Thanks. Burt Brown

I can say a lot about Pipe Makers Emporium the overall product line , as well as the new Tuscan briar. It is fabulous and so is the staff at PME
Horace
PS. I can't say enough about the new Tuscan briar

I met Paul at the Chicago show two years ago, and have taken advantage of Pipemaker's Emporium quick-turnaround services for ebonite round stock and a large purchase of Algerian briar, which is some of the best tasting briar I have smoked in my 40 years involvement with the hobby. I highly recommend using them as a go-to supplier for pipemaking needs.
Brad P

"I rely on PME to provide me with beautiful briar and top quality German Ebonite and Cumberland rod stock to make my pipes."
Thanks again!
Best,
Rad

Hi Carolyn,
You guys are really the greatest when it comes to service and those are not just idle words!
Regards,
Jean

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to get the first shipment of your Tuscany briar. It was perhaps fortunate, from your standpoint, because I have an extensive background in physics and chemistry, and am interested in the science as well as the art of pipe making and pipe smoking. I try to use the science to improve the art and vice versa and have a laboratory at my disposal to conduct research and experimentation. While I have not yet cut the Tuscany briar, I have performed some initial tests and have drawn some conclusions that you might be interested in. When I do cut it I will provide additional feedback, but I'm not sure when that will be. It is excellent briar and I will have to design smooth pipes to capitalize on the briar's characteristics.

The median density of the two Tuscany blocks I have is 6.3% more dense than the median of the Algerian Cirta blocks I have (expressed by mass over volume), and 5.1% more dense than the Tassili blocks. It is 11.0% more dense than the Grecian briar I have on hand, and 3.9% more dense than the French briar I have on hand. It is roughly equal in density to the Two-leaf (middle grade) briar I used to buy from Mike Parks, .4% less dense than his 3-leaf premium, and .3% more dense than his 1-leaf. (Parks got his briar from Italy's Tuscany region, so it makes sense that his would be similar to that which you offer; really we can say it is the same, because the difference falls within the margin of error for the experiment, which is +/1 5%.

One variable that impacts the density of the briar is the amount of moisture it retains. Under the right conditions this decreases over time, until it reaches a level comparable to the moisture content of the atmosphere, at which time it stops losing mass. This can take anywhere from a few months to a few decades, depending on the briar and the conditions under which it is dried. Dielectric moisture analysis shows the Grecian briar to be more dry than the other briars by 5.0%. The rest of the briars I tested are roughly equal as their measurements were close enough to be within the +/- 2% accuracy of the measurement technique.

Sonographic imaging reveals the briar to be highly consistent internally. There were no significant internal cracks and only minimal pits and mineral impurities inside the briar blocks. The sonogram also revealed excellent grain divergence (the difference in density between apositional grains, i.e. the soft lines vs. the hard lines), which should make the briar soft for working but able to withstand a lot of abuse. It should also have excellent color.

Visual inspection shows the grain to be mostly radial, the outer edge of the burl even and consistent, and the color to be magnificent. It has excellent scent and tactile quality, with a few very tiny pits visible on the surface and no visible cracks.

It has been my experience that the best briar is that which has the highest density and minimal moisture. Moisture content increases density slightly, and some of the difference in these briars can be accounted for by the difference in moisture content, but not all can be explained this way. The larger factor is the structure of the capillaries and their supporting filaments, which are properties inherent to the specific plant. Greater density therefore usually means better internal structure (biologically) which creates wood that is both tough, resistant to heat, and has nice, tight, radial grain. The sonogram supports these findings.

Laboratory analysis indicates that this is the best briar you sell (by my definition), and if you continue to offer it I will probably buy it exclusively for my smooth pipes, and use the Tassili and Cirta for sandblasts and rusticates.

It may be a few weeks to a few months before I cut the briar. I am currently working on a pipe and have an order for another after that, and my wife is 8 months pregnant, so I'm not sure how much time I'm going to have over the next few months, and want to make sure I use the Tuscany for the right purpose, as it is excellent briar. When I do cut it I will provide feedback. When I get new briar I like to make identical pipes out of the new briar and the old (in this case I will use your Tuscany and Tassili). I place the same blend of tobacco in them and hook them up to a low pressure vaccuum to draw air through them at exactly equal rates. Afterward, I measure the moisture content of the pipes (which helps tell me how much they will "gurgle"), their density (loss of mass means more combustion of briar and less deposit of carbon, i.e., cake). I also measure the external surface temperature of the pipes while they are smoking, to determine how hot the pipe will feel when it is being smoked and potential for "burn through". I repeat this procedure five to ten times, clean the pipes, and let them dry overnight, and repeat the tests in the morning, when they have been cleaned and had a chance to dry. These tests give me some quantifiable data on the smoking characteristics of the briar. I will forward these results to you as well.

Thanks again. It's excellent stuff and I'll definitely order more if you keep it available.

-Rob Divis