Characteristics of a Wooden Pipe
- The basic construction of a tobacco pipe is comprised of five parts: bowl, stem, lip, shank and filter. The bowl is where the tobacco is packed and smoked. The smoke travels into the shank, which is the bend on the bottom half of the bowl that connects it the stem. The stem is the part that is held in the smoker's mouth, and the lip is the raised ring on the tip of the stem.
- A shoddy pipe is harder to smoke, and a common cause of frustration among novice pipe smokers. There a few qualities to consider when examining a pipe for purchase. First, check for well-aligned parts. There should be a smooth airway from bowl to stem. Misaligned parts let in air and moisture, which affect smoking quality. Metal filters, the use of fills (such as putty), and sealed varnish are all characteristics of poorly made pipes. Finally, check the weight. A good pipe is said to "feel lighter than it should." A lighter pipe is easier on the jaw muscles and teeth, making it an important characteristic to consider.
- A good pipe is one that looks as if it was made with care. The wood should have a tight, uniform grain and no visible sandpaper marks, uneven staining or bald spots in the wax finish. The draft hole for the bowl should be almost perfectly centered and end in the bottom of the bowl and not along the side. A good pipe is one you enjoy holding, looking at and, of course, smoking out of.
- An important, but misunderstood, characteristic of a wooden pipe is cost. Often, buyers assume that expensive pipes are good pipes. Knowing what your price range is for a wooden pipe is a great starting point. You want to buy the best pipe that you can afford. While many expensive pipes are good pipes, this is not a rule. Pipes are either good smokers or bad smokers. The quality of the pipe will depend on the structure and aesthetics of the piece and not its price. By knowing what characteristics to look for in a good pipe you will also know what its real worth is.