Cob Finish

[ben88]

Would unfinished cob pipe result in better smoking experience?

Does it allow pipe to breeze better?

 

[didimauw]

I'll be watching this thread, as I've never owned a naked cob. I just plain don't like the way they look. They also seem like they are tougher with the plaster finish, and would last longer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I like how the unfinished ones smoke, actually prefer them, plus I've never had the kernels separate on an unfinished one the way I have on the finished ones.

 

[grue]

I've found the unfinished ones smoke a bit cooler.

 

[jvnshr]

That's a good question Ben88 and I would like to state my humble opinion since I own and smoke both types:

From left to right:
1 - Country Gentleman

2 - Diplomat 5th Ave

3 - Morgan XL Natural

4 - Morgan Natural
Let's start with better smoking experience. Out of 4, Country Gentleman smokes best. It has a big chamber, thick wall and wide shank. I smoke only English blends in my CG, Virginia in my Diplomat 5th Ave (Royal Racht smokes great in this one). I use my Morgan Natural nosewarmer for Aromatic blends (actually used to use) and Morgan XL Natural for lightly cased Virginia and VaPer blends. The best thing about the Naturals is they don't get hot as fast as other cobs since they have more surface area.

 

[admiral]

I will be dam...ed, never thought that Naturals wont get so hot.

In general I dont like that finish hence sticking with the polished ones

 

[mawnansmiff]

I should imagine the 'naked' cobs would collect dirt from handling over time much more that a varnished one would.
As for breathability, in my opinion that is all myth. Give an 'expert' two cobs in a blind smoke and see if he can tell which is 'naked' and which isn't.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jvnshr]

I should imagine the 'naked' cobs would collect dirt from handling over time much more that a varnished one would.

Unfortunately, that's right.

As for breathability, in my opinion that is all myth.

Jay, nobody (at least me) said that unfinished cobs breath. They have more surface area so they lose the heat faster (like radiators).

 

[mawnansmiff]

Javan, I was referring to Ben's original question...
"Does it allow pipe to breeze[sic] better?"
...by which I assumed he meant 'breathe'.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I should imagine the 'naked' cobs would collect dirt from handling over time much more that a varnished one would.

You can clean them out with a toothbrush just like you would a deep sandblast.

 

[Chasing Embers]

As for breathability, in my opinion that is all myth.

With briar, that is true, but cobs are a different story. Look how fissures develop in a finished cob over time.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Duane, I am not disputing that they develop cracks and fissures, of course they do, my point was that I doubt very much if a smoker could tell if the pipe had 'breathability'.
Of course if there's a stonking great crack in the bowl then yes they would, but with a pipe in good condition not so.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Ah, but here's the thing, I've never had an unfinished one develop the fissures even after years of service.

 

[ray47]

I have 45 cobs and most are naked cobs. I find them to smoke cooler and they are lighter then finished cobs. Great for clenching if you lean in that direction.

 

[jvnshr]

Jay, you might be right, I totally misunderstood the word 'breeze'.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"Jay, you might be right, I totally misunderstood the word 'breeze'."
No worries Javan, it's just another example of folks not proofreading their posts afore hitting the 'send' button. So many misunderstandings are due to folks not taking care of what they write.
Ben, you get to wear a hair shirt for a whole week :wink:
On the subject of cobs, I'm thinking of asking my tobacco enabler to see if he might source one of these here bags of MM seconds...they seem to be a great deal.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[nevadablue]

I have been very happy with my bag of MM seconds. Great value, IMO.

 

[olkofri]

You guys just made me want a cob. I got a call from my tobacconist to-day that my new Brigham arrived: I might as well grab a cob whilst I'm picking up my order, why not?
Do you disinfect cobs just like the briar ones?

 

[admiral]

I usually sterilize the stem with alcohol as usual. Also wiping out the exterior with alcohol soaked cloth.

This gives me a sterilized feel
Have a good look inside the mortise and the bowl as quite often there are small wooden particles left inside.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"I usually sterilize the stem with alcohol as usual."
I would be a little wary of using alcohol on a plastic stem, you just might melt it.
Regards,
Jay.