Okay. This is a little lengthy, but I don't know how to explain this any shorter. So bear with me if you can. (Disclaimer: I'm not a new pipe smoker and I own about 8 briars.)
Recently, I bought a used Savinelli One off a guy for $20. The pipe had hardly been smoked. It looked and smelled clean. However, when I smoke it, there seemed to be an odd taste of some sort. Not really bad, mind you, just off and partially obstructing the taste I usually get from a bowl of 1Q. Yes, it's a "beginner" pipe. It smokes a little wet, and I've discovered quite a few hidden pits in the bowl (is this the cause?). But it draws very nicely. (This is actually the pipe in my avatar.)
Then I bought a new Brebbia. I love Brebbias. Lit it up and it smoked 40 min without going out and tasted great... until. Near the bottom of the bowl something began muting the taste, and then seemed to coat my mouth with an odd film. When I dumped out the ash I found a ball of goop at the bottom. Not tobacco, but left-over bowl coating that had run to the bottom. It was coating my mouth and muting everything.
For both pipes, I scraped out the inside, cleaned with pipe sweetener (letting it sit for 30 min), let the pipe dry for a day, then sanded the inside carefully to remove much of the bowl coating.
The Brebbia is now a normal, healthy pipe. The Savinelli is tasting better, but still has a dull, odd flavor in the background even after three bowls. I can't figure it out.
Why am I addicted to the Savinelli? Because it was so cheap, nearly new, and I can take it fishing, camping, etc, etc without worrying about losing one of my best pipes. I also have a few cobs for this purpose. I love the way a cob tastes.
But I am truly baffeled by this Savinelli and it's driving me crazy. Is it the poor pipe construction? The bowl coating? Did the previous owner spill his cologne into it? After this experience I'd never recommend one of these to a new pipe smoker.
Has anyone had a similar experience?
Recently, I bought a used Savinelli One off a guy for $20. The pipe had hardly been smoked. It looked and smelled clean. However, when I smoke it, there seemed to be an odd taste of some sort. Not really bad, mind you, just off and partially obstructing the taste I usually get from a bowl of 1Q. Yes, it's a "beginner" pipe. It smokes a little wet, and I've discovered quite a few hidden pits in the bowl (is this the cause?). But it draws very nicely. (This is actually the pipe in my avatar.)
Then I bought a new Brebbia. I love Brebbias. Lit it up and it smoked 40 min without going out and tasted great... until. Near the bottom of the bowl something began muting the taste, and then seemed to coat my mouth with an odd film. When I dumped out the ash I found a ball of goop at the bottom. Not tobacco, but left-over bowl coating that had run to the bottom. It was coating my mouth and muting everything.
For both pipes, I scraped out the inside, cleaned with pipe sweetener (letting it sit for 30 min), let the pipe dry for a day, then sanded the inside carefully to remove much of the bowl coating.
The Brebbia is now a normal, healthy pipe. The Savinelli is tasting better, but still has a dull, odd flavor in the background even after three bowls. I can't figure it out.
Why am I addicted to the Savinelli? Because it was so cheap, nearly new, and I can take it fishing, camping, etc, etc without worrying about losing one of my best pipes. I also have a few cobs for this purpose. I love the way a cob tastes.
But I am truly baffeled by this Savinelli and it's driving me crazy. Is it the poor pipe construction? The bowl coating? Did the previous owner spill his cologne into it? After this experience I'd never recommend one of these to a new pipe smoker.
Has anyone had a similar experience?