1 Grabow for 1 Year (8/2/19)

[lawdawg]

Awesome. Looking forward to updates. This is basically how I got hooked on new Kaywoodie Super Grains. My lovat was the perfect pipe and started the obsession and company selling them. Ha.

Hey crash, another forum member mentioned in a thread a few days ago that they thought you might be the new owner of Kaywoodie. Are the rumors true? It's great to have so many pipe industry people here ::

 

[downsouth]

The balsa filters do nothing to the taste, and the airflow was still perfect.

A few weeks ago I posted a picture on this website of a Savinelli filter I used after 3 bowls that was in the same condition as yours. I also agree that it actually enhances the flavor of the smoke by taking out a lot of the tar and moisture. My post was basically ignored and/or ridiculed, lol. Oh well. I grew up not using filters, then switched to them when my grandfather died of oral cancer (he was old though, not unexpected), started using the papers like you did and I agree that especially if the end gets hot, you can actually taste the paper. My doctor who also smokes a pipe recommended the Savinelli's about 10 years ago and they are great. They're shorter than the papers and collect a ton more tar and moisture, and it does indeed produce a better smoke. Glad you found that out too...others should try it.

 

[mikethompson]

Downsouth, I have been a fan of Brigham filters for a while. I think they are similar to the balsa Savinelli filters. They work great and almost got rid of any bite I was getting.

 

[bnichols23]

. freight train it.
You ARE a conductor, after all

Jay, YOU are a mess...... You could at least offer to send him a couple of asbestos tongue covers. :rofl:

 

[didimauw]

Smoke the stain off....ok I'll try. Haha

 

[didimauw]

Need to change things up a bit. I've been smoking nothing but Briar Fox.
I'm actually not a huge fan of C&D Burley Flake #2, but I keep trying it hoping I'll start to get it.
In preparation of bowl 54.

This stuff takes a while to dry.

 

[downsouth]

I've gotten to where I like the C&D Burley #2 a lot; it is an acquired taste, but given that all my others are relatively straight virginia's, it wasn't a huge step (I don't smoke all that fancy latakia and oriental stuff). But I will say this, when you want a good butt whoopin, the #2 is what you want to smoke!

 

[didimauw]

The end of month one.
The cake is where I like it, and the filters are greatly helping with moisture.
Bowl 78

 

[jaytex1969]

That's no cake at all for you!
I recently pulled a Grabow Omega out of my reserve box and have been enjoying it.
Looks like you're getting more smokes in than you anticipated.

 

[didimauw]

Yeah with the big size of the bowl, I'm at about half the number I was at with the small cob.
But more tobacco is being consumed this round.

 

[jaytex1969]

That bit is showing scrapes but no dents. That's promising.
How do you rate the bit comfort?

 

[didimauw]

The bit is alright. I have to occasionally switch sides to make it more comfortable. But those are dents. Definitely dents.
My wife complained about the smell of the tobacco I was smoking yesterday. But what she didn't know was that it was the same tobacco I've been smoking for almost a whole month. So I took that as a sign that my pipe was starting to smell. I gave it a warm water flush and she never complained since.

 

[didimauw]

So my last bowl I noticed that the cake is starting to chip and crack. So I guess that means it's time to ream her....

Sad to see it go....

 

[mso489]

Looking good all-in-all. Many an old timer smoked his Grabow happily for a year, since that was what he had. Keep the blends interesting and it will be September 2020 before you know it.

 

[trubka2]

Nice work on the protective coating for the rim, didi! That thing's bulletproof now.

 

[didimauw]

So due to me wanting to try Virginia's occasionally, I pulled out an old unopened tin. I have heard many times that this blend is mostly Virginia and barely noticeable in the Latakia. So in anticipation I popped the 7 year old tin open and broke down a couple coins. Boy it sure smelled good out of the tin, and the coins were so sticky that the resins were holding most of them together. Looked delicious too.

The humidity here has been very high today, so my usual hour of dry time didn't do anything. So I microwaved the few pinches for 15 seconds and that did the trick. I just couldn't wait any longer.

I didn't like the first tin 7 I smoked years ago, when I first started piping, and well I still don't care for it now. As expected. The flavor is ok, but my mouth hurts. Maybe I'll try it again on a day with less humidity.

So here is bowl 106.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Love that stuff, though unfortunately named.

 

[didimauw]

Bowl 120 was some Catham Manor. Boy do I miss my other pipes. But I gotta stay strong!

 

[nunnster]

I'm amazed and shocked at how much cake you have (had). I've ran atleast as many, if not more bowls in all my pipes as you have here, and yet I've never built up beyond the thickness of a nickel. Guess my daily wipe with a paper towel really does the trick more than I thought! Also I'm not a huge fan of cake, but its definitely still impressive! Especially for guys who enjoy thick cake!

 

[jaytex1969]

Yep, those are dents. Lookin' good!