Tobacco for Breaking in a New Pipe- Suggestions!

[Chasing Embers]

With the exception of a couple of the responses, all of your input was right in line with my thinking after watching a couple of YouTube vids. I appreciate the input!

You're pipe will break in just fine with whatever you choose to smoke in it. Youtube videos will tell you that you have to do this or that but there are no rules for smoking a pipe and the experience is subjective to the individual. Enjoy the experience and don't overthink it.?

 

[Paul 3.0]

If you say so. It's outlived many brands and blends and I buy it by the pound. Many fans here.

That's fair, didn't agree with me years ago.

 

[boston]

I tend to try to separate pipes into VA or Latakia smokers. That said, anything but a Lakeland will likely not leave a sturdy ghost.

 

[Jaylotw]

I think, way back when, the whole "breaking in" process was meant to build an even cake layer, something which was once considered to be paramount to proper smoking. Also why burleys were recommended as they tend to build more cake.

These days, most of us avoid all but the thinnest layer of cake, and the whole "breaking in" process is pretty meaningless. Cobs need to get "burned out" a bit, but briars are just fine out of the gate.

Just smoke whatever you want to smoke.

 

[captainsousie]

I'm another one for "smoke what you like" to break in a pipe.


I do often use Carter Hall to break mine in but some pipes will tell you what tobacco they want. I have an artisan pipe that from the beginning only smokes well with lat blends while its twin only smokes well with va blends. No idea why.

 

[Gavrin]

I tend to try to separate pipes into VA or Latakia smokers. That said, anything but a Lakeland will likely not leave a sturdy ghost.

I had read from all of you that both Latakia and Lakeland are infamous for ghosting. I had not read/ heard that about the VA though. Just straight Va or?

 

[Gavrin]

I think, way back when, the whole "breaking in" process was meant to build an even cake layer, something which was once considered to be paramount to proper smoking. Also why burleys were recommended as they tend to build more cake.

These days, most of us avoid all but the thinnest layer of cake, and the whole "breaking in" process is pretty meaningless. Cobs need to get "burned out" a bit, but briars are just fine out of the gate.

Just smoke whatever you want to smoke.

Well like everything else I guess, time has a way of changing outlooks, approaches, and tobaccos! ? So as many above said, I will relax and just smoke whatever to break in a new pipe- except for those absolute “ will ghost” Tobaccos. Those will find a pipe of permanence for themselves.

 

[FurCoat]

I use 5 Brothers. Six bowls on average and then it goes into rotation with the genre I have selected for it

 

[Servant King]

Medieval Scottish highland tobacco cultivated between the years 550 and 575 and locked in an airtight time capsule buried hundreds of yards underground in a remote waterlogged bog is ideal. You will have to make the journey yourself, though, and outmaneuver the throngs of other pipe smokers who are in search of this elusive product. It will be expensive, exhausting, and you may wind up with a variety of infections, parasites, battle wounds etc. when all is said and done. I would meticulously read the fine print of your life insurance policy before embarking on such a mission, and refrain from blabbing about it on social media as much as possible.

Or, something mellow from Mac Baren, whatever. ?

 

[DanWil84]

Maybe abundant, but smoke what you like in it, also the 1/4 1/2 3/4 full pipe method is something I never used, with a remark that my new pipes all had a precoated chamber.

 

[judcole]

I like to use a fairly neutral blend that I am quite familiar with. Usually that means Lane RR, Sutliff Virginia Slices, or PS Natural Dutch Cavendish.

 

[Peter Turbo]

i use whatever burleys i have

so far its been WCC Slices, Amphora Burley, C&D Pegasus and Match RR. i see people use C&D Briar Fox a lot for breaking pipes in.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

You guys make this too complicated…lol! The men I saw growing up smoked PA. If you’d ask them it would be PA. I’m sure their pipes came from what the closest drug store were lured into carrying.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The old saw about breaking in a pipe had less to do with the tobacco and more about how to smoke it. It was simply for the first 6 or so bowls, you'd fill it half way and smoke to the bottom. Then 3/4 full, then fully loaded. Not many folks today say that method is superior to just smoking the damn thing.

 

[Hovannes]

This smoke what you want narrative is like a first solo flight without getting relieved of your shirt tail, or earning a commission in the Army without handing a dollar to the first soldier who salutes you. Or giving your canoe a name.

Ignoring tradition is a poverty which denies your participation in a common History.

Yeah such things may be regarded as silly and needless, but maybe a little more silliness is what is needed.
It doesn't take much to amuse me. LOL!

My go to cake builder tobacco used to be Prince Albert (1/4, 1/2, 2/3rds full) after an initial thin schmear of honey inside the bowl. These days I've found PS 41 Cube cut is easier to find

 

[JohnnyBeach]

This smoke what you want narrative is like a first solo flight without getting relieved of your shirt tail, or earning a commission in the Army without handing a dollar to the first soldier who salutes you. Or giving your canoe a name.

Ignoring tradition is a poverty which denies your participation in a common History.

Yeah such things may be regarded as silly and needless, but maybe a little more silliness is what is needed.
It doesn't take much to amuse me. LOL!

My go to cake builder tobacco used to be Prince Albert (1/4, 1/2, 2/3rds full) after an initial thin schmear of honey inside the bowl. These days I've found PS 41 Cube cut is easier to find

I have tried the honey smear and found that not only did it not encourage building a carbon layer, it gave me a tongue burn that continues several days, now. I am pretty sure I am not doing the honey trick again any time soon.

 

[didimauw]

I have tried the honey smear and found that not only did it not encourage building a carbon layer, it gave me a tongue burn that continues several days, now. I am pretty sure I am not doing the honey trick again any time soon.

Yup completely unnecessary. Just smoke.

 

[huntertrw]

Granger has always worked well for me to that end.

 

[BingBong]

1792. It's the best way to settle a briar, trust me. I did the science on one pipe.

 

[AJL67]

I have watched a couple YouTube videos and now want to hear from you experienced folks. What tobaccos do you suggest for using to break in a new pipe?

Pipe tobacco.