Which is Cooler, Sandblasted or Smooth?

I've heard many times in the past that sandblasted pipes smoke cooler than smooth pipes due to the greater surface area. After many years of taking this to be a somewhat statement I decided to put it to the test. Here's how I set up the test.

• Two identical, new Savinelli Model 316 pipes (one rustic/sandblast and one smooth matte) were used.
• Each was smoked ten times over a ten day period for the purpose of breaking them in.
• Gawith & Hoggarth Balkan Blend was used exclusively for break in and testing.
• Each was filled and packed to the top with an equal portion of tobacco for the test.
• Each was placed in a plastic folding pipe stand.
• Each was not moved from the pipe stand or touched during the test.
• Each was lit with 3 matches.
• Each received 1 full draw on the pipe every 30 seconds.
• Each was tamped every 10 draws.
• Test was conducted 10 minutes into the bowl.
• Bowl temperature was taken using a fine point metal probes attached to digital thermometers (identical models) that were placed on the right side of the bowl at the midway point and held tight to the bowl with the help of the plastic pipe stand.
• At 30 minutes both pipes were allowed to go out.

Here are my observations during the test.

• The rustic pipe was actually hotter during the first 10 minutes prior to "official testing".
• At the 10 minute point the rustic was 6 degrees hotter the the smooth.
• At 15 minutes the rustic was 4 degrees cooler.
• At 20 minutes the rustic was 2.5 degrees cooler.
• At 25 minutes the rustic was 3.5 degrees cooler.
• At 30 minutes the rustic was 4 degrees cooler.
• At 35 minutes (after the pipes went out) the rustic was 18 degrees cooler.

So there you have it. The rustic pipe did indeed smoke cooler but I'd have to say that the few degrees during the first 30 minutes hardly constitutes a "cooler smoking pipe". I could not tell the difference. What I did notice was how fast the rustic pipe cooled down after the tobacco went out as compared to the smooth.