What Tobacco for Breaking-in your Expensive Pipes?

[The Amish Tyrant]

Generally, I use a neutral tobacco (typically, Half and Half, which is my favorite codger blend). This avoids potential ghosts until I decide what blends the pipe will be used for.

Once relatively broken in, I may sample some different blends to see if something "sings". If the pipe sings with a blend, it gets dedicated. If not, then it may become "all purpose".

I like dedicating a type of tobacco since the saturation seems to improve the flavors.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I use Grey Poupon, because I’m fancy like that.

Dijon mustard is the way to go.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Only the best...

View attachment 239417
"Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Poupon pipe-tobacco?"

I couldn’t possibly comment!

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Very cool! What kind of pipe is it? I've never heard of the water technique, seems like it could work. Might keep the rim from charring, but idk if it would have any negative affects on the finish/briar. Report back with your findings!

An old BBB unsmoked. A little wipe of moisture in the chamber on old wood I think I picked up from @sablebrush52 - seems like a reasonable precaution in general.

 

[Peterson314]

 

[woodsroad]

I've never "broken in" a pipe in my life. Just fill them up with whatever I'm smoking and lit'em up.

#MeToo
“Expensive” is relative, but however you define it, I don’t think any of my pipes fit the description.

 

[judcole]

I don't buy many expensive pipes. If I did, I would not change my break in practices. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[RookieGuy80]

Carter Hall for the first 10 smokes or so, unless I feel like smoking something else I like.

 

[briarbuda48]

Lately, I’ve been using Tillbury, a Virgina burley. For me, it burns clean and smooth without any complications.

 

[JackOrion]

Virginia flake, usually a few bowls of Peterson first then move onto whatever Virginia leaf I have open.

 

[elvishrunes]

I smoke the same tobacco in all my pipes, because I like it…. People complicate this hobby too much. I clean after each smoke and find ghosts mostly overrated or not worry of a slight flavour including with Lakelands, my new favourite is Ennerdale…. Overrated for my level of tobacco use, 6-10 tins a yr. off a half dozen pipes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Any English blend. Very simple for me, cause that's 90% of what I smoke.

 

[AroEnglish]

Anything in my cellar of cheap bulk blends

 

[larryspencer]

Same here

In agreement.

 

[dog_park_piper]

Old Joe Krantz will make your pipe feel right at home in no time.

 

[tobakenist]

Flake, I always smoke Flake in a new pipe.

 

[simong]

Clan!
or St. Bruno

 

[OverMountain]

Only the finest. SWRA.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The whole “breaking in” thing seems like an abstract concept, like love, art, Santa Clause, and communism. I just don’t believe in it.
But… I get ya with the cheap pipe verses expensive pipe thing. I can see poor people who get cheap pipes buying into the who “breaking in” flat earth fake news thing.

 

[JOHN72]

I do the same, yes.