Briar burnout?!

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fyrefawkes

Lurker
Jun 18, 2012
10
0
Hi fellas,

I have no idea if this is my fault or if this is a pipe defect, or if it's even really a burnout (never had one before; new to pipe smoking since about 6 months or so), but here's the short version:
I got a Capri Headmaster churchwarden from pipesandcigars.com (an exchange for a new Savinelli that had finish-bubbling issues), and this was the fourth, perhaps the fifth, time that I've smoked it. I am well aware that pipes need to be smoked 'gently' until they've broken in and built up a sufficient cake, and I'd like to think I'm a careful smoker (take very good care of my pipes; constantly looking up advice for pipe care/maintenance), so I considered this pipe still very much in the break-in stage and was smoking as slowly as I know how to. So imagine my shock when, nearing the end of this fourth or fifth bowl, I saw noticed this dark patch on the briar, and the bowl was INCREDIBLY hot -- too hot to touch.
I dumped out the ash/dottle/remaining tobacco from the bowl and let it cool.
But now I don't know what to do with the pipe. Is this a burnout? Is this pipe salvageable/still smokable (i.e., could I repair it or should I trash it? Is this something that requires repair?) Is this something that would be considered a defect and eligible for a return (I've read about defective pipes but don't know how rare they are; and this would be embarrassing for me, since I got this one in exchange for a "defective" return on a Savinelli; but bad luck can hit, right?).
Advice and expertise, please! I've attached a photograph of the black mark on the briar and a photograph of the inside of the bowl (corresponding to the outer scarred area).
Thanks in advance, guys.
IMG_0531.jpg


IMG_0534.jpg


 

sasquatch

Lifer
Jul 16, 2012
1,683
2,862
It's a burnout-to-be, yes.
The fact that the bowl was "incredibly hot" means that you were not smoking as slow or gentle as you think! Churchwardens are dangerous in this way. The smoke feels cool because it has gone 10" up the stem, but really you can be smoking much hotter than you ordinarily would, simply because you are physically removed from the hot smoke by the length of the pipe.
Now, I'm saying "user error" but of course it could be a bad piece of briar - that does happen time to time. If I had to bet though I'd bet you had it hot.

 

nsfisher

Lifer
Nov 26, 2011
3,566
20
Nova Scotia, Canada
That black spot is a "Hot Spot". I have one on a pipe that happened yrs ago and the pipe is still going strong. But, either a defect or you definitly were overheating it. Only takes a bowl or 2 to create damage. If this happened to your last pipe, and again to this one, I am sorry to say mate, I believe the fault may lie with you. Don't get me wrong, but for it to happen twice in as many pipes, makes the "Factory Defect" seem unlikely.

 

fyrefawkes

Lurker
Jun 18, 2012
10
0
Well, shoot. Live and learn. Sad that it had to be on this pipe (I really liked the shape).

Thanks for the insight, sasquatch (and you, igloo, for the laugh).

Do you know if this pipe is bound burn through? I mean, should I stop smoking it, or is it still serviceable?

If it is still usable, is there anything I should/could do to prevent it from burning all the way through?

 

fyrefawkes

Lurker
Jun 18, 2012
10
0
Yeah, nsfisher, I was afraid that I was the common denominator here. What (if anything) special did you do with your pipe that has the hot spot to make sure it didn't burn all the way through?

Any idea how this will affect the way the briar ages?

 

cortezattic

Lifer
Nov 19, 2009
15,147
7,637
Chicago, IL
I suspect that you were smoking this pipe too hot -- for the reasons mentioned by sasquatch;

and moreover, that's probably the reason that your Savinelli had "finish-bubbling issues".
Pipes that burn out due to material defects would probably not scorch in so broad an area.

Usually, it is a sub-surface burr or knot that starts to char and burn -- a much more localized event.
I would think that the charred area of your pipe has become seriously weak, and will eventually crumble and become a hole.

I can't imagine that you would enjoy smoking this pipe anymore since you should be tasting wood, not tobacco.
So sad. Try a meerschaum pipe. Storient can probably make a custom meerschaum Dublin churchwarden for you.

You might also consider switching to a stronger, more full bodied or richer blend.

It could be that you're trying to wrest flavor from a blend so vigorously that a briar pipe just can't handle

the aggressive puffing. You might also benefit from the Tobacco Pipe Packing Methods articles listed in

the left hand column of this page.

 

nsfisher

Lifer
Nov 26, 2011
3,566
20
Nova Scotia, Canada
@fyrefawks
Yes mate, I do still smoke mine, but carefully. I just keep in mind not to heat it up. I can't taste the Briar but I usually smoke a cooler burning tobacco in it. It will definitly cripple or shorten the life of your pipe for sure.

 

tbradsim1

Lifer
Jan 14, 2012
9,093
11,011
Southwest Louisiana
If it was my pipe, and I wanted to save it, ream it and see how bad the wood is, if you still got good wood, buy some dap or red devil stove repair mortar , mark the weak area and apply a film of repair inside of pipe, we used to run huge furnaces burning over 2000 deg by adding insulation called kayo wool on the hot spot inside of the furnace, build the area up with several thin layers smokeing the pipe between each layer because it cures with heat, the old cajun

 

tbradsim1

Lifer
Jan 14, 2012
9,093
11,011
Southwest Louisiana
I believe he has weakened the briar in that spot, that's why the mortar is needed, 10$ for a cartridge at your hardware store,same thing pipe repair shops use and don"t tell you about The old cajun

 

russp

Lurker
Jul 16, 2012
20
0
Why not look for a meerschaum insert. We used to get those in 5 packs to glue into briar bowls. You can find them on Ebay sometimes. Glue it in with something like JB Weld that can take a little heat. You can drill the tenon hole and chamber easily, just make sure the meerschaum plug is really wet before you drill it. The char on the bowl can be fixed by removing the wax and cleaning it with denatured alcohol. I usually boil them in water for about 20 minutes. That is long enough to get all the wax and loose char out of the wood. Sure enough there will be someone who will say, "oh man, don't do that". I do it. If it cracks, you can fix it. They usually don't crack. Briar is tough. Thats why we make pipes out of it. Once you have gotten down to plain briar, let it dry thoroughly. You'll see any cracks, veneers, other stuff you can replace. You can polish it again and rewax it. This time you'll have a meershaum lined churchwarden.

 

whimsyt

Might Stick Around
May 22, 2012
60
1
Greater Boston
Hey Old Cajun....
I have 3 or 4 pipes with draft holes that are WAY too high, frustrating me to no end, and I have no access to cigar ashes for pipe mud. So, would the DAP/Red Devil mortar work in place of pipe mud? I'm getting tired of pipes with these frustrating draught hole issues! One is even a brand spanking new Savinelli!
Now the problem is FINDING the repair mortar.....been to two local hardware stores and neither had it. One had a few Rutland products, but they seemed quite different from the DAP or Red Devil Silicate Cement.
Also, do you know if the silicate cement is available in a form that doesn't require a caulk gun? I don't have a caulk gun.....
I think I saw a thread about this, but I can't find my way back to it..... sorry, newbie here.......

 

tbradsim1

Lifer
Jan 14, 2012
9,093
11,011
Southwest Louisiana
Amazon has it and I believe you can buy a cheap caulking gun at any hardware, I like the tan color, they have it in black also,I had ordered from Amazon but it came damaged so I went to my Ace hardware , I looked this morning and the repair cartridge name brand was imperial, it can withstand 2100degs, I also used it on my General cobs, the space on btm of bowl where draw tube Is , tobbaco traps there making it hard to clean bowl, a little Dab on both sides smoothed out and let dry has produced a smooth Bottom easier to clean, I talked in length with Dave Wolf of Walker Briar and he was intrigued with the product as he had been looking for a replacement for pipe mud that could take the heat. The old cajunPS put a pipe filter in draw hole so you don"t plug hole, 3way pipe toolis perfect for smoothing mortar out, wet spoon and it will smooth out

 

ejames

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
3,916
22
fyrefawkes,this picture will give you an idea of why your pipe has developed a "hot spot". This os a shank of an old pipe I cut up to make a tamper from but the idea is the same. I'm guessing your pipe has the same problem. Before I cut the shank all that was visible was a small fills.Your pipe probably has the same type of flaw just under the surface.

2012-05-01-002-1280x960-600x450.jpg


 

whimsyt

Might Stick Around
May 22, 2012
60
1
Greater Boston
Thanks so much for your help, old cajun!!!
I was hoping not to have to buy a caulk gun, but, guess I will. On the new Savinelli, the draft hole is unbelievably high! I would've sent the darn thing back, but I bought it from a seller in Holland, so that would've been a bit expensive. Hopefully, now I can fix all 4 pipes that have too high draft holes! I'll let you know how I fare! Thanks again!

 

whimsyt

Might Stick Around
May 22, 2012
60
1
Greater Boston
ejames, that is a great photo to share! Now I understand..... there can be faults hidden within the walls of the briar bowl.....
I think I just bought a pipe that has some sort of problem like that, but now it's too late to send it back.
Very enlightening photo...thanks!

 
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