>>2236307Now the important part:
>Because the burl is spherical, the grain radiates out from the center. The fine striations of grain that we enjoy seeing on our pipes are made up of very fine capillaries in the wood, used to move water to the plant. But these capillaries do not grow in geometric precision. Sand and stones are picked up by the burl as it grows, and the grain shifts around these impurities.These impurities lessen the ability of the wood to evenly distribute the heat, leading to an uneven burn of the tobacco, having it burn too hot in places, too cool in others. Particularly bad impurities may even lead to burning a hole into your pipe if smoked improperly. Which is kind of a catch-22 for beginners since when starting out you're more likely to purchase a cheap pipe of cheap quality. Since you don't know at that point how to best smoke your pipe for optimal results you can definitely inflict lasting damage on your pipe that way and have an unpleasant experience to begin with.
Good for you it didn't happen to you, or maybe you've gotten lucky with the cheap pipes you purchased. Inexpensive pipes are no guarantee for bad quality briar, but buying a higher priced pipe from a renowned pipe manufacturer will make sure you won't be stuck with bad quality wood.
