Re: Packing a Calabash Pipe...

Aspiring Calamologist wrote:
Hi All! My name is Mike and I am new to the feed.

I am currently on a Meerschaum kick. I am bidding on a two Meerschaum-
lined briars on ebay.com (wish me luck!), I have just purchased a Butz-
Choquin Cappadoce Bent Rhodesian, and I am in the process of
purchasing a Strambach Calabash from synjeco.ch (a Swedish company).
I also ordered a Charatan Trafalgar for good measure. I had one big
question:

What is the best procedure for packing a meerschaum calabash gourd
pipe? I have tried the Frank method (devised by Achim Frank) with
limited success. Does anyone know of a way that keeps the pipe lit
and drawing easy? I need a little help.

Thanks,

Mike


Hi Mike! Welcome to the group. Don't forget to check out www.aspipes.org. Read the faq, it's got lots of good advice and info.

A gourd calabash has a true conical-shaped bowl, but it's usually not very deep. Although the overall size of the pipe is huge, the bowl is kinda small and very wide for the depth. The problem I have with them is trying to get the top evenly lit, then keeping it burning while the ember gains some depth in the bowl. Once you get it burning, it smokes very well. Unfortunately, since the bowl is relatively shallow, the smoke doesn't last very long.

I wish someone made replacement bowls that are deep for calabashes. About 1-1/2" to 2" would be great. As for how to deal with the problem, I can only suggest trying different tobaccos in it until you find one that lights well and burns slowly. That's a hard combination to find.

Bill "but the search should be fun" Burney
.

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