A Chat With the Smoker

Briar Pipes

The prevalent Idea amongst smokers is that when a pipe burns the fault is entirely in the briar. So far from this being the case. It may be entirely due to one or more of the following causes:

1. The dryness of the new pipe making it smoke hot and liable to burn—

To season or to make a new briar pipe smoke cool, pass cold water with sugar or honey added through bowl and stem before smoking it, or, if time permits, fill the bowl with this solution and let it rest for an hour or so. It should then be smoked slowly until a protective layer of carbon has formed Inside the bowl to avoid the risk of charring the briar.

2. Filling tobacco too loosely in the bowl and quick smoking, caus-it to flame instead of smoulder. This applies more especially to very dry tobacco—

For the first dozen smokes, please fill your pipe as tightly with tobacco as possible and more so towards the stem side of the bowl. Light up evenly and well. Press down the lighted tobacco after the first pull or so.

3. Smoking in the open in windy weather, producing a forced drought on one portion of the bowl—

To those who are obliged to smoke while driving, motoring, etc., a pipe cover is recommended.

Similarly cracking of the briar may be due to:

1. Allowing a surplus "caking" of the bowl; the outward expansion of the "cake" when the pipe in cooling being more powerful than the Internal contraction of the briar, causing the latter to crack.

This often occurs when a heavily carboned pipe is being rested. The accumulation of "cake" should be removed periodically, 1/16 in. thickness is a good margin to leave.

2. Emptying the pipe by knocking or hitting the top of the bowl (while still hot) against a hard substance will have a similar effect, although a pipe should be emptied Immediately after smoking.

Heavy knocking of a pipe should be avoided as much as possible.

To clean a pipe, an ordinary woolly cleaner is best, dipped in methylated spirit.

Always remove mouthpiece by gripping same close to the Juncture of bowl and mouthpiece, to avoid undue strain on the stem and possible breakage of the push or spigot.

Heavy smokers should always keep three or four pipes in use alternately. This ensures long life to your briar and pleasurable smoking.

Smokers must bear in mind that briar root, being wood, is of its very nature combustible and therefore, cannot be [unclear: absohcly] guaranteed against burning.