Black Spot Appears on Bowl After a Month

jpmcwjr · May 13, 2015

A new pipe, a bent apple, from a well known manufacturer has developed a black spot on the surface, about 3/8" in diameter just above the bottom of the where the chamber ends. There is a small fill in the center of same on the surface. My question is: could the fill extend to, or nearly to, the inside of the bowl, and would that fill thus transmit heat more readily, causing the blackening of the exterior?
More importantly, might this indicate a fatal flaw in the pipe? I suppose sanding the bowl would reveal the extent/depth of the fill, but then I might have a hard time returning it.

freakiefrog · May 13, 2015

Pics would be helpful, but it sounds like a where the briar might be burning through due to an imperfection or fill.

georged · May 13, 2015

The timing, size, color, fill location, and spot location all point to a burnout in progress.

Don't sand or etc.
Most companies are quite good about dealing with this sort of thing. It happens occasionally no matter what precautions are taken. They know it, and expect to replace some percentage of the pipes they produce each year.

samcoffeeman · May 13, 2015

Definitely contact the manufacturer or retailer with your concern. Maybe Kaywoodie was onto something when they X-rayed their pipes!

pepesdad1 · May 13, 2015

Like the others said: Black spots coming through the briar is usually an indication of a burnout. Had one in a GBD that I put pipe mud on and hopefully solved the problem. But if yours is new I would get a replacement to avoid the heartache of burnout.

jpmcwjr · May 13, 2015

Thanks, gents. I will contact the supplier. Didn't want to do a pic as it might reveal the maker.

cosmicfolklore · May 13, 2015

Ooooo, is it symmetrical, does it have a raised surface :::tsk tsk tsk::: does it have a texture... You want to periodically get these things checked out. You never know when it just might be melanoma.

monty55 · May 13, 2015

jpmcwjr

Didn't want to do a pic as it might reveal the maker

I think I understand why you say this, but I don't think your doing justice to the forum members by withholding that information. This is the kind of thing a lot of us want to know before making a purchase. It's not that we think all their pipe are inferior, or crap, but we perhaps will give a keener eye to fills and such. Furthermore, if you do get another pipe because the maker man'd up, wouldn't that be praise for how well they take care of their customers? We would want to know that as well, then it really wouldn't matter who they were, as long as they backed their product. But I guess this is IMO

gloucesterman · May 14, 2015

I agree. In spite of a company's best efforts these things happen. What makes a good company is that they respond well to these incidents when they occur. Having a pipe fail isn't an indictment but dealing with it fairly is a strong endorsement.

freakiefrog · May 14, 2015

Thanks, gents. I will contact the supplier. Didn't want to do a pic as it might reveal the maker.

SH&* happens. I've always said the maker of a good company isn't that they never have problems its how they handle those problems. Keeping a happy customer happy is easy, making an unhappy customer a repeat customer is the mark to hit. I don't think anyone here is going to go off and demand the heads of the company over unforeseen problems that happen with wood.
Hope it works out for ya.

bigpond · May 14, 2015

My question is: could the fill extend to, or nearly to, the inside of the bowl, and would that fill thus transmit heat more readily, causing the blackening of the exterior?

Absolutely.

No need to protect the innocent imo. Everyone puts out a dog now and again.

okiescout · May 14, 2015

I agree. In spite of a company's best efforts these things happen. What makes a good company is that they respond well to these incidents when they occur. Having a pipe fail isn't an indictment but dealing with it fairly is a strong endorsement.
Absolutely.

jpmcwjr · May 15, 2015

Agree. Initial contact with the company is positive. I will report, with name and details when resolved one way or another.

Thanks for the input, all.

jpmcwjr · Aug 6, 2015

Sorry, but an emergency surgery, two weeks in the hospital and a slowish recovery put this out of my mind and reach. The pipe is a Peterson, and the company has been completely willing to refund or replace.
My conundrum now lies in the fact that I love this pipe, and don't want to part with it unless there's a probability that the black spot is a fatal flaw. Yes, I will post a photo or two, but in the mean time is there anything a layman can do to make a further assessment? (Any psychics among us??)

seadogontheland · Aug 6, 2015

Peterson should do well by you.
How are you doing? I hope on the mend, Brother.

jpmcwjr · Aug 6, 2015

Thanks, Seadog. I am indeed mending, though at a pace that seems glacial! My taste for both espresso and tobacco is returning, so I am halfway home!

seadogontheland · Aug 6, 2015

You are feeling up to coffee and smoke? Damn you're fine! I expect you to be ready for our daily jog tomorrow (grin).

jpmcwjr · Dec 5, 2016

Dang, was looking for something else, and ran across this old thread. It's made me miss sea dog, not seen around here for ten months...Anyone?

mso489 · Dec 6, 2016

Best of luck with your health and your pipe replacement. If they send you a replacement of the same pipe, I bet you'll never have a problem with it. It's that one in a thousand that gets past the crafts people with a bad spot.

jpmcwjr · Dec 6, 2016

Thanks, health is good, and I decided to keep it and the replacement they sent! Both well broken in and in rotation.

Black Spot Appears on Bowl After a Month

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