Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality

Bob Weiske wrote:
On Mon, 05 Jun 2006 01:25:14 GMT, Joel <jspipes_nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

A pipe is a block of wood with a couple holes drilled in it and a stem of some sort fitted. Yup, that's about it. The size and shape of the holes is critical and we like the shapes to be interesting and engaging. We also like a nice finish be it a smooth, blast, or rusticated.

This brings up something interesting for discussion.

Does the shape of a pipe actually alter the smoking quality? I'm not talking about the experience as that includes all of the aesthetics and ritual of the event. But just the quality of the smoke from the pipe. In other words, would you expect a straight apple to smoke different from a straight billiard? And if so, why?
In my mind, and backed by several experiments (including starting with a more bulky shape like a bulldog and reshaping it after smoking into another shape, eventually ending up with something resembling a rusticated billiard - all the while smoking the pipe between shapes), I didn't find any change to the actual quality of the smoke with different shapes. If the wood is drilled well, an appropriate stem fit (with a draft hole that matches the draft hole in the wood), and the chamber shape one that the smoker tends to favor, then I don't believe that the shape of the pipe will affect the smoke.

Now, I will give you that an extreme bent will smoke a little different from a straight. That will be caused by the machinations that the smoke goes through on the way out of the tobacco chamber.

Given 2 straight (or 2 equally bent) pipes from the same maker in dramatically different shapes, would you expect them to smoke the same or differently (let's take the nature of the briar out of it)?

What do you all think? Am I way of base here? If so, please illuminate me!

Joel, That's making my head hurt!. BTW, I love my 06 POY. That puppy
is breaking in *so* well.
Bob Weiske
ASPian since '95
replace z with b to reply

Bob, I'm really glad to hear that!

--
Joel
http://www.jspipes.com
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality
    ... But just the quality of the smoke from the pipe. ... would you expect a straight apple to smoke different ... draft hole that matches the draft hole in the wood), ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: When is a pipe "beyond hope"?
    ... I have to concur with the distinguished Mr. Beard - if it was once a good smoker, unless it is cracked badly or a hole is burned through, almost nothing else exists that can't be repaired and restore the pipe to a good smoker. ... Hell, my Grandmother used to smoke the life out of corncobs and the one 'expensive' Peterson's she had she only smoked on special occassions - I have it now and prize it and would fix if something happened to it, even if only for sentimental reasons. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality
    ... But just the quality of the smoke from the pipe. ... would you expect a straight apple to smoke different ... draft hole that matches the draft hole in the wood), ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality
    ... But just the quality of the smoke from the pipe. ... would you expect a straight apple to smoke different ... draft hole that matches the draft hole in the wood), ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality
    ... pipe itself might smoke based on wall thickness. ... believe that a hot smoking thin walled pipe does anything ... would you expect a straight apple to smoke different ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
Loading