How to Break in a Pipe
If you want your new pipe to have a long life and provide a great smoking experience, you will have to properly break it in. Remember that breaking in a pipe leads to the formation of a carbon layer inside the bowl. This will not only give you a better smoking experience but will also protect the pipe’s wood. Follow some useful tips to help you break in a pipe and enjoy smoking.
Things Required:
– Pipe
– Pipe tobacco
– Matches or pipe lighter
– Pipe tool
– Pipe cleaners
Instructions
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1
Packing the bowl with tobacco
First you need to pack one-third of the bowl with tobacco. Remember that the tobacco needs to be firm but should also be springy. In case the pipe draws more, you need to empty it and fill it again. -
2
Smoke only one-third of a bowl in the beginning
To properly break in your pipe it is recommended to smoke one-third of a bowl the first 10 to 15 times. You need to give pipes a day's rest between smoking sessions as this will help it cool down and eventually dry out. -
3
Smoke half bowls for next few times
Next, you will want to smoke one-half filled bowls for the proceeding 10 to 15 times. -
4
Smoke full bowls
Your pipe should now be properly broken in and you can smoke full bowls of tobacco. You are required to finish the tobacco in order form a uniform layer of carbon which is also known as cake. In case you cannot smoke a full bowl, you can set it aside and smoke it later. -
5
Set the pipe down if it becomes too hot
In case the pipe becomes too hot, you should place it down as this will prevent cracking of the bowl. -
6
Thickness of the cake
You need to let the smoking build-up cake of about one-sixteenth of an inch. In case it becomes thicker, you need to ream it. You can do this by yourself or with the help of a tobacconist. -
7
Cleaning the pipe
After the pipe cools down, a pipe cleaner should be used by running it through the stem in order to get rid of moisture. For cleaning ash and burnt tobacco in the bowl, you can use the scoop from a pipe tool.
