Tips for Choosing a Pipe (beginners)

Parts of a pipe
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Bc...quBzwFZKvNA8bE
Heel is the forward part of the bottom of the bowl.

Technical cuts

• Draught hole should enter the chamber centered and flush to the bottom.
• Mortise and tenon should fit firmly and flush so that there’s no gap or air leakage.
• Chamber should be centered with sufficient bowl wall thickness of >= 3/16”.
• Heel thickness equals the bowl height less chamber depth and it should be ~3/16”.

Tests (need one standard pipe cleaner)

• Take the pipe apart and look through the stem and then the bowl (towards a light source) and there should be no obstruction,
• Run the cleaner through the pipe from the button to the chamber. It should move smoothly and without obstruction.
• Measure the bowl height with the pipe cleaner and compare it to the chamber depth to insure that it’s ~3/16” (as above). You can approximate wall thickness in the same manner.

Smoking considerations

• If you’re unsure whether you hand hold or clench, default to the latter until you know your habits. For clenching smokers, pipe weight (less) and balance (more) are important considerations..
• If you’re just beginning, start with a moderate size pipe.