Why Do New Pipes Smoke Hot?

[Sigmund]

Ok, I may be nuts (probably). On one hand it doesnt matter but Im curious: Every new pipe I get smokes hot the first round and gets cooler as it breaks in...even the second smoke is noticably cooler when it comes to the touch on the outside of the pipe. I know how to manage it but Im curious if anyone has a reason for this. Its not like one smoke builds any real cake.

My theory is that its either moisture residing in the chamber or that the briar is actually buring/carbonizing a super thin layer and that is leading to increased heat.

Again, I know to smoke it gently. Its just one of those things Ive pondered without a real answer. It also will tend to happen on estates that have been completely cleaned but not smoked for a long time.

 

[Briar Lee]

Ok, I may be nuts (probably). On one hand it doesnt matter but Im curious: Every new pipe I get smokes hot the first round and gets cooler as it breaks in...even the second smoke is noticably cooler when it comes to the touch on the outside of the pipe. I know how to manage it but Im curious if anyone has a reason for this. Its not like one smoke builds any real cake.

My theory is that its either moisture residing in the chamber or that the briar is actually buring/carbonizing a super thin layer and that is leading to increased heat.

Again, I know to smoke it gently. Its just one of those things Ive pondered without a real answer. It also will tend to happen on estates that have been completely cleaned but not smoked for a long time.

Not only do they smoke hot, they’ll snap, crackle and pop as the heat of the ember finishes the curing of the briar, and causes the briar to sweat.

By the way, if the maker was able to use high grade, ancient Pre 54 oil cured and aged Algerian briar the break in process is still present but vastly shortened. Those el cheapo El Morjane El Kala pipes hardly need broken in as do Marxmans or Bertrams or Edwards or Rogers.

No pipe is ever broken in until smoked all the way down to the air hole about one package (1 1/2 ounces) of tobacco.

And Danish pipes are by far and away the worst. Likely because the Danes only age briar long enough to allow it to be worked.

A pipe made by Richard Lee or by Pipe Maker needs break in, but will taste saccharin sweet during the process. They may have been cured with saccharin, for all I know.

 

[Hillcrest]

In my opinion, there are multiple factors that go into consideration of an answer to this interesting question:
Quality of briar and thickness of pipe wall; the initial bowl coating or lack thereof, moisture in briar (as you stated), type of tobacco, speed of cadence, I have read that it can take up to 10 bowls for a 'system' pipe to break in and smoke efficiently as the system chamber absorbs moisture and becomes coated (the comment was made in reference to system pipes). As for quality of briar - briar is porous, briar with excessive capillaries can also transmit heat if there are pinholes or microscopic cracks. (https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/closer-look-briar-grain). I've also found user error to be a factor. Sometimes I just smoke a new pipe perfectly without thinking and sometimes it takes a few times to get used to the pipe but that's probably just me. just 2 cents adjusted by tariffs, inflation, deflation, depression, etc.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes, part of it could be me but repeatedly I keep finding (or imagining) that the pipe doesnt get as hot after the first smoke. Its certainly not broken in but the first one almost always seems the hottest.

Its definitely not science, its just an impression I tend to have but I think there is a difference. Heck, maybe Im just excited to get a new pipe so I puff more...there are too many variables to know for sure.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I would add that it is not "ALL" pipes, but some. My pipes that came with a lot of briar to them, like my Giant Ardors, Randy Wiley's, and various other large pipes with a lot of wood to them, smoked great from the get go. My Giant Ardor bulldog even began caking up really fast, like the third smoke and it was caked to the draft. But, I don't recall many other pipes giving me heat problems from the beginnings either. There were a few... some of my really hard briar pipes, like some Hilsons and some older bulldogs that were made in the 50's and 60's but came to me unsmoked seemed to have some heat problems from the start. But, they started evening out quickly for me.

Why? There are so many factors that could be contributing to this, that all we can do is guess.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes and I would not call it a heat problem. Just that those that dont have massive walls seem to heat up pretty fast the first smoke and then subsequent smokes not so much.

Its not so much as a problem as a curiosity on my end.

My best guess is ambient mositure residing in the briar acting as a conductor

 

[JoburgB2]

And Danish pipes are by far and away the worst. Likely because the Danes only age briar long enough to allow it to be worked.

? Thus proclaimed? It shall be written. For the record, neither of my Danish pipes burn hottest. My Peterson 999 and my McCranie’s Dr Mac Hungarian are my two hottest to the touch.

 

[Sig]

Dang it!!
Now I need to buy a new pipe so I can help figure this out.
Thanks a lot!!

 

[sardonicus87]

I think for a seasoned smoker, they adjust how they smoke according to how the smoke is going without realizing it, and with a new pipe, they're not used to how to adjust to it yet... at least as one potential factor.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I do think the pipes overall construction ie; thick walls mitigate but relative humidity is probably the most critical driver on a hot pipe early in its life given how hydroscopic tobacco and briar are. Once charred it reduces the heat transfer much like timber clad houses that are charred in fire prone areas to help reduce heat transfer and reduce burning risk.

 

[woodsroad]

I’ve smoked a lot of new pipes, many of the pre-STG Danish Stanwells. Not one of them smoked hot, snapped, crackled or popped. Not one.

But, I might be nuts, too.

 

[dunnyboy]

I haven't noticed that my new pipes smoke hot but I have had some pipes that always seem to heat up. I can't find a common denominator except in one case there was a thin spot. Sorry, not much help.

 

[Brad H]

Ok, I may be nuts (probably). On one hand it doesnt matter but Im curious: Every new pipe I get smokes hot the first round and gets cooler as it breaks in...even the second smoke is noticably cooler when it comes to the touch on the outside of the pipe. I know how to manage it but Im curious if anyone has a reason for this. Its not like one smoke builds any real cake.

My theory is that its either moisture residing in the chamber or that the briar is actually buring/carbonizing a super thin layer and that is leading to increased heat.

Again, I know to smoke it gently. It’s just one of those things Ive pondered without a real answer. It also will tend to happen on estates that have been completely cleaned but not smoked for a long time.

Notice any difference between one that comes pre charred?

 

[Brad H]

I’ve smoked a lot of new pipes, many of the pre-STG Danish Stanwells. Not one of them smoked hot, snapped, crackled or popped. Not one.

But, I might be nuts, too.

Ahhh. So you didn’t do the rice crispy style of loading the bowl I take it.

 

[warren]

I've never experienced such. Well, not in the last 60 years, after I passed the beginner stage. When I overheated a pipe it was always me, not the tool.

 

[telescopes]

I’ve smoked a lot of new pipes, many of the pre-STG Danish Stanwells. Not one of them smoked hot, snapped, crackled or popped. Not one.

But, I might be nuts, too.

I take it you like granola for breakfast?

 

[Sigmund]

Notice any difference between one that comes pre charred?

Yes pipes with bowl coatings seem to do it too. That is why I suspect it might be burning off moisture. It has happened frequently do different pipes. I just set it down for a few but I do notice quicker heat ups.

It happened yesterday also. A few hours late I lit it again and it was not as prone to warming up fast. As cosmic says, there are too many possible variables.

 

[LeafErikson]

I have certainly had pipes that smoked hot and wet from the start and never improved. Some were duds and some just didn’t mesh well with my smoking style or blend/cut preference at the time. I can’t say I’ve had a pipe smoke hot at the outset that improved much with time. A pipe generally just smokes well for me or it doesn’t.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's probably just the inferior Algerian briar.

 

[woodsroad]

Ahhh. So you didn’t do the rice crispy style of loading the bowl I take it.

I couldn’t keep the milk lit.