How to Repair a Briar Pipe

Briar pipes are the most common pipes made of wood. They are made from the French Bruyere tree, which has a particular type of wood that withstands fire and also retains moisture. However, pipes made out of briar have a tendency to fail over time and repeated smoking. The most usual type of damage occurs when the inner walls of the bowl form a carbon cake from too many smokes. This can create a hole in the pipe bowl over time.

Things You'll Need

• Pipe reamer tool
• Honey
• Small paintbrush
• Whiskey or any drinkable alcohol

Instructions

1. Find the cracks on the inside of the bowl. If the inside walls of the bowl are swollen from carbon, scrape it by using your pipe tool. Ideally, a carbon cake should be about the width of a dime.

2. Smooth the walls of the bowl with your tool. Apply the honey to the cracks, and then coat the entire inside wall with honey using your paintbrush.

3. Pack the pipe lightly with tobacco, and have a smoke.

4. Let the pipe cool down, then take it apart. Pour 1/2 shot of whiskey or any drinkable alcohol into the bowl and swirl. Let it air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not like the taste of honey, you can use sculptor's clay to cover the cracks.

• If the carbon cake has passed to the outer wall, discard the pipe.

• Always wait until the pipe has cooled down completely before handling.

• Have different pipes to smoke. Once you finished smoking one, let it cool down and use another one for your next smoke. The constant use of a single pipe can cause damage to the bowl.

• Always use drinkable alcohol, such as everclear, whiskey or gin.

References

• Briar Pipe Repairs: Home Remedies