V-Shaped Bowl for English Blends

[Hillcrest]

The pipe smoking world is largely medieval in culture, rife with mythology, folklore, superstition and flat out BS.

Balkan Sobranie ???

 

[alexnc]

Let’s take a look at the tools for drilling tobacco chambers, they also come n different sizes

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I've used a parabolic bit like the black diagram - and it makes for an excellent burn
A Sav 320 is the only truly V-shaped chamber I've come across, and it also makes a nice burn

 

[kcghost]

I have a real problem smoking too fast so the last thing I need is a conical bowl.

 

[cigrmaster]

Only one time did I ever pay attention to the shape of my bowls. When I was learning to smoke Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake I came across a combination that really worked.

I had a Lane Era Charatan Dublin with a conical bowl. I cube cut the FVF into small cubes and got a great smoke. I stuck to that combo for a long time and then began using any Virginia pipe in my collection as I had learned how to smoke FVF with a fold and stuff.
I have no idea if I have any conical bowls in my collection. I have Dublin's so I assume I do but I never care about the shape when I am deciding on what to smoke.

 

[indoeuro]

Savinelli 904

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I need a towel.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I need a towel.

Not necessary. Even though that lot had 904s, 914s, 9004s, and 9005s, I only paid more than $30 for five of them and there were several Punto Oros and three Giubileo d'Oros in the lot. It was a focus of collecting for a few years but then a few forum members started collecting them and I got bored with it. All gone now but one.

 

[indoeuro]

Not necessary. Even though that lot had 904s, 914s, 9004s, and 9005s, I only paid more than $30 for five of them and there were several Punto Oros and three Giubileo d'Oros in the lot. It was a focus of collecting for a few years but then a few forum members started collecting them and I got bored with it. All gone now but one.

I can still lust over admire the picture. I'll just try not to think of all those other men touching them.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I can still lust over admire the picture. I'll just try not to think of all those other men touching them.

What others?

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

My English/Balkan pipe for a good long while was a Savinelli Miele 611 KS bent Dublin, the bowl of which I suppose is somewhat V-shaped, now that I think of it. I use a 321 shape for these blends now, basically the opposite of the Dublin. However, I don't think the bowl shape matters nearly as much as sufficient dry time, sufficiently loose packing, and sufficiently slow puffing, and that goes for any type of blend.

Golden rule: I would take all reviewers' opinions with a grain of salt, no matter what*.

*Unless they like Lakelands, in which case, the only option is for them to be drawn and quartered...

Thank you and good golden rule to remember!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

That's what makes this so fun. I like Virginia flake in a Dublin and English in a wide bowl. Neither of us are wrong. Smoking styles and preferences just differ.

I have heard this as well that a wide bowl is best for English. Appreciate the confirmation!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Same.

I initially dedicated a Malaga Dublin (made by an Armenian pipe maker in Royal Oak, Michigan) to English blends and rarely reached for it since I don't smoke a lot of English blends.

Since switching the dedication to Virginia flakes, the pipe "sings" and has become one of my favorite smokers. A wider chambered bulldog is now my English blend pipe.

This artisan pipe maker sounds like a good one to explore! Are you able to provide a link? (Not sure if that is allowed under the rules of the forums…)

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Savinelli 904

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Got it, thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

My experience is bowl geometry changes the flavors. Whether that change is to your liking can only be determined by you. I prefer a conical shape bowl for set Virginias, seems to intensify the flavor as it burns down. Wider conical bowls tend to favor more complex blends. YMMV.

Your wisdom is further confirmation about the wide bowl for complex blends. I smoke english and I think more complex blends (bengal, ashton artisan, plum pudding, shepherds pie). Thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

A "V" shaped chamber would be called a conical chamber, since it's shaped like a cone. Lot's of manufacturers make them, you just need to specify in your inquiries.

A lot of factors affect whether a smoke is hot or not. As you pointed out, cadence is a factor. But so is the cut, the components in a blend, packing, and other factors.

Ahh thank you for the technical/right terminology, very helpful! And yes, lots contribute to a cool smoke. Still trying to get a good packing method for flake. I have found the fold and stuff to work fairly well for my purposes.

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

I have one conical bowl and yeah it does smoke differently. I see how it might have that effect but technique is a bigger factor. What I get with a conical bowl is slightly damper dottle but slightly less dottle

Okay that is helpful, thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Most Bulldogs have conical bowls because of their
wedge-shaped base.

Most Bulldogs have conical bowls because of their
wedge-shaped base.

Got it, bulldogs have always appealed to me, just never purchased one. But I will add that to my wish list. Thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Let’s take a look at the tools for drilling tobacco chambers, they also come n different sizes

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That makes sense and is a helpful reminder of the various ways to drill out a bowl. Thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

I prefer shallow U-shapes for Englishes, usually in the 1X1.25 ratio. I do not suggest that others will find the same as me, but I save my stacked V-shaped bowls for Virginias.
Everyone can have their own preferences. I don't think that there is a correct way to do anything in pipesmoking, as long as you put the tobacco in the right hole.

Haha - yes there is not an absolute correct way! Thank you!

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

The science behind most reasoning for U shaped with English and V shape for Virginia is that the wider bowls allow for all of the component tobaccos to be tasted at the same time, while a straight Virginia can be smoked in a bowl that continuously narrows. I can't say what science supports the more conical bowls being cooler smoking, as I would also argue that it is purely cadence.

Got it, thank you! Further confirmation for a wide U bowl for english/complex blends.

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

I think that for me, the cone shape allows the tobacco underneath and surrounding the cherry to stove better as I smoke, making the taste become more and more sweet as I smoke. Could be just my imagination, but it works for me.
I also think that the wider the bowl the cooler it smokes, maybe allowing more ambient air into the chamber to mix down the hot smoke. Science... I can't prove any of this with math or flow charts, but it just works for me.

If that what works for you, go for it! Thank you for the wisdom of experience.