Popular Pipe Preferences
Purchasing a pipe is like buying a
car or a good suit. You search for quality, and you also make sure it’s a good
fit for you and your lifestyle. You don’t mind paying a bit more for quality
and craftsmanship, but you don’t want to get ripped off either. When purchasing
a new pipe, you should consider the following criteria.
Most pipes are made of briar, a
hard Mediterranean-grown wood that chars, but is resistant to burning. Briar is
porous, which means it will burn relatively cool. Older briar usually has more
porosity and is therefore lighter in weight. Older, well-cured briar is more
expensive. There are interesting and less expensive pipes made of cherry or
olive wood, but these are softer than briar and won’t hold up as well for a
primary pipe.
Meerschaum (magnesium silica),
which means “sea foam” in German, is a white material found primarily in Turkey
that is often carved into busts or other designs. A unique feature of
meerschaum pipes is that they change color over time as they are smoked,
gradually transforming from white, to tan, to brown, and eventually to a dark
chocolate color. Meerschaum pipes are fragile and must be handled carefully.
They should only be thought of as a pipe for the smoker who has a selection of
briars already.
Other pipes you’ll come across are
inexpensive corncobs. Since they are very absorbent, they tend to become rank
and are not an ideal choice for long-term smoking. Clay pipes smoke hot and are
fragile. You should exclude them for anything but historical reenactments. For
all practical purposes, briar is the material to choose for your initial pipe
purchase. Next month we’ll delve into briar finishes, grain patterns, and pipe
shapes.
