Steamroller Pipes and Smoking Tobacco

A steamroller pipe is a hand blown glass type of pipe for smoking tobacco. The name is derived from its design which is similar to a steamroller found in many machines. It can be further described as a long, empty tube with both ends being open. The bowl is attached to the side of one of these ends. It is used for smoking by filling the bowl with tobacco and then lighting it while one hand covers the carburetor, the open end of the tube closest to the bowl. The smoke produced is then inhaled until the tobacco is consumed.

Many agree that smoking with a steamroller pipe may be more destructive to a smoker’s lungs than other types of pipes, like bubbler pipes and water pipes. The absence of water filtration, which is present in pipes with water chambers, exposes smokers of steamroller type pipes to the smoke directly and in greater volumes. Steamroller types although also made from glass are typically shorter than other glass pipes. This length difference further increases the steamroller pipe smoker to smoke exposure.

Despite these issues, the simplicity of the operation of steamroller pipes explains why it is popular among many pipe smokers. The smaller size of a steamroller pipe also makes it easier to carry around than larger pipes.

In general, glass pipes are better candidates for pipe smoking than those built from other materials. For one, glass pipes are not combustible by continuous heat unlike other types of pipes. Glass resists heat instead of reacting to it unlike wood and plant based pipes. Second, pipes made of glass can last longer than other pipes. The high heat resistance makes the pipe more durable. The ability to clean a glass pipe also enhances the smoking experience for a longer period of time compared to other materials. Clay, for example, does not retain the pleasure of pipe smoking once it is affected by prolonged heat and residual tobacco.

When a smoker decides to buy a pipe, many considerations must be taken into account. Is the pipe small enough to be easily carried? How long does the smoker expect the pipe to last? Is there concern over too much smoke exposure? Depending on the answers to these questions the steamroller pipe may be a perfect choice for a smoking aficionado.