 6 chambers. So, the cylinders were closer to the replaceable magazine of today, which you wouldn't want to waste money plating because it will likely get lost/not aways be in the gun.

Maybe the prop-master took all this into consideration, or they just couldn't find the original nickel-plated cylinder anywhere lol.
I checked. The character Jesse Lee (Mario Von Peebles) uses the Remington 1875 revolver in the film.
Posse (1993) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games - https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Posse_(1993) . I think Tom Selleck's character in The Sacketts used the same as did a younger brother in the film.
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
4,203
55,115
Casa Grande, AZ
I checked. The character Jesse Lee (Mario Von Peebles) uses the Remington 1875 revolver in the film.
Posse (1993) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games - https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Posse_(1993) . I think Tom Selleck's character in The Sacketts used the same as did a younger brother in the film.
Funny, I was just about to say Rem 1875 after viewing gif a couple times-I noticed because it’s on my short list of next wheelguns to add to stable.
 

Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,805
19,341
Connecticut, USA
Funny, I was just about to say Rem 1875 after viewing gif a couple times-I noticed because it’s on my short list of next wheelguns to add to stable.
If you get a Beretta be careful. My friend's peacemaker only had a 3 pound trigger pull ... he shot the floor several times ! But unbelievable accuracy otherwise.
 

Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,805
19,341
Connecticut, USA
Speaking of draw my NOS Barontini Ameretto 302 Hungarian has a deeply set hole in the wide saddle stem and a wide triangle recess (guessing 2-3 cm) that disburses the smoke in the mouth. It simulates an open draw. Deepest recess on any of my pipes.
 

mosin1932

Lurker
Jan 10, 2023
18
147
I checked. The character Jesse Lee (Mario Von Peebles) uses the Remington 1875 revolver in the film.
Posse (1993) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games - https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Posse_(1993) . I think Tom Selleck's character in The Sacketts used the same as did a younger brother in the film.
I always forget about the 1875, I missed the tiny little cartridge ejector tab lol. In that case they probably just didn't like how an all-nickel gun looked on screen maybe. The 1875 is a fantastic and accurate gun but never caught on for a lot of reason.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hillcrest