alPol05
Well-Known Member
I Smoked the Pipe Today
I "smoothed" the plaster/sand bowl liner using a dry Popsicle stick, leaving the surface rough. This was mostly to remove easily dislodged sand from the surface. The thin, wood base plate was trimmed to match the shape and angle of the base of the pipe.
Using my Cyprus Knee recipe for an English pipe blend (essentially Towers of Antioch plus Perique--37.5% Latakia), I packed the virgin pipe from the bottom to the top. My (correct) assumption was that the plaster/sand liner would require no break-in.
It smoked beautifully, down to a clean, dry ash at the bottom. The only "pipe" flavor appeared when the burning reached the exposed edge of bamboo stem. The exterior of the bowl (stalk) became about as hot to touch as some thinner-wall briar pipes, but never hot enough to discolor the dried stalk.
CONCLUSIONS:
Bob
- A 50:50 mixture of plaster of Paris and fine sand is fireproof, does not crack from the heat of burning tobacco, and can be used to line any part of a bowl interior, such as the soft bottom of a corncob.
- A substantial cornstalk segment works as a pipe, but requires a liner (such as the 50:50 mixture of plaster:sand) to prevent it from burning through.
Bob, I think you need to start making this type of pipes for sale.
Let us know where to send money!
Wiktor