moving from big bowl pipes to small...

loki · 07-08-2009, 09:33 PM

I started out like most people do "oh look at all this pipe i'm getting for the money. HUGE BOWL = WIN!" and I've now seemed to progress to the other end of the spectrum and I'm now looking for smaller bowl pipes. In looking at what I have in the racks I have mostly large bowl VA/VAPER pipes and small bowl english pipes and that worked great for a few years. But now I don't have the time, or sometimes I just get bored with smoking one blend for hours on end, hence where the smaller bowls come in.

I'm sitting here looking at my racks and realizing there are pipes that I haven't smoked in quite a few months, some because they don't smoke well others because I just look at them and go, "I don't want to smoke this much of a va blend today". yes I know I can just load less into the pipe but there comes a point where I can either load up a full bowl of english in a 1950's Kaywoodie or I can load a 1/2 bowl of VA into a Stanwell horn and 9/10 I'm reaching for the smaller woodie. Now I just need to find me some smaller bowl pipes to smoke VA/vaper in or try and change and smoke the english out of them.

so whats the point to this post, I'm not sure I have one other then it's wednesday night and I'm feeling a bit pipe reflective after coming up empty on ebay. However, I wonder if my experiences may help other new smokers. I know it's tempting to go out and grab that massive bowl freehand that your shop has over the smaller bowl pipe but sometimes it's worth it to downsize. I was talking with the pipe guy at my local shop and he's in the same boat as I am, he's got a whole rack (course his rack is much bigger then mine) of pipes he doesn't smoke because they're too big for him so yes it happens to more people then just myself and in talking to other long term smokers too. So new guys take this as you will and happy puffin

NCRadioMan · 07-08-2009, 09:38 PM

I know what you mean, Kevin. I have a semi-churchwarden that is perfect for a 15-20 min smoke. Check them out!

loki · 07-08-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I know what you mean, Kevin. I have a semi-churchwarden that is perfect for a 15-20 min smoke. Check them out!

I've really gotten into the older woodies, great old briar, smoke great, and just the right bowl size. I must have 4 or 5 now and that's what really got me to this realization. I'll have to check out others that have the a similar bowl size

Professor Mike · 07-09-2009, 09:09 AM

Kevin:
Same senario here. Bigger is not always better

Alpedhuez55 · 07-09-2009, 10:25 AM

I think big bowls are OK sometimes, but the can lead to a lot of wasted tobacco since on some it can be tough to get to the bottom of the bowl.

Cobs are good for short smokes. I have heard good things about the Baby Bents at Pipes and Cigars:

http://store.pipesandcigars.com/babybentpipes.html

I have a few pipes with small bowls that are great for a 15-20 minute smoke. One is a Peterson, a small Boswell and couple of others are basket pipes. One of the backet pipes, a small Bulldog, is actually an exceptional smoker.

GreekGodX · 07-09-2009, 11:12 AM

I have a good mixture of pipes with big and small bowls. If I'm trying a new blend of something I reach for my smaller bowls. My favs get a big bowl. I like to spend a lot of time with my favorites so it works out good. I definitely find tho the smaller pipes smoke a little better for me.

07-09-2009, 11:53 AM

When I started smoking (mearely 1 year ago), I read some veteran smoker's text about tobaccos and pipe shapes.
Besides the generic "flakes into narrow pipes", "virginias into thick walls" advises, I remember him stating that he always used smaller bowl pipes for smoking virginias, because by the end of the bowl the virginias would show all their splendor and he wanted to get there faster and more often, so even if he was in the mood for a long smoke, having two smaller bowls was better then having one big bowl...

I've followed those thumb rules, and virginias go in smaller pipes, while english blends (which are the ones I smoke the most) go into bigger bowls.

Also, I tend to choose the shape of the pipe according to some personal habits. For instance: I usually smoke virginias as the first pipe of the day, while taking breakfast or already at my working desk... so, a sitter comes very handy, because I'm multi-tasking and being able to put the pipe down anywhere is good.
One of my next buys will probably be a full-bent or 3/4 bent for english blends, which I smoke normally after dinner, while typing and surfing the web, and I need to keep my hands free.
These personal preferences are, in my opinion, the best way to choose which blend a pipe gets dedicated to. If, as an example, you like to smoke your churchwarden while reading, and if you read after dinner, then dedicate the churchwarden to the stuff you usually smoke after dinner.

BigFrank · 07-12-2009, 07:55 PM

Peterson makes a nice tankard shape that I love, small bowl.

07-08-2009, 09:33 PM	#1
loki H.A.T.E Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh pa Posts: 1,484 Trading: (7)	moving from big bowl pipes to small... I started out like most people do "oh look at all this pipe i'm getting for the money. HUGE BOWL = WIN!" and I've now seemed to progress to the other end of the spectrum and I'm now looking for smaller bowl pipes. In looking at what I have in the racks I have mostly large bowl VA/VAPER pipes and small bowl english pipes and that worked great for a few years. But now I don't have the time, or sometimes I just get bored with smoking one blend for hours on end, hence where the smaller bowls come in. I'm sitting here looking at my racks and realizing there are pipes that I haven't smoked in quite a few months, some because they don't smoke well others because I just look at them and go, "I don't want to smoke this much of a va blend today". yes I know I can just load less into the pipe but there comes a point where I can either load up a full bowl of english in a 1950's Kaywoodie or I can load a 1/2 bowl of VA into a Stanwell horn and 9/10 I'm reaching for the smaller woodie. Now I just need to find me some smaller bowl pipes to smoke VA/vaper in or try and change and smoke the english out of them. so whats the point to this post, I'm not sure I have one other then it's wednesday night and I'm feeling a bit pipe reflective after coming up empty on ebay. However, I wonder if my experiences may help other new smokers. I know it's tempting to go out and grab that massive bowl freehand that your shop has over the smaller bowl pipe but sometimes it's worth it to downsize. I was talking with the pipe guy at my local shop and he's in the same boat as I am, he's got a whole rack (course his rack is much bigger then mine) of pipes he doesn't smoke because they're too big for him so yes it happens to more people then just myself and in talking to other long term smokers too. So new guys take this as you will and happy puffin

07-08-2009, 09:38 PM	#2
NCRadioMan Chutney Lovebusciut Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chutney Location: On the shores of Loch Shiel Posts: 4,275 Trading: (66)	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... I know what you mean, Kevin. I have a semi-churchwarden that is perfect for a 15-20 min smoke. Check them out! __________________ The path to loyalty is trust.

07-09-2009, 09:09 AM	#4
Professor Mike Still Watching My Back Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Springdale ,Arkansas Posts: 106 Trading: (2)	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... Kevin: Same senario here. Bigger is not always better __________________ Nobody Dies A Virgin,Life Screws Us All !!!

07-09-2009, 10:25 AM	#5
Alpedhuez55 Fat Bastard Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Michael Location: Taylors, SC Posts: 115 Trading: (8)	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... I think big bowls are OK sometimes, but the can lead to a lot of wasted tobacco since on some it can be tough to get to the bottom of the bowl. Cobs are good for short smokes. I have heard good things about the Baby Bents at Pipes and Cigars: http://store.pipesandcigars.com/babybentpipes.html I have a few pipes with small bowls that are great for a 15-20 minute smoke. One is a Peterson, a small Boswell and couple of others are basket pipes. One of the backet pipes, a small Bulldog, is actually an exceptional smoker.

07-09-2009, 11:12 AM	#6
GreekGodX Opa!! Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Christos Location: 7 Line Posts: 4,893 Trading: (82)	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... I have a good mixture of pipes with big and small bowls. If I'm trying a new blend of something I reach for my smaller bowls. My favs get a big bowl. I like to spend a lot of time with my favorites so it works out good. I definitely find tho the smaller pipes smoke a little better for me. __________________ "If I give a businessman 10,000 francs, what is that to him, he is rich. But if I give him a Cohiba cigar, that is style."-Hotel Rwanda

07-09-2009, 11:53 AM	#7
Requiem Guest Posts: n/a	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... When I started smoking (mearely 1 year ago), I read some veteran smoker's text about tobaccos and pipe shapes. Besides the generic "flakes into narrow pipes", "virginias into thick walls" advises, I remember him stating that he always used smaller bowl pipes for smoking virginias, because by the end of the bowl the virginias would show all their splendor and he wanted to get there faster and more often, so even if he was in the mood for a long smoke, having two smaller bowls was better then having one big bowl... I've followed those thumb rules, and virginias go in smaller pipes, while english blends (which are the ones I smoke the most) go into bigger bowls. Also, I tend to choose the shape of the pipe according to some personal habits. For instance: I usually smoke virginias as the first pipe of the day, while taking breakfast or already at my working desk... so, a sitter comes very handy, because I'm multi-tasking and being able to put the pipe down anywhere is good. One of my next buys will probably be a full-bent or 3/4 bent for english blends, which I smoke normally after dinner, while typing and surfing the web, and I need to keep my hands free. These personal preferences are, in my opinion, the best way to choose which blend a pipe gets dedicated to. If, as an example, you like to smoke your churchwarden while reading, and if you read after dinner, then dedicate the churchwarden to the stuff you usually smoke after dinner.

07-12-2009, 07:55 PM	#8
BigFrank 5 3 1 Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Gym or Sofa. Posts: 1,896 Trading: (25)	Re: moving from big bowl pipes to small... Peterson makes a nice tankard shape that I love, small bowl. __________________ " Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment. "