How to Care for a Pipe

Examine your pipe when it is cool and empty. Blow down the stem and gauge how much airflow is coming out of the bowl. A common issue with pipes is that the carbonized tobacco that lines the bowl of the pipe becomes too thick and disrupts the airflow -- affecting your ability to burn your tobacco easily and evenly.

Measure the "cake" layer of carbonized tobacco lining the bowl of your pipe. For the best smoking experience, you will need to have a layer of about a sixteenth of an inch -- roughly the height of a dime. If you have a thicker layer of cake, you should trim it. This will give you a better smoking experience and prevent the expanding cake from cracking your pipe bowl.

Trim the layer of cake with a smoker's knife or reaming tool. You can do this by simply scraping the layer of carbonized tobacco until it reaches the desired thickness. Be careful not to scrape off too much cake -- that will reduce your smoking enjoyment and could damage your pipe.

Knock out any carbonized tobacco residue you have scraped off. Be very careful to always knock your pipe out while holding it by the bowl -- never the stem. If you knock out your pipe while holding the stem, you risk snapping off the stem. To further protect your pipe, knock it out against a non-rigid substance. Many pipe smokers have a cork inside their ashtray for exactly that purpose.

Clean the stem of your pipe with a pipe cleaner and solvent. Simply soak a pipe cleaner in solvent and run it through the stem and shank. This will remove any residue built up inside the stem that can affect airflow. Unlike the bowl of the pipe itself, a base layer of carbonized tobacco is not necessary or desirable in the stem itself. Leave your pipe to dry before smoking it again.

Smoke using a few best practices, which will help prolong the life of your pipe and improve your smoking experience. Always use a wooden match or gas pipe lighter to light your tobacco. Be sure not to pack your tobacco too tightly, as this can cause it to burn unevenly and too hotly. Never refill your pipe while it is still warm, as the additional heat can cause the bowl to crack. Many pipe smokers have two or more pipes so they can enjoy one at the same time as caring for and maintaining the other.