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Martian · 11-29-2010, 04:53 PM

You should allow your pipe to rest for at least 24 hours between smokes regardless of whether you clean it or not. This may dictate a functional minimum number of pipes you'll need. I tend to use an n+1 rule -- so if I smoke twice per day, I should have three pipes. Since in practice I generally only smoke once per day and have three pipes I'm in good shape there. When I was unemployed I smoked more often, since I had more time, but there's no such thing as too many pipes.

If your pipe does sour (and you'll know when it happens) you will want to rest it for at least a week. You can get pipe treatments, but they're not recommended since they generally just mask the problem rather than fix it.

There's an argument to be made that not cleaning your pipe will allow the cake to build up faster, but a consistent cake is as important if not moreso than a thick one. In fact, if your cake is too thick it can cause problems of it's own. There's also the matter of all the unpleasant crud that builds up in the shank and stem; pipe tobacco is still tobacco and still contains all the nastiness that we all hear about tobacco containing. It'll clog up your stem if you don't run a pipe cleaner through it regularly.

So I don't care what random youtube guy says. Clean your pipe.

Pipes don't have to be expensive. You can get corncobs for less than $10 and they're perfectly serviceable. If you insist on briars estate pipes are also generally able to be had for cheap, though I'd avoid any that need work unless you have experience in that area.

I've had flavoured tobaccos -- peach, orange, vanilla, chocolate -- but I don't prefer them. A nice aromatic is my tobacco of preference. My favourite to date is a house blend called Khyber Pass. Unfortunately unless you're willing to come to Toronto you won't be able to get it.

11-29-2010, 04:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	You should allow your pipe to rest for at least 24 hours between smokes regardless of whether you clean it or not. This may dictate a functional minimum number of pipes you'll need. I tend to use an n+1 rule -- so if I smoke twice per day, I should have three pipes. Since in practice I generally only smoke once per day and have three pipes I'm in good shape there. When I was unemployed I smoked more often, since I had more time, but there's no such thing as too many pipes. If your pipe does sour (and you'll know when it happens) you will want to rest it for at least a week. You can get pipe treatments, but they're not recommended since they generally just mask the problem rather than fix it. There's an argument to be made that not cleaning your pipe will allow the cake to build up faster, but a consistent cake is as important if not moreso than a thick one. In fact, if your cake is too thick it can cause problems of it's own. There's also the matter of all the unpleasant crud that builds up in the shank and stem; pipe tobacco is still tobacco and still contains all the nastiness that we all hear about tobacco containing. It'll clog up your stem if you don't run a pipe cleaner through it regularly. So I don't care what random youtube guy says. Clean your pipe. Pipes don't have to be expensive. You can get corncobs for less than $10 and they're perfectly serviceable. If you insist on briars estate pipes are also generally able to be had for cheap, though I'd avoid any that need work unless you have experience in that area. I've had flavoured tobaccos -- peach, orange, vanilla, chocolate -- but I don't prefer them. A nice aromatic is my tobacco of preference. My favourite to date is a house blend called Khyber Pass. Unfortunately unless you're willing to come to Toronto you won't be able to get it. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame