Re: Ruminations on Shapes and Smoke Quality


Joel 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
http://www.jspipes.com


Regardless of exterior shape, pipes that excel at absorbing moisture
and disappating heat keep the smoke stream cooler and therefore provide
a better flavor and smoke. However, who truly buys any pipe that they
do not like the shape of or has the knowledge to look at the inside of
a pipe bowl and know for certain it will be a great smoker?

.

Relevant Pages

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