Pipe FAQ

We all need a little advice or helpful input from time to time. So I've put together a growing list of the most common questions I get here at the Virtual Smoking Lounge.

The majority of the answers are my own, but I've also incorporated some excellent information from other sources. To help you more easily find the answers you want, I've grouped the questions into broad categories. Simply click on the desired category and then browse through the available Q&A.

(Note: Some Q&A are hard to classify because they address several related issues. So be sure to check related categories. As a tip to find what you're looking for, use the search feature of your web browser to find key words in the questions.)

 

Topic Categories:

 

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General (Back to Top)

  1. What is the pipe cleaner test and how important is it? <Answer>
  2. Does briar have a limited life? <Answer>
  3. Do the different pipe shapes/styles affect the smoking quality or are they purely aesthetic? <Answer>
  4. How do I know when my butane lighter is full? That is, how long does it take to fill a butane lighter? <Answer>
  5. Is there anything I can do to make pipe smoking less offensive to my wife and others around me? <Answer>
  6. I'm frustrated by the smoking bans in my area. What are your thoughts about smoker's rights? <Answer>
  7. How do I know if my pipe smoking has become a habit? <Answer>
  8. I often smoke alone and feel I'm missing out on the social aspects of enjoying a pipe. Do you have any thoughts about this? <Answer>
  9. Does pipe tobacco contain nicotine, and can I become addicted to it? <Answer>
  10. What causes a bitter, chemical taste when smoking a particular pipe? <Answer>
  11. How important is draft hole placement in regard to a pipe's smoking quality? <Answer>

 

New Smokers (Back to Top)

  1. Do you have any recommendations for a good quality, but inexpensive, "starter pipe"? <Answer>
  2. As a new smoker, what kind of tobacco should I try? Aromatics? English Blends? <Answer>
  3. I'm not really enjoying my pipe. Do you have any advice? <Answer>
  4. After smoking, I have a terrible aftertaste in my mouth. Is this normal? <Answer>

 

Pipes and Accessories (Back to Top)

  1. Are corn cob pipes good briar alternatives? <Answer>
  2. What is a cork knocker and what is its purpose? <Answer>
  3. What is Brylon or a Brylon pipe? <Answer>
  4. What are "basket" pipes and are they any good? <Answer>
  5. What is a "P-Lip" and what is your opinion about it? <Answer>
  6. What is the Savinelli Balsa System? <Answer>
  7. How do I use Savinelli Balsa Filters? <Answer>
  8. Can I use filters in any pipe? Or does it require a specific kind of pipe? <Answer>
  9. Do pipe filters actually provide a cooler, drier smoke? <Answer>
  10. Will the Savinelli balsa system eliminate tongue bite and troublesome other issues? <Answer>
  11. What is the metal piece in the stem of my pipe? I've heard it called a Stinger or Condenser. <Answer>
  12. Can I use Savinelli balsa filters in other, non-Savinelli pipes? <Answer>
  13. Can pipe filters be used more than once? <Answer>
  14. Do pipe filters and similar devices reduce health risks and make smoking safer? <Answer>
  15. Do Denicool Pipe Crystals make a cooler, drier smoke and reduce tongue bite? <Answer>
  16. Do Meerschaum-line briar pipes offer any particular advantage over regular briar pipes? <Answer>
  17. What are pipe screens and what is their purpose? <Answer>
  18. Why are some poker pipes round and some square? Shouldn't they be considered two entirely different shapes? <Answer>
  19. Do windcaps affect the draw of a pipe? <Answer>
  20. What do you think about churchwarden pipes? <Answer>
  21. What is the difference between a "Bulldog" and "Rhodesian" shape? <Answer>
  22. I can't adjust the flame on my butane lighter. Any suggestions? <Answer>
  23. What is the difference between "rusticated" and "sandblasted" finishes on a pipe? <Answer>
  24. How many pipes should I have in my collection? <Answer>

 

Pipe Care and Maintenance (Back to Top)

  1. How should I clean the rim of my pipe? <Answer>
  2. What type of alcohol should I use when cleaning or sanitizing pipes? <Answer>
  3. Isopropyl alcohol is poisonous. Shouldn't it be avoided when cleaning or sanitizing pipes? <Answer>
  4. When leaching a pipe bowl, how many times do you repeat the Salt and Alcohol treament? <Answer>
  5. Should I use olive oil to coat my pipe bowl and stem? <Answer>
  6. I've heard that salt can damage my briar pipe. Should I use cotton instead of salt when cleaning or leaching my pipes? <Answer>
  7. How can I clean gunk, carbon, and char marks without removing the stain or finish from my pipe? <Answer>
  8. I give my pipes a basic cleaning after every smoke, but some need a more thorough cleaning. What do you recommend? <Answer>
  9. Is it possible to enlarge the airway of a pipe to improve its smoking performance? <Answer>
  10. Should I be worried about chips, pits, and flaws in my pipe? Can these lead to a burnout? <Answer>
  11. How can I tighten a loose stem on my pipe? <Answer>
  12. How can I loosen a stem that is too tight? <Answer>
  13. What is meerschaum? How should I care for and clean a meerschaum pipe? (And other common questions about meerschaum pipes.) <Answer>
  14. My favorite pipe recently broke / has a cracked shank / needs repair. Can you help? <Answer>
  15. What type of glue should I use to repair my pipe or stem? <Answer>
  16. Can tobacco permanently affect the flavor or aroma of a pipe? <Answer>

 

Refurbishing and Estate Pipes (Back to Top)

  1. Is it really necessary to sanitize estate pipes? How do you sanitize a pipe stem? <Answer>
  2. Is there a quick and easy way to sanitize an estate pipe stem? <Answer>
  3. What are the basic steps of refinishing and restaining pipes? <Answer>
  4. Can chips and dents in pipes be repaired? <Answer>
  5. I buy lots of estate pipes. Should I have them refurbished? <Answer>
  6. How can I get rid of the nasty smell in an estate pipe? <Answer>
  7. What is the best way to clean oxidation from a pipe stem? <Answer>

 

Smoking Technique (Back to Top)

  1. Why does my pipe "gurgle" (or why am I such a "wet" smoker), and what can I do about it? <Answer>
  2. What is the purpose of "breaking in" and/or "resting" a pipe? <Answer>
  3. Is it really necessary to rest the briar between smokes? <Answer>
  4. Will smoking in cold weather damage my pipe? <Answer>
  5. How can I keep tobacco from clogging the stem of my pipe? <Answer>
  6. What is carbon cake and how long does it take to develop? <Answer>
  7. Why do pipe smokers occasionally cover the bowl with their fingers while puffing on their pipes? <Answer>
  8. Should I smoke the entire bowl all the way to the bottom? <Answer>
  9. How do you recommend breaking-in a new pipe? <Answer>
  10. When time is limited, should I pack a full bowl and relight it throughout the day or should I pack only small bowls that are smoked entirely? <Answer>
  11. What is tongue bite? What causes tongue bite? What can be done to prevent or relieve tongue bite? <Answer>
  12. What causes a pipe to smoke too hotly? <Answer>
  13. I'm having difficulty packing or filling my bowl using the Three-Layer Method. Can you offer any suggestions or advice? <Answer>
  14. What are the benefits of dedicating a pipe to a specific tobacco blend? <Answer>
  15. How important is it to develop carbon cake at the very bottom of the bowl? <Answer>
  16. I'm having trouble smoking to the bottom of the bowl and can't develop cake in the heel of my pipe. Can you offer any tips or advice? <Answer>
  17. Is it a bad idea to smoke more than one tobacco in the same pipe? <Answer>

 

Tobacco (Back to Top)

  1. How long will tobacco keep? Does it have an "expiration date"? <Answer>
  2. What is the recommended storage container for pipe tobacco? <Answer>
  3. Is there a specific tobacco I should use to break in my pipes? <Answer>
  4. What is the ideal moisture level for pipe tobacco? Or does it really matter? <Answer>
  5. How can I tell if my tobacco is too wet or too dry? <Answer>
  6. How do I rehydrate tobacco that is too dry? <Answer>
  7. How do I dry tobacco that is too wet or moist? <Answer>
  8. How do I keep tobacco hydrated when it's in a pouch for travel? <Answer>
  9. What are "Lakeland" tobaccos? <Answer>
  10. What are some of your own favorite tobaccos? <Answer>
  11. Can tobacco permanently affect the flavor or aroma of a pipe? <Answer>

 

Tools and Equipment (Back to Top)

  1. What kind of buffing machine do you use for working on pipes? <Answer>
  2. What are the specifications for a buffing machine used for pipes? <Answer>
  3. What type of buffing wheels should I use with a buffing machine? <Answer>
  4. How do I clean buffing wheels? <Answer>
  5. Can you recommend a product to polish and preserve a pipe stem for someone without a buffing machine? <Answer>
  6. What type of reamer do you recommend for removing excess carbon cake from a pipe bowl? <Answer>