Despite the fact that smoking is considered a very harmful occupation both for smokers themselves and for people around them, and the government implements many state programs almost every year, the goal of which is to reduce the number of smokers, more and more people are captured by tobacco every year. As you know, most smokers prefer regular cigarettes, although you should not forget about 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 in this way. Today there are a lot of their varieties, but briar tubes 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 the trunk of Erica arborea. Since this plant can be found in areas with a special climate, where winters are mild and the summer period is very dry, the briar has unique characteristics. The thing is that this same growth is used by plants to accumulate moisture and certain substances that a 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, they include the following properties of this wood:
- heat resistance due to the sufficient amount of silicon in its composition;
- comparative ease due to the briar density of 620 kg / m 3 ;
- high level of hygroscopicity (moisture absorption);
- high strength;
- low level of thermal conductivity;
- unusual appearance.
It is these advantages that led to the fact that briar is widely used for the production of smoking pipes. The result is products of very high quality, the smoking of which gives an indescribable pleasure to anyone who at least once tastes.
History
Unfortunately, today there is no reliable information when the briar tube was first invented and who was its author. It is possible that such pipes appeared in the 18th - early 19th centuries, however, there is no official confirmation, as well as a refutation. As for the well-known facts, it is safe to say 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 for its woodworking masters.
Since then, the popularity of briar tubes has only increased, which has led to an improvement in the technique of growing, collecting 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 from what material the pipe was made, it has the same device, which, by the way, is very simple. It consists of two parts: a mouthpiece and a stammel. Stammel is called the wooden part of the pipe in which the tobacco bowl is located. This is precisely the large and round part of the tube for which all the movie characters so elegantly hold.
The second part is the mouthpiece, which serves as a cigarette, because through the smoke channel the smoker has the opportunity to pull tobacco and enjoy the smoke. Between themselves, the mouthpiece and the stammel are connected through a pin (the end of the mouthpiece), which is inserted into a special groove on the stammel called mortiza. Based on the fact that this compound is quite strong, smoke does not disappear from the smoke channel and tobacco does not lose its properties over time.
Later they began to produce briar tubes with a foam insert. It is placed in a smoking bowl in order to give tobacco unusual taste characteristics. The main advantage of foam tubes is that they can be made of almost any kind, which makes each individual product a real work of art.
Production
The manufacturing process of briar pipes for smoking is a rather painstaking task, which includes 12 main stages. Each of them requires a certain professionalism and skills in order for the result to be of high quality.
So, the production of briar smoking pipes begins with the selection of the source material. Woodworking masters select manually, choosing only the wood that does not have visible flaws. The selected samples are then poured 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 of wood that affect the future appearance of briar tubes. After all, it is from these blanks that the bowls are made, in which tobacco chambers are then drilled.
After that, experienced pipe smoking craftsmen sort all finished bowls according to the principle of quality processing and appropriate appearance. An individual mouthpiece is made for each bowl in order to achieve the tightness effect mentioned earlier.
After that, the elements of the briar tubes are painted, dried and polished to a shine. The final touch to the production of smoking pipes is the application of a manufacturer's stamp on a pipe that is ready for use.
Care
Given the fact that the briar pipe is the subject of desire of many smokers, it is worth mentioning separately the rules for caring for it. So, the main recommendations for the operation of the tube is the following:
- Store the product in a special case or in a place protected from sunlight.
- It is advisable to systematically polish the bowl with a cloth to preserve its original shine.
- Regularly need to clean the smoke channel with the help of special brushes.
- The interval between smoking sessions should be approximately 24 hours.
- Ash should be knocked out carefully; The ideal option is to tap the tube about something soft so as not to damage the outside of the bowl.
Conclusion
A briar pipe is far from a luxury, but a rather stylish smoking accessory. If you want to take tobacco smoking to a new level and give style to such an occupation, 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. Regardless of whether it is an ordinary tube or a briar tube with a foam insert, the reviews of true connoisseurs have always been only 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.