TOB Magazine

TOBACCO BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

MARCH/APRIL 2016

t’s a fact that many retailers fail to

capitalize on: pipe smokers need

more than tobacco—they just don’t

always know it.Helping them understand

the importance of maintaining their

pipes properly is a win-win. They’ll be

able to maintain the original beauty

of their pipes and enhance their pipe-

smoking experience, and you’ll be able

to sell them the means to do it. These

items include pipe cleaners, polishers,

penknives, reamers and buffers.

Saving Stems and Shanks

Given that this is the part of the pipe

that actually goes in a pipe smoker’s

mouth, it’s a good idea to run a pipe

cleaner through the stem and shank of a

pipe after every bowl smoked to remove

loose soot and tar from the mouthpiece.

A more thorough cleaning on a regular

basis—once a month for regular

smokers—should also be part of the

pipe maintenance regimen.That involves

dipping a pipe cleaner in alcohol before

using it to scrub out debris. If the exterior

of the stem is looking dull, beeswax or

another natural polisher will help restore

the luster.

Bowl Care

Care for the bowl of a pipe varies

depending on preference. Some pipe

smokers like the accumulation of

tobacco leftovers in the bowl, feeling

that it helps the pipe burn cooler.

Pipe experts will tell you that this

is a myth—the bowl simply feels

cooler to your hand because of this

extra lining; the tobacco burns at the

same temperature. But sometimes

perception is reality. Regardless, a

little “cake,” as this buildup is called,

will protect the bowl against burning.

However, too much cake may

eventually crack a pipe’s bowl, since

carbon expands quicker than briar.

That’s where another tool comes into

play: a penknife or reamer. Be sure to

caution your customers to read and

follow the instructions that come with

their reamers to avoid damaging their

bowls. For those who opt for a penknife,

the best method is to place the blade

in the bowl so that both edges of the

blade have contact with the cake, then

gently rotate it to shave the cake down.

Pressing the sharp point of a cleaning

instrument into the bottom of the bowl

will damage the pipe. Leaving a little

cake in place will help minimize the

risk of damage. If you prefer to keep

a cleaner bowl, use a paper towel to

remove cake after each use of your pipe.

Again, beeswax or another polisher

can be used on the exterior of a bowl.

Caution your pipe-smoking customers

against using water or alcohol on the

exteriors of their pipes, as it will dry

out the wood.

Avoiding Damage

While not delicate, pipes can be

damaged if they fall onto a hard

surface or into water. Advise customers

to handle their pipes with the same

caution they would use with their

cellphones. You probably know that

putting a cellphone in the same pocket

as your car keys is courting disaster—

the same is true for a pipe. Suggest

that your pipe-smoking customers who

carry their pipes in their pocket invest

in a pouch to safeguard it from damage.

Likewise, water and sunlight can both

cause discoloration and damage to

the finish, so caution them to avoid

prolonged exposure to either of those.

Finally,more serious pipe enthusiasts

may want to consider a buffer or other

more advanced equipment for pipe

care. These can be marketed as a way

of prolonging the life of a favorite

pipe, or by protecting the investment

in a pricey pipe. Generally speaking,

the proper tools and taking the time

for a little care will go a long way and

add to your customers’ overall smoking

experience.

TBI

Pipe Care 101

Educating your customers about how to care

for their pipes is a selling opportunity.