Most of my pipes can be considered to be elders. They've each had their moment in the sun, so to speak. Along the way, many, perhaps most, have suffered abuse and mistreatment from their owner, meaning me. I've smoked them without patience; too fast, too hot, and too much without rest. I've smoked them with in the car with the window rolled down, I've smoked them on the run, in the wind, and used a torch lighter to keep them lit.
For me, their will be no pipe purgatory.
But, late in my life, I've come to see the error of my youthful folly and I've reflected. I have revisited each of my pipes and now follow my father's advice to break them in slowly, with moderation, and using pipe loads that start from minimal and work themselves to full loads - in time. Even though theses pipes have been smoked for decades, I am seeing improvement. My pipes are rebuilding the carbon cake - correctly, layered properly, and are now burning more cooly, consistently, and needing few relights.
But most of all, as I've scraped away the older carbon, I am seeing divits, burn marks, and embered scarred cracks being coved up by smooth and flawless coats of carbon.
Here is a picture of a burned crack I uncovered and am now working to re coat with carbon:
In the next couple of days, the flaw will be cleanly and wonderfully coated by a fine layer of carbon. When I later scrap eat inside of the bowl with my reamer, it will reveal a perfectly smooth walled and circular chamber.
It's like medicine.
I am a doctor after all.
What about you. Do you work with your pipes to heal their wounds? If so , what are some of your secret and time-tested methods.
For me, their will be no pipe purgatory.
But, late in my life, I've come to see the error of my youthful folly and I've reflected. I have revisited each of my pipes and now follow my father's advice to break them in slowly, with moderation, and using pipe loads that start from minimal and work themselves to full loads - in time. Even though theses pipes have been smoked for decades, I am seeing improvement. My pipes are rebuilding the carbon cake - correctly, layered properly, and are now burning more cooly, consistently, and needing few relights.
But most of all, as I've scraped away the older carbon, I am seeing divits, burn marks, and embered scarred cracks being coved up by smooth and flawless coats of carbon.
Here is a picture of a burned crack I uncovered and am now working to re coat with carbon:
In the next couple of days, the flaw will be cleanly and wonderfully coated by a fine layer of carbon. When I later scrap eat inside of the bowl with my reamer, it will reveal a perfectly smooth walled and circular chamber.
It's like medicine.
I am a doctor after all.
What about you. Do you work with your pipes to heal their wounds? If so , what are some of your secret and time-tested methods.