What are pipes used for?

Smoking a pipe requires more apparatus andthe pipe to draw the flame into the tobacco. Most
techinique than cigarette or even cigar smoking. Insmokers will tamp out this initial lighting after a few
addition to the pipe itself and matches or a lighter,seconds, pack the surface down more tightly, and
smokers usually require a pipe tool for packing,relight. If the tobacco catches fire during either light, it
adjusting, and emptying the tobacco in the bowl, and acan be put out; the goal is to have the surface
regular supply of pipe cleaners.smoldering in a uniform way.
PackingPrevent Burning
Pipe tobacco can be purchased in several forms,To prevent your wood pipe from burning make a 50
which vary both in flavour (leading to many blends, or50 mix of honey and water and use your finger to
the opportunity for the smoker to blend their ownspread it around the inside of the bowl. Let this mixture
tobaccos) and in the physical shape and size to whichdry. After a few bowls, the mix will create a barrier
the tobacco has been reduced. Most tobaccosthat will be burn resistant.
resemble cigarrette tobacco, but substantially moreThis method is not considered extremely effective,
moist (so they must be kept in airtight packaging), andand can also add a flavor which may be undesirable
cut much more coarsely. This makes it rather difficultto smokers. Most Briar pipes are already pre-treated
to roll pipe tobacco into cigarette papers; but finely cutto resist burn, and if smoked correctly, the cake will
tobacco does not allow enough air to flow through thebuild up properly on its own.
pipe, and overly dry tobacco burns too quickly with littleSmoking
flavour. Some kinds are cut into long narrow ribbons.Pipe smoke, like cigar smoke, is usually not inhaled. It is
Some are pressed into flat cakes which are cut up.merely brought into the mouth and then released. It is
Others are tightly wound into long ropes, then slicednormal to have to relight a pipe periodically. If it is
into discs. Flake tobacco (sliced cakes or ropes) maysmoked too slowly, this will happen more often. If it is
be prepared in several ways. Generally it is rubbed outsmoked too quickly, it can produce excess moisture,
with the fingers and palms until it is loose enough toproducing a gurgling sound in the pipe. A pipe cleaner
pack. It can also be crumbled or simply folded andcan be used to dry it out. The bowl of the pipe can
stuffed into a pipe. Some people also prefer to dicealso become uncomfortably hot, depending on the
very coarse tobaccos up before using them, makingmaterial and the rate of smoking. For this reason clay
them easier to pack.pipes in particular are often held by the stem.
In the most common method of packing, tobacco isMeershaum pipes are held in a square of chamois
added to the bowl of the pipe in several batches, eachleather, with gloves, or else by the stem in order to
one pressed down until the mixture has a uniformprevent uneven coloring of the material.
density that optimizes airflow (something that it isCleaning
difficult to gauge without practice). This can be doneThe ash and the last bits of unburned tobacco (the
with a finger or thumb, but if the tobacco needs to bedottle) need to be emptied after smoking, and the pipe
repacked later, while it is burning, the tamper on a pipeshould be cleaned with some regularity. A cake of ash
tool is sometimes used. If it needs to be loosened, theeventually develops inside the bowl. This is good for
reamer, or any similar long pin can be used.controlling overall heat, but if it becomes too thick it
Lightingneeds to be scraped down.
Matches, or even separately lit slivers of wood, areSweetening
usually considered preferable to lighters. Some peopleWhen tobacco is burned, oils are vaporized and
complain that lighters impart an inappropriate taste tocondense on the walls of the bowl, in the existing cake,
the tobacco. Because a lighter must be held sideways,and in the shank. Over time, these oils can oxidize and
putting the fingers much closer to the flame, they canturn rancid, causing the pipe to give a sour or bitter
be harder to use with pipes than matches are.smoke. An effective measure called the Professor's
However, lighters especially made for pipes exist thatPipe-Sweetening Treatment involves filling the bowl
minimize or eliminate these issues. When matches arewith salt and carefully wetting it with strong spirits.
used, they are normally allowed to burn for a couple ofSome people find that regularly wiping out the bowl
seconds to remove the sulfur from the tip, and towith spirits is helpful in preventing souring. Commercial
produce a fuller flame. The flame is then moved inpipe-sweetening products are also available.
circles above the tobacco while the smoker puffs on