Had my first corn cob blow out. Smoked my MM legend for about a month with about 15-20 bowls thru it and the bottom got soggy and blew a hole. Its a non-hardwood insert one, so i knew it would happen sooner than later.
MM Blowout
- Thread starter jiujitsubowl
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I primarily smoked east india aros but the last 2-3 bowls where frog morton. The bottom got very wet and soggy feeling then fell thru during tamping/relight.
@mso489 What cobs do you have? The one i was smoking did not have the hardwood insert, it was pure cob.
Years ago I bought an unusual little MM cob in an antique store that had a removable vulcanite stem, and no shank. It had been used before but I cleaned it best I could and loaded it with Prince Albert. It didn't take long before I noticed it was starting to burn out on the bottom. I figured it was mainly because the stem didn't go into the bowl like the usual cobs, but just went into the bowl a short ways above the bottom. I ended up putting a little super glue on the label on the bottom, and then filled the inside of the bowl bottom with a good amount of pipe mud. Smokes just fine now, but I'm not sure I'd do it to an ordinary MM cob, unless I really liked it.
@booker, it doesnt steer me away at all. I understand that the nature of corn cobs is that you can get an occasional bad egg. No biggy, it was a 5 dollar loss that i got more out of in tobacco ounces than the 5 dollars lost haha. I am actually putting in an order with aristocob.com right now for some more. I still smoke my 5th avenue all the time. Favorite high capacity pipe.
I had one do the same. I think it's just the nature of the beast, being a natural product and all. Some corn cobs must just be less durable than others.
I still love my cobs, but I do tend toward the ones with the hardwood insert, now.
I still love my cobs, but I do tend toward the ones with the hardwood insert, now.
I agree with Rob, hardwood bottom corn cobs much better. All there big bowl cobs have inserts now for this reason.
If you still have the cob, you could probably save it by elmers gluing a nickle/ quarter to the bottom, and putting some pipe mud in the bottom. 
TY Booker, for the good of international detante, I also smoke non American blends in it
Has you wife had any success ?
Has you wife had any success ?
I opened up this post hoping "Blowout" meant a wicked good sale. Instead, I see sad sad news. What an emotional rollercoaster! Sorry about your pipe, though. I'd throw some mud in there if you smoke wet stuff often and it's not a model with a plug. I never do and I've never blown out, but I rarely smoke down that far. I have noticed some sogginess at the bottom if I'm picking at it to get dottle out, though. Nature of the beast, as was noted before.
Glad you're being pragmatic though and not swearing off cobs. Never blame the cob
Glad you're being pragmatic though and not swearing off cobs. Never blame the cob
Thanks everyone for the advice. I may try and save her! I am still new so you can blame part of the early burnout on me. Now that I think back I do smoke them down to the bottom. I guess its part of the learning curve! At least it happend with a 5 dollar pipe. Sorry pipesmokingtom for getting your hopes up haha. And Booker / Jamesrsmithjr i am a corn cob commander for life. I do smoke my briars but i love my cobs so no worries on ill reviews!
jiujitsu, I think you're right. As near as I can tell, all my cobs have hardwood plugs. I didn't buy them with that in mind. I guess I didn't know they came without them. Living on luck in the cob department, I guess. Some of mine have been around for years, a little charred at the brims, but showing no signs of real wear.
jiujitsu, I also was like you, then I went cob side 24/7... I don't smoke any cobs without the plug, the reason I switched from the Country Gentleman to the Spool was back then the CG didn't have a plug.
I don't smoke any cobs without the plug, the reason I switched from the Country Gentleman to the Spool was back then the CG didn't have a plug.- Status