QuoteBXgreenhorn - 3/29/2012 12:26 PM
QuoteROTHNH - 3/28/2012 2:49 PM
Glad you're enjoying your new pipe, Angel.
All pipes take some time to "break in." Again, it is well worth your time to look into how to break your pipe in properly.
Thanks Rich, I did read a couple of articles online. I've smoked full bowl all the way down. I've tryed to smoke slow not to over heat the pipe. I've let the pipe cool down before cleaning it. I would appreciate any other advice you can give me 
You're welcome
Only a couple things come to mind ATM ...
Glad you're waiting for the pipe to cool before cleaning. Be gentle when cleaning your pipe ... try to avoid using sharp blades and leave the "cake" alone. The cake is a carbonized charred wood layer that develops inside the briar bowl over time -- a good thing. But at some point, the cake will become too thick and, if not removed to the recommended thickness, the cake can cause the briar bowl to crack. You can check the guides on line here for specific details to best preserve your enjoyment and protect your investment.
I don't use anything but a soft cloth or clean paper towel dampened with water to clean the exterior surfaces of the bowl and stem. The only exception is some of my pipes (a few of my Petersons are good examples) have pure silver bands on them, so if I am taking one of those pipes out of the house, I will use a small dab of silver paste to clean the band.
I always run a pipe cleaner through after cleaning the bowl and before racking the pipe. I usually use the Dill bristle type.
If you're smoking your one pipe more than a few times a week, and you really are enjoying smoking a pipe, you probably should invest in a couple more pipes and rotate them so your pipes all have plenty of time to dry and air out. You don't have to spend a lot of money on pipes ... if a corn cob isn't your thing, go with some "bin pipes" or "seconds," or reduced price/discontinued pipes usually available at any good tobacconist. The reality of life is (assuming there are no cracks or defects in the wood) that briar is briar ... prices are higher for exceptional quality of the design and manufacture, the grain (such as straight horizontal, birds eye or burl) and such, but that does not mean an expensive pipe will necessarily smoke better than a bin pipe ... I have pipes that range in price of what I paid from $1.00 to hundreds of dollars, yet I still very much enjoy my Dr. Grabow and Kaywoodie pipes that I bought wrapped with two pouches of Carter Hall or Prince Albert for $5.00 over 40 years ago as much as any pipe I own.
