| This article will provide you with some of | | | | Meerschaum is a mineral that can be carved |
| the most basic information on tobacco pipes, | | | | into beautiful shapes - you will find many |
| from the parts that make them up to the | | | | interesting and intricate meerschaum pipes. |
| materials they are made out of. | | | | |
| | | | · Clay - if you are wanting to buy a clay |
| Tobacco pipes are made up of three major | | | | tobacco pipe, it is worth spending the few |
| parts: | | | | extra dollars to get one made from an |
| | | | expensive clay rather than a cheap clay. |
| · The bowl - this is the small chamber in | | | | Cheap clay pipes can add bad flavors to a |
| which the tobacco is placed. | | | | smoke. They are also porous and low quality. |
| | | | Good clays, on the other hand, can make some |
| · The shank - this is the thin stem that | | | | great pipes. Many say that these good clays |
| leads to the bit. The smoke travels up the | | | | (made into good pipes) give a tobacco smoker |
| stem. | | | | a pure smoke, meaning that there is not |
| | | | flavor besides that which the tobacco itself |
| · The bit - the bit is the mouthpiece of | | | | imparts. |
| the pipe. | | | | |
| | | | · Wood - if you have a wood tobacco pipe |
| There is not just one material that tobacco | | | | and you want to be sure that it will not |
| pipes are made out of. They are made from | | | | burn, you can spread a mixture of honey and |
| many different materials. Some of the most | | | | water into the bowl. After you use the pipe |
| popular materials include: | | | | a few times, the mixture will create a burn |
| | | | resistant barrier. |
| · Briar - this is the most common material | | | | |
| for tobacco pipes. Why is it so common? | | | | · Glass - hand-blown glass pipes can be |
| Because, although it is a type of wood (more | | | | very beautiful and interesting. You will |
| specifically, it comes from the root burl of | | | | find that there is a large variety of colors |
| the tree heath), it is naturally resistant to | | | | and styles of glass tobacco pipes. A benefit |
| fire. Also, it does not absorb moisture | | | | of glass pipes is that they cannot affect the |
| | | | flavor of the smoke. |
| · Corncob - this is a very cheap material | | | | |
| to make tobacco pipes from. In fact, because | | | | · Metal - there are such things as metal |
| corncob makes such cheap pipes, it is no | | | | tobacco pipes, but you will likely see them |
| wonder that the people who built "Frosty the | | | | more commonly used with other drugs like |
| Snowman" did not mind sticking one into the | | | | cannabis. Aluminum, brass, and steel are the |
| snowy mouth! Yes, they are cheap, but they | | | | metals generally used to make metal tobacco |
| are still effective. | | | | pipes. The problem associated with metal |
| | | | pipes for tobacco smokers is that the metal |
| · Meerschaum - before briar tobacco pipes | | | | bowls need to have a break-in period of |
| became so popular, meerschaum and clay were | | | | resination. Before this happens, the smoke |
| the materials of choice for pipes. | | | | will have an aftertaste. |