tkcolo, I think some briar is more absorbant than others, I've never seen a totally non-absorbant piece... I suppose it's possible that you sealed it somehow... if so a quick scrub with some 120 grit sandpaper would be enough to open it up. But I'd STILL look at other factors in the pipe's construction before I blamed the briar. What is the draw like? Is the stem pinched? Are the holes all lined up?