TIL : composition of briar

[Scottmi]

Today I Learned: "The Bruyere wood is very heat-resistant due to its silica content and is therefore well suited for the production of tobacco pipes. ( 17% silica, 33% lime, 11% potash and 6% magnesium ) "

Source: Pfeifendrechsler - http://www.hans-von-der-au.de/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=123

 

[sablebrush52]

Yep.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I sometimes wonder if the heat resistance of briar vs other woods is made into more of an issue than it deserves to be. I regularly smoke hardwood pipes, and cobs too, often in high wind situations, and I have never had a burn out. I don't believe I have had anything that can be truly called "charring." The insides of the bowls get coated from burning tobacco, and they stay that way--for hundreds or thousands of smokes. For me the absorbency of a given wood has been a much more important quality