You now have a brand new pipe. What now?
When you get a new pipe, the first thing you should do is break it in. This means you must build up a carbon layer or “cake” in your pipe’s chamber. We will show you how to do it.
Some pipes don’t need to be broken in. Some kinds, like Meerschaum pipes, don’t do well if you build a cake. It’s not necessary for briar pipes.
Let’s get started!
What does it mean to “break in” a tobacco pipe
A new pipe is broken when it hasn’t yet built up carbon cake. The cake gradually builds up around the chamber walls from the carbon released during tobacco combustion.
The cake acts as insulation between the pipe & the combusting tobacco. Your pipe will burn out more easily if there isn’t a carbon layer. Smokes will be more enjoyable if you have a carbon layer. The smoke will be cooler and will have a better taste.
Are you required to cut every single pipe?
Briar pipes are the main pipes to be broken in. You don’t need to bake Meerschaum pipes. Many recommend wiping the chamber after every smoke to prevent any from building up.
Meerschaum pipes do not need cakes because they absorb moisture and will produce dry smoke. Even worse, cakes can make Meerschaum pipes crack!
You can even colour your Meerschaum with cakes!
How to open a tobacco pipe?
There are many ways to open a pipe. Let’s take a look at the most common methods.
Slowly smoke
It is important to keep your pipe from becoming too hot while making the carbon cake. This rule applies regardless of what you do to heat your pipe. You will not be happy with the results.
You want to enjoy your pipe the most, no matter how well it has been used. Cool smoke is essential when the wood is exposed to heat without any protective layer.
Use a bowl coating
Pipe manufacturers and pipe makers often add a coating on the pipes to protect the bowl from breaking in and forming a cake. However, not all pipes come with a coated chamber.
Coatings are a favorite of many and they can be added to any pipe that doesn’t already have one. Some people hate coatings and will remove them before they smoke their new pipe.
Coatings don’t last and are only meant to protect your pipe while you make a cake.
Use a neutral tobacco
Ghosting occurs when cake takes in the strong-tasting tobacco flavor and then gives it to others. Many people will tell you about a pipe they could not get rid of the ghost from. The ghost is still stuck in the wood, so even reaming it won’t work. ).
Virginia Blends can be used to break in pipes. Their sugar content can cause them to burn if they aren’t packed correctly.
You can smoke Burley or Oriental blends if you don’t wish to smoke a straight Virginia. They aren’t as strong in flavor as Latakia and they burn less hot. Double-check to make sure the blends aren’t ghosting the pipe.
If you are a fan of a particular genre, it’s okay to choose a neutral flavor and avoid ghosting. Remember that ghosts can be hard to get rid of if you are committed to a particular genre.
Make sure to clean your pipes
Before you start smoking a new pipe, you must first clean your pipe. You don’t need to clean the pipe completely, but you should use a pipe cleaner. It is impossible to know who or what touched it during the manufacturing and shipping processes.
Method of gradual packing
This is the most well-known method for building cakes. This method is a great way of achieving a uniform carbon layer in the chamber.
For gradual packing, pack your chamber only about a third of your first few smokes. Next, increase the volume to half a cup, then to three-quarters of your chamber, until you have a full one. This allows the cake to rise slowly and evenly.