Do corncobs color better/faster when you have little cake? Or would it be the opposite? Im assuming, the less cake built up, the more the oils have to be absorbed into the walls of the cob right?
To be honest this is the first I've heard of coloring a cob. I have a few MM Pride pipes, one bent that's whiter...but I've either not been looking or noticed no change... Do you mind posting a picture so I can see what you're talking about?
The top of my cobs get a bit of color but I always assumed it was from over filling as I don't give to much attention to a cob when loading it. Never seen any color on mine other than that.
A new and a well smoked 5th Avenue. The old one has a very light layer of cake. There are 3 factors in play with cob coloring; 1) Oil and tar released from burning tobacco. 2) In my case my grubby hands when handling it and 3) Heat. Think how a piece of bread changes color when toasted.