P-lip

Joined : 11 Apr 2008 Posts : 18

I have a Peterson 87 with a P-lip. I am not sure yet how I feel about the P-lip. At times I think I like it, at other times it seems to annoy me. Be that as it may, it is the only pipe I have that I can smoke down to nothing but ash every single time. It never fails. I have only 8 pipes, all of comparable quality (comparable cost, at least) to the Peterson, but with none of my other pipes can I do this. I usually consider myself lucky if I don't end up with a wet heel. Tobacco does not seem to matter and as far as I can tell I am smoking them all the same way.

Has anyone else experienced this with a P-lip? Does it have nothing to do with the P-lip and something else is at work?

Subject: Re: P-lip Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:22 pm

Clearly a case of superior IRISH craftsmanship. Smile

I have no idea what makes a pipe a good smoker. I used to think I did. Some will argue the briar, some the craftsmanship, others argue voodoo.
I'm pretty clearly in the last camp. While good aged briar helps, and craftsmanship seems to increase the odds of finding a smoker, neither guarantee's it.
I dont think the P-lip has anything to do with how the pipe smokes but I may be wrong. I have had Petes with em and with out em, didn't seem to make much difference.

As for the heel.. You need to slow down your smoking. Develop a slow sipping rhythm that barely allows the tobacco to smolder, it is ok to relight a pipe. Dont pack your pipe as tight as you are, it needs air to breathe, and allow a few days between smokes. This may help alleviate the excess dottle.

Joined : 11 Apr 2008 Posts : 18

Thanks, pb. I will try to follow your advice.

My understanding is that the P-lip intends to direct smoke to the roof of the mouth and thereby reduce tongue bite, and as far as I know should not otherwise effect the smoke. In any case, it is a good smoker. Maybe it is voodoo! Although my pipe-smoking Irish grandfather would surely agree with your first suggestion!

Subject: Re: P-lip Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:40 pm

i have two p-lip peteys and they are the only pipes that i can soke macbarens virginia no. 1 out of, for whatever reason the p-lip lets me smoke this nuclear furnace of tobacco and not regret it for a week after!

Joined : 11 Apr 2008 Posts : 18

vaperfavour,

That's interesting. The p-lip doesn't just move the bite to the roof of your mouth? That's what happens to me occasionally. However, I'm sure it's my technique that is to blame. Sometimes I seem to get a nice mouthful of smoke that is very pleasant.

Subject: P lip Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:38 pm

One of my small collection of pipes is a Peterson 305 system. It is the first pipe I bought. One bowl I liked it, the next one or two I didn't. When I was up in MT a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to visit MT's carving shop. I asked him to fix me up with a wide fishtail. I like the way it draws a _lot_ better, and havn't had a wet heel since. Am also new to pipe, so think the stem may hqve been the diff. Possibly a little more experience and advice from brothers here, but it just draws sooo much better that I can just 'sip' it. I heard Peterson may discontinue selling replacement bits, but that may just be rumor. If they do, any repair shop can help ya out if you decide to go w/the fishtail for about $20 or so.

Bd Bruce

Age : 66 Joined : 16 Apr 2008 Posts : 4

I have a Savinelli with a P-lip and am seriously thinking of replacing it with a fishtail. Just can't get used to it and don't think I ever will.

Dave

Joined : 11 Apr 2008 Posts : 18

Bd Bruce and Dave,

I’m not sure if I will ever get completely comfortable with the p-lip, but I think I will give it some more time. As I mentioned above, I love the way the pipe smokes. I like everything about the pipe – it feels good in the hand, I like the way it looks, and the size works well for me. I’m considering getting another one just like it except with a fishtail (although I’m having a hard time finding one) so I can enjoy smoking that while continuing to work it out with the p-lip. It’s a fun process anyway. At the moment I’m halfway through a bowl of Nightcap in a Tsuge Triangle that has a very nice, comfortably wide and thin fishtail. It’s probably the most comfortable of my pipes.

Subject: Re: P-lip Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:38 am

well, in my very humble opinion macbarens virginia no. 1 is incredibly delicious but, it must be smoked slowly! sipped and nursed along. if the roof of your mouth is getting scorched try a looser pack and sipping the tobacco. i let my v. no. 1 dry out considerably before smoking. whatever topping they put on it only makes the furnace hotter. of course the tin i have was bought in 1998! Very Happy

one of the biggest mistakes i made when first experimenting with pipes and virginias was a too hard of a pack and FAST smoking tempo. not anymore. i havent had tongue bite in years. Basketball

also i rarely smoke blends directly from the tin, i let them " breathe" for a time, careful not to let them lose their essential oils.try this and please post results.

Subject: Re: P-lip Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:37 pm

Subject: Re: P-lip Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:58 pm

Repeat this until you have it memorized :

"Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake."

Now go and sin no more. Very Happy

_________________
All the old cliches are true.
That's why they're cliches.

Subject: Re: P-lip Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:15 pm

Hamburger Veermaster trumps all!

Winslow

Subject: Re: P-lip Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:02 pm

Winslow has wisdom! Hamburger Veermaster is as gentle yet delicious a weed as there is. I always laugh at the script on the tin, as the "V" in Veermaster sure looks like a "B" to me. I'd love to be smoking a bowl full of Beermaster along with a large stein of home-brew. drunken

Natch

Subject: Re: P-lip Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:35 pm

Aha! All the best people smoke Hamburger Veermaster.I just rewarded myself with 2 bowls of that noble weed,it is so sweet when you hit the zone.

Winslow

Subject: Re: P-lip Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:01 pm

I had a problem with the Peterson p-lip that I couldn't overcome. When I clenched a pipe with a p-lip (I do clench from time to time), the hole in the p-lip always ended up right against one of my teeth. The hole was completely blocked by a tooth. This happened, amazingly enough, on both sides of my mouth.

I found that I could clench the pipe without blocking the hole if I moved it deeper into my mouth, but I found that to be a singularly uncomfortable way to hold a pipe. I finally gave up, and drilled a hole straight into the bit. That's worked fine for me...though it negates the advertised advantage of the p-lip.