Different treatments for quality briar

Why treat briar?

Treating briar before it is turned into pipes is crucial to guaranteeing pipe quality and durability. Briar contains natural impurities, resins and sap that can alter the taste of tobacco and even compromise the structure of the wood. The various treatment techniques are designed to eliminate these impurities, stabilize the wood and improve its functional properties - in other words, to make briar more resistant to heat and guarantee a taste that is not altered by the wood's impurities. In this article, we'll look at the main treatments applied to briar: water boiling, air drying, kiln drying and oil treatment.

Water boiling 

This treatment is carried out by the sawmill after the briar has been cut.

Boiling briar in water involves immersing the briar blocks in large vats of boiling water for several hours. This treatment removes resins, sap and other impurities from the wood, which is crucial to avoid unpleasant tastes when the pipe is first smoked. This process replaces these impurities with water, stabilizing the wood's structure.

This ensures greater durability and longevity for pipes made from these blocks.

Pipes made from well-treated briar offer a better smoking experience, with less risk of undesirable tastes and increased durability. It is then up to manufacturers, whether artisanal or industrial, to respect a long drying period. In this way, they can guarantee high-quality products, which are obviously appreciated by pipe smokers.

Air-Curing

Air-drying is one of the most traditional and respected methods of preparing briar for processing into pipes. This technique, although time-consuming and costly due to the immobilization of a large quantity of blanks, is prized for its ability to produce good-quality, stable wood ready to offer an optimal smoking experience.

Air-drying involves leaving briar blocks to dry naturally for several years. This process allows residual moisture and impurities to evaporate gradually, stabilizing the wood and improving its properties.

Blocks for storage are placed on racks in a well-ventilated environment. They should be turned over regularly to ensure even drying and prevent mold.

Air-drying should take at least 18 months, depending on environmental conditions, but of course the longer it takes, the better the briar will develop.

The main disadvantage of air-drying is its duration. The process can tie up capital for several years, which can be costly for manufacturers. In addition, it requires well-ventilated storage spaces.

Kiln curing 

This involves placing briar blocks in an industrial kiln or dryer, where they are exposed to controlled heat for a set period of time. This process is designed to rapidly remove residual moisture from the wood.

Kiln drying is a modern technique used by some pipe manufacturers to speed up the briar preparation process. This method, which uses artificial heat to reduce the wood's moisture content, is appreciated for its speed and efficiency. The temperature and humidity inside the kiln are regulated to ensure uniform drying of the blocks.

The main advantage of kiln drying is the speed of the process. Unlike air drying, which can take several years, kiln drying can be completed in a matter of days to weeks. It also allows precise control of temperature and humidity.

The method remains controversial, however: while pipes produced using this method can be brought to market more quickly, thus meeting demand, perceptions of the quality of kiln-dried pipes vary, with some smokers preferring air-dried pipes for their superior flavour and durability.

Oil curing

Pipe-heads are treated by immersing them in an oil bath, usually olive oil, to remove all impurities from the briar. This process is supposed to impart a nutty flavor much appreciated by pipe smokers.

However, this method has one major drawback. If the briar is not cured long enough, the heat released by the burning tobacco causes the oil to exude during smoking. This exudation gives a bad taste, making the smoking experience unpleasant.

In 1913, tobacco pipe maker Alfred Dunhill also patented an innovative process for drying and finishing briar pipes. The process used a hot plate with (copper) nozzles to heat the pipe bowls evenly. The appliance, equipped with gas burners, maintained a controlled temperature. Under the effect of the heat, the oil exuded from the pipe bowls, carrying with it sap, resins and other impurities, thus improving the quality and smoking properties of the pipes. This innovative system ensured a superior finish, making each pipe ready for immediate use, while retaining its optimal taste qualities and a quality briar that was perfectly resistant to heat.  

This method of processing was discontinued by Dunhill in the 1980s, but has certainly been taken up again by craftsmen, as the qualities of briar delighted the taste buds of many pipe smokers and made it heat-resistant.

The price of a briar pipe is therefore influenced by how the briar is processed and dried. Each step in the process, from the choice of wood to the finish, and the artist's reputation, contributes to the final value of the pipe, and helps to justify significant price variations.

But that's another story ...