This shape may originally have been a popular choice for “basket” pipes made of cherry wood, which some say is the the origin of the name. Higher quality pipes are made in a labour-intensive hand shaping process.12 Traditionally, clay pipes are unglazed. Clays burn “hot” in comparison to other types of pipes, so they are often difficult for most pipe-smokers to use.
As with other members of the Canadian family of pipes, the length of the shank should be about twice the height of its Billiard shaped bowl. The Cherrywood is one of the few shapes that is always a “sitter,” having a flat bottom. Handmade Brandys typically display an even more voluptuous base which tapers more dramatically, on account of not being limited to the abilities of a machine to form their shape. Shanks are usually round, can be straight or slightly bent, and are usually fitted with a tapered stem, bent from 1/4 – 3/4. All in all the Brandy has a classic, sophisticated appearance with a wonderful feel in hand. The size of a pipe, particularly the bowl, depends largely on what is intended to be smoked in it.
Large western-style tobacco pipes are used for strong-tasting, harsh tobaccos, the smoke from which is usually not inhaled. Smaller pipes such as the midwakh or kiseru are used to inhale milder tobaccos such as dokha and kizami or other substances Fashion tobacco pipe such as cannabis and opium. With care, a briar pipe can last a very long time without burning out. However, due to aggressive (hot) smoking or imperfections in the wood, a hole can be burned in the tobacco chamber of the pipe. There are several methods used to help prevent a wood pipe from burning out. These generally involve coating the chamber with any of a variety of substances, or by gently smoking a new pipe to build up a cake (a mixture of ash, unburned tobacco, oils, sugars, and other residue) on the walls.
But, as most of you realize, this was Filling cut tobacco not yesterday, it was back in the day. Research also suggests that thirdhand smoke causes genetic damage that can increase the risk of developing cancer in the future. For example, studies in mice found increased risk for lung cancer and liver damage from thirdhand smoke.7 To learn more about thirdhand smoke, please see here. With this method, you’ll start the same by gravity filling the bowl with tobacco. Next, grab a large pinch of tobacco; in fact, you want more than what it seems like will fit into the pipe. Place the large pinch on the bowl, using your thumb on the opposite hand to hold it in place.
One internet post said that pipe smoking declined as many pipe smokers were purchasing the wrong pipes; those that were cheap and were being filled with inferior tobacco. Another friend asked how I could forget about my high school classmate who smoked pipes. This was evidenced by the words he wrote in my yearbook next to his photograph.