Best blend for building cake..........nothing that ghosts!

Penzance

I have several new briars, all home builds. Naturally, the first few bowls will be far less than great. What is a good "break-in" tobacco (non aromatics here please) to readily build cake? Ive had decent luck with burly forward blends but what other success stories can be shared?

judandhispipe

I am fond of Lane RR to break in a pipe.Lots of folks favor Carter Hall.

thewanderingdude

Prince Albert and Carter Hall are go great for breaking in pipes. I also use Dunhill EMP when a change of pace is needed.

peterd

judandhispipe

Mixture 79 is topped. I wouldn't consider using that,myself.

tomatobodhi

Half and Half will ghost a bowl like nobody's business!

Granger, Prince Albert, and Carter Hall are all pretty safe and commonly recommended for breaking in pipes.

Woodsman

PA or Carter Hall, I'm breaking In a new HS studio with CH as we speak.

PhiloBeddoe

I break in my pipes with C&D's Briar Fox. Simple Virginia, no topping easy smoke, though I don't allow any cake in my pipes, I carbonize the bowl and that's it, no thickness of cake whatsoever.

Watchmaker61

Prince Albert no question...

daveinlax

Just smoke what you like, the cake will come in time. I'd avoid any of the chemical laden aromatic's listed and pictured unless you like them because they contain way to much PG to promote a hard cake. IMO cake is over rated anyway.

jh92084ca

I usually break a pipe in by smoking the tobacco type that I will be smoking the most of.  I have a few dedicated pipes other than that my taste buds may be gone because I hardly detect ghosting after I have smoked about 4 oz of pipe tobacco in a pipe.  But with that said, I have pipes for aromatics, english, etc.

dstrib

I usually use Carter hall

SMDennis

I'm breaking in my latest briar with Frog Morton on the Town. I'm in a couple of bowls and so far so good.

drac2485

I finally tried Prince Albert after a several years of being in the pipe smoking world.  I didn't try to use it to break in a pipe as I normally just smoke whatever I am in the mood for in any of my pipes, new or not.  I did however find PA to be a nice smoke and smoked it in new pipe to find that it built a light cake quickly and left no shadow.  I am now a huge fan of PA for breaking in pipes and in general as a decent smoke.

Tictacbird

I like C&D Cube Cut Burley. Smokes slow ands builds good cake.

frushour007

Carter Hall is my favorite for breaking in a pipe.

paulwansing

@drac2485 PA was my first smoke in a pipe and remains with me to this day.  I agree it cakes well and is a great burley.

riobrusa

I break in my pipes with the tobacco that I usually smoke, Balkan Sasieni or Super Balkan. Anyway, don't use any aromatic at my break in process.

piperdave

My latest pipe I broke in with Peter Stokkebye - Cube Cut and it is building some good cake. There is some Cavendish in the blend but I wouldn't consider it an aro.

Alpedhuez55

I use Carter Hall as well

Glfjunke

Burley blends,Golden Extra,Carter Hall, Lane Ready Rub (Edgeworth)

motie2

<< What will build cake is burning right up against the bowl walls throughout the duration of the smoke. How does one insure this happens? The Orange Ring Technique is a method of keeping the outer ring of the tobacco burning. To do this, one must tamp and relight often, keeping the flame around the outer edges of the tobacco. One should lightly push some of the unburned tobacco towards the outside of the plug to maximize the outer ring's combustibility. Tamp very lightly and in a circular motion. If you do this correctly, you will see a bright orange ring in your pipe after you relight. Do not look for the usual glowing ember in the center. After a few minutes, let the pipe go out and slightly cool. Lightly tamp in a circular motion to flatten the ash and gently push some unburned tobacco to the outer ring of the plug. Light your pipe with the flame walking around the outer edges and then check for the Orange Ring. Try to get a complete circle of orange to avoid uneven cake buildup and  hot spots that will damage the bowl.>> ~ Source unknown

PappyJoe

I've been breaking in my new Rinaldo by smoking it once a day using Davidoff's Danish Mixture. After 3 days it had a thin layer from top to bottom. 

dbh1950

A friend being a pipe and tobacco shop owner, advised me on breaking in a new pipe. Start with a non-aromatic tobacco, Burley or Virginia based, with no strong added flavorings. Some pipes are pre-carbonized to help with the break in, I have used a little spit, in most cases, and have used honey when breaking in corn cob pipes. My friend stressed to only fill the bowl halfway on the first few bowls, this helps eliminate the usual wet dottle that collects in the bottom of the bowl. This has worked for me in breaking in the many pipes I have acquired over the years. One caution, regardless of the method of breakin, watch for hot spots on the bowls, no puffing like a steam train in other words.