What Makes A Pipe A Great Performer?

[Allen Lloyd]

Some of our pipes get smoked a lot; some less. I found this to be the
case when I had 70 pipes, when I had 40, and even now that I'm down to
about 15. So what makes a pipe become a favorite among all others? I
think a pipes performace during a smoke sets its ranking among the
others on my pipe shelf.

Had to give it a little thought, why do I smoke a few pipes more often
than others? Here's my top 5 qualities that I find make for a great
smoker.

What's on your list? Most important first.

1. Better than average air flow.
2. No condensation problems.
3. Consistently performs well, smoke after smoke.
4. Has great balance while clenched.
5. Pipe tends to not plug up during a smoke.

AL ...

[Ed Duncan]

***********************
as usual, I won't be able to help much. I have 48 total pipes, incl. 3
"junkers" & 3 meers. That leaves 42 decent briars. I'd have to echo
AL's list with just one comment. #4. As most know, I have a few
"monsters", including the AshtonMagnum bulldog. Impossible to clench
for more than maybe 20secs (when lighting same). To me, nothing wrong
with some that are only "holders". I've got 2 that I sent to late Jim
Benjamin (sp) for opening up....both now same as the rest. All my
pipes smoke good with any tobacco, otherwise I wouldn't have 'em. I'll
leave details to others who have better set of brain cells! heh

Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY

[Tim D]

I agree with your five points. One other I have found, because I'm
lazy, is how many times a pipe can be smoked on the same day without
getting bitter. Tim

[JtN©]

Ed, whether you have 4, 42 or 420 decent pipes why do you think you
could not be much help.

If ya gots a cob and it gurgles like a babbling brook and it smokes as
hot as a coal stove while have a draw as tight as a ... well tighter
than a you know what ... well you could give an opinion and thought as
to what you like or don't like about that cob and also what you look
for in any new cob you might buy.

It aint about how many ya got but it is about what makes a pipe a
friend.

Personally I like a more open draw, I hate a pipe that wheezes on me
or has a tighter draw ... just takes the pleasures out of a relaxing
smoke.

I also like pipe that don't gurgle or smoke really moist. I hate it
really moist and gurgly and have a few that I like but never get
smoked cause I know how they are.

I also hate a warm smoker, some just burn hot and I don't like that
while other you think would burn warm are as cold as last Saturdays
dinner date.

Well thats about it for me other than I prefer and like blasts or
ruticated and I prefer lucite over vulcanite. I love smoothies but
they always seem to change after being smoked and I hate how vulcanite
discolors and changes. I would think that since it comes from Vulcan
where Spock is from that it would logically never change but I guess
it's not from future Vulcan so for now ... I prefer lucite.

JtN ©2012

[Jim Murray]

On Feb 1, 6:16 am, Allen Lloyd <al...@ohiovalleycollect.com> wrote:

Hi,

I agree with Allen, especially #1. While not always true, I have found
that straight pipes smoke better than bents. Just better flow. I have
a large collection of pipes, many more than I need or even smoke, but
those that are on my regular rotation (10 or 12) are my very best
smokers and none of them cost more than $100 each. In some cases
costing much less! So price should never be a factor for a reason for
smoking better.

I also don't always agree with the "grain" issue....better grain,
better smoker. While nice grain is attractive to look it, it is not
always a determining factor in how well a pipe will smoke. I have
owned some real dogs for pipes in the past 30+ years of pipe smoking
and some have had nasty grain patterns, yet smoked remarkably well.

Brand is not always a determining factor either. I have several
Dunhill's and other high-end pipes that smoke very well, but I have
several Kaywoodie and Wilke pipes that totally out smoke the Dunhill
pipes. Go figure.

Happy Puffing!

Jim
http://www.jimscigarandpipe.info/

[charli...@aol.com]

I'm like Ed in that balance is not too important to me. I would add
that the pipes that become my favorites are both pretty to me and feel
good in my hands.

Charlie R

[scottbtdmb]

On Feb 1, 5:59 pm, "charliepi...@aol.com" <charliepi...@aol.com>
wrote:

I break down what makes a pipe a great performer based on which
tobacco I am smoking:

English: Always liked the way that the pot shape smokes Englishes.
Probably has something to do with the wide chamber, which really seems
to bring out the full body flavor of a good English/Balkan blend. I
have a couple Barling EXEXEL Fossil Pots and an old E Wilke pot that
all smoke English blends like nobody's business.

Va's: I have found that small Group 2 or Group 3 pipes work best for
Va's. I have also found that the older British made pipes (GBD,
Charatan, Comoy, etc) do really well with Va blends.

Burley: Can't beat an old fashioned cob!

For camping and hiking trips, I prefer rusticated pipes with lucite
stems. These pipes do great in the outdoors because you don't have to
worry about them getting scratched/dented jostling around in a
backpack and also there are no worries with oxidation if you leave
them out in the sun at the campsite.

-Scott

[Robert]

Most gurling problems are because of clenching the pipe. I also had
this same problem. To solve this, become a dry smoker by balancing the
stem between your teeth versus clenching. You'll find that you use
almost no pipe cleaners which are actually counter productive because
they leave lint. You'll end up with a dryer, cleaner pipe and a more
enjoyable smoke.

Hope this helps.

Robert

[mingk...@aol.com]

I think there are a number of factors that lead to a great performer.
The absence of any one of them puts the pipe in doubt/jeopardy.

1. Properly cured and/or aged briar. A crappy piece of briar is
strikes one and two.

2. Good solid engineering and construction. Good simple solid
engineering and construction is key. Keep it simple. It was Trever
Talbert who once said referring to his wild Mountains of Madness pipe
that no matter what, inside of the pipe was a billiard. Sloppy
execution, engineering, and construction will harm the pipe
geometrically. Right now I am smoking a pipe, one of mine, that is
amazingly simple and an amazing smoker. It is an all briar pipe with
a 1/8” airway straight into a .75” diameter bowl. Very little to
screw up and a very solid performer with any tobacco.

3. The right tobacco. Some pipes do better with one tobacco than
others.

4. Smoking technique. No pipe is immune from poor results due to
lousy technique.

Art