What is a Balanced Pipe?

I'm sure most of you have heard the term balance used to describe various pipes. We've also used this term so I thought I'd take some time to further explain the meaning and it's usage in relation to pipes.

There are to distinct types of balance.

One is the physical balance of a pipe and the other is the aesthetic balance. Physical balance is important because it related directly to how the pipe feels in the mouth and hand. A well balanced pipe is comfortable and exerts little pressure on the teeth while an unbalanced pipe can be pure drudgery. This aspect of balance is designed into the pipe or not.

Often the shape, size and length of the stem plays the biggest role in proper balance. Once the shape and size of the bowl is determined a skilled pipe carver fits a stem to it that will properly counter balance the load and weight of the bowl and add to the enjoyment of smoking that pipe. Some carvers do this consciencely and some carvers do this without much thought relying on their many years of experience. I've found this to be the case with many "high grade" pipes over the years. It should also be mentioned that what one pipe smoker finds to be of proper balance the next might not.

Just as several people who take a size 10 shoe might not all find the same shoe comfortable. Here is a quick and accurate test to determine a pipe's relative balance. Take the pipe stem between your first and middle fingers approximating the same distance where your teeth would be. Let the pipe hang naturally between your fingers. Before trying this with new pipes first do this with pipes you already have and you find to be the most comfortable.

This will set a base for you to judge other pipes. You'll soon discover your personal balance point.

The most obvious kind of aesthetic balance is the grain of the pipe. As a general rule of thumb grain should flow with or accentuate the shape of the bowl. Straight grain should be just that straight around the circumference of the entire bowl.

The straight grain should end in bird'seye or rough burl on the bowl rim and bird'seye that is well centered on the bowl heel. Flame grain flows across a pipe bowl at +/- 45 degrees and should end in centered bird'seye or rough burl on the front and back of the bowl. Cross grain should be more or less horizontal on opposing sides of the bowl. It should be even and equally proportioned in relation to the opposing side. Between the cross grain should be equally well centered bird'seye grain.

The bowl rim, if trimmed flat, should exhibit straight grain running in the same direction as the cross grain. The same basic generalities also apply to a bowl that has been sand blasted.

There are also many intangible qualities that can be defined as balance. It a long established fact that there exists a Golden Rule of proportion. Builders, architects, painters, sculpters and other artisans have used this rule for centuries. Pipe carvers do as well. In it's highest level the application of the rule is done without conscience thought. It is felt in the hands and seen in the eyes. This aspect of pipe balance can also be very subjective. The way a pipe flows, ubruptly ends, tapers and turns call out to our subconscieous creative minds. Sometimes a pipe can appear to one person as art in it's highest form and to another a hunk of wood.