Despite the fact that smoking is considered a very harmful activity for both smokers themselves and for the people around them, and the government implements many government programs almost every year, the goal of which is to reduce the number of smokers, every year more and more people fall into the thrall of tobacco. As you know, most smokers prefer regular cigarettes, although we should not forget those gourmets who enjoy smoking pipes. For some, this is just a way to show originality, while others can only feel the real taste of tobacco. Today there are so many varieties of them, but briar pipes are considered one of the most popular options.
What is briar
Briard is a special material that is mined specifically for the production of smoking pipes. This material is a growth between the roots and trunk of Erica tree. Since this plant can be found in an area with a special climate, where winters are mild and summers are very dry, briarhas unique characteristics. The thing is that this very growth is used by plants to accumulate moisture and certain substances that the tree will need during the summer heat and drought.
Benefits
In addition to the above, it is worth paying special attention to the positive characteristics of the briar. So, these include the following properties of this wood:
- heat resistance due to the sufficient amount of silicon in its composition;
- relative lightness due to 620kg/m briar density3;
- high level of hygroscopicity (moisture absorption);
- high strength;
- low thermal conductivity;
- unusual appearance.
It is these advantages that have led to the widespread use of briar for the production of smoking pipes. The result is products of very high quality, the smoking of which gives indescribable pleasure to everyone who tries at least once.
History
Unfortunately, today there is no reliable information about when the briar pipe was first invented and who was its author. It is quite possible that such tubes appeared as early as the 18th - early 19th centuries, but there is no official confirmation or refutation of this. As for the facts known for certain, it can be stated with certainty that in 1825 such pipes were actively produced in the Parisian town of Saint-Claude. This is not surprising, since this town was famous throughout France and even Europe.by our woodworking masters.
Since then, the popularity of briar pipes has only increased, which has led to improvements in the technique of growing, harvesting and processing this wood. The most interesting is the fact that some technologies for working with this material have been preserved in their original form even today.
Device
Regardless of when (in the 19th century or in our time) and what material the smoking pipe was made of, it has the same device, which, by the way, is very simple. It consists of two parts: a mouthpiece and a stamel. The stammel is the wooden part of the pipe that contains the tobacco bowl. This is exactly the large and round part of the tube, which all the characters in the movies hold on to so elegantly.
The second part is the mouthpiece, which performs the function of a cigarette, because through the smoke channel the smoker has the opportunity to draw tobacco and enjoy the smoke. Between themselves, the mouthpiece and the stammel are connected through a trunnion (the end of the mouthpiece), which is inserted into a special groove on the stammel called a mortiza. Based on the fact that this connection is quite strong, the smoke does not disappear from the smoke channel and the tobacco does not lose its properties over time.
Later briar pipes with a meerschaum insert began to be produced. It is placed in the smoking bowl in order to give the tobacco an unusual flavor profile. The main advantage of meerschaum tubesis that they can be made in almost any shape, making each individual piece a true work of art.
Production
The process of making briar pipes for smoking is a rather painstaking task, which includes 12 main steps. Each of them requires a certain professionalism and skills in order to get a high quality result.
So, the production of briar pipes begins with the selection of raw material. Woodworking masters select manually, choosing only the wood that has no visible flaws. The selected samples are then doused with boiling water to expel all insects, and placed in well-ventilated rooms for a period of about 6 months. After that, blanks are made from wood, which affect the future appearance of briar pipes. After all, it is from these blanks that bowls are made, in which tobacco chambers are then drilled.
After that, experienced pipe makers sort all finished bowls according to the principle of high-quality processing and appropriate appearance. Each bowl has a custom mouthpiece to achieve the sealing effect mentioned earlier.
After that, the elements of the briar pipes are painted, dried and polished to a shine. The final touch of the production of smoking pipes is the application of the manufacturer's company stamp on the pipe, ready for use.
Care
Given the fact that the briar pipe is adesires of many smokers, it is worth mentioning separately the rules for caring for it. So, the main recommendations for using the tube are as follows:
- Store the product in a special case or a place protected from sunlight.
- It is advisable to systematically polish the bowl with a cloth to maintain its original shine.
- Regularly you need to clean the smoke channel with special brushes.
- The interval between smoking sessions should be about a day.
- Ashes need to be beaten out carefully; the ideal option is to tap the pipe against something soft so as not to damage the outside of the bowl.
Conclusion
A briar pipe is far from a luxury, but rather a stylish accessory for smoking. If you want to take tobacco smoking to the next level and add style to such an activity, then such an unusual pipe is a win-win option. The ability to smoke through special wood with excellent properties will not leave you indifferent. Whether it's a regular pipe or a briar pipe with a meerschaum insert, the feedback from true connoisseurs has always been overwhelmingly positive. In conclusion, we can safely say that it can be both a great purchase for yourself, and a great gift option for a person who enjoys smoking.
