What method do you use to Break in a new Pipe?
- Thread starter changojoe
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I also fall into the fill it and smoke it camp. Of course, you have to be a little careful with the first few bowls to ensure you're burning tobacco, not wood, and smoke gently to the bottom. Any method that doesn't harm the pipe works just as well, but in my experience, smoking full bowls is more pleasant, even in the beginning, than smoking half-bowls, and it seems to be we should do everything we can to increase our enjoyment of the pipe from the starting blocks.
There are a couple of things at play, here. In the dark ages of the pipe, I don't think the briar was as carefully cured, at least amongst the common pipes (I'm not talking about the fancy names, here, but the pipes smoked by the average person in our grandfathers' days), and the break-in process was probably a little more painful. We don't have to worry so much about it, now. Most pipe companies do what they can to ensure decent smoking from the first bowl. (When 40% of the adult male population smoked pipes and factories were turning out millions of pipes per year to satisfy huge demands, the notion of aging briar for a few years would have been fiscally impractical.) We're perhaps more fortunate in this regard, today.
Then, there's the difference between "breaking in" and "seasoning" a pipe. The first few bowls are important to begin building a protective barrier layer between tobacco and briar, but once that's accomplished, the equally, if not more important process of seasoning the pipe begins. As the briar takes up the oils of the tobaccos we smoke, its flavor begins to deepen, and the pipe delivers a richer, more engaging smoke. Only many bowls over a period of time will accomplish this.
My advice has always been not to perseverate too long over methoology, and just smoke carefully, enjoying every bowl as much as possible. Only over time will a good pipe become a great one. It's always worked for me.
There are a couple of things at play, here. In the dark ages of the pipe, I don't think the briar was as carefully cured, at least amongst the common pipes (I'm not talking about the fancy names, here, but the pipes smoked by the average person in our grandfathers' days), and the break-in process was probably a little more painful. We don't have to worry so much about it, now. Most pipe companies do what they can to ensure decent smoking from the first bowl. (When 40% of the adult male population smoked pipes and factories were turning out millions of pipes per year to satisfy huge demands, the notion of aging briar for a few years would have been fiscally impractical.) We're perhaps more fortunate in this regard, today.
Then, there's the difference between "breaking in" and "seasoning" a pipe. The first few bowls are important to begin building a protective barrier layer between tobacco and briar, but once that's accomplished, the equally, if not more important process of seasoning the pipe begins. As the briar takes up the oils of the tobaccos we smoke, its flavor begins to deepen, and the pipe delivers a richer, more engaging smoke. Only many bowls over a period of time will accomplish this.
My advice has always been not to perseverate too long over methoology, and just smoke carefully, enjoying every bowl as much as possible. Only over time will a good pipe become a great one. It's always worked for me.
I like Pease's distinction between break-in and seasoning. I think I accomplish both
by smoking the first 100 half-bowls (ya, I'm anal enough to actually count them!) :crazy:
using a variety of VaPer's. The actual seasoning takes much more smoking.
The "load it and smoke it" philosophy is probably the most practical and down to earth
approach, and I have no doubt it works just fine. But I like dicking around and playing
-- this is just another aspect of the hobby for me.
by smoking the first 100 half-bowls (ya, I'm anal enough to actually count them!) :crazy:
using a variety of VaPer's. The actual seasoning takes much more smoking.
The "load it and smoke it" philosophy is probably the most practical and down to earth
approach, and I have no doubt it works just fine. But I like dicking around and playing
-- this is just another aspect of the hobby for me.
I try to stick with the basics when I can. Non of my new pipes ever had a carbon lining. Therefore, I coat the inside to the bowl with saliva first and then begin with half bowls. Ensure that you do not smoke the pipe so that it gets too hot.Also, let your new pipe rest for at least a day before between smokes. After a few half pipe fulls gradually begin to build up the tobacco. If possible, try to smoke the tobacco all the way to the bottom of the bowl so as to get some cake. After about ten or so half and three quarter bowls filler up and enjoy. Seems like a lot of work, however, I always stay on the safe side since I plan on enjoying a new pipe for many years. What a few extra days!
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