A Soft Spot in Chamber?

[monty55]

While perusing a popular estate pipe site, I have noticed several pipes that I am interested in, but at the bottom of the description under "condition" it says there is a "soft spot inside the chamber". So what exactly does this mean, other than the obvious. Why is it soft, is this a filler spot that went south? I thought fillers were harder than the briar. Anybody know what this means? And more importantly how would this affect the smoke?

 

[antbauers]

Although I don't understand what they mean besides the obvious, I wouldn't want to purchase a pipe with that description. I'd email them to get their explanation because we could translate it one way, when they mean something else. But it makes me think a possible spot for a burn out, maybe a spot where the cake could crumble or filler/pipemud spot like you mentioned.

 

[sablebrush52]

It isn't good. It's a nice way of saying that the pipe could have burn out. I would pass on any pipe with such a description. There is no shortage of pipes for sale. Why buy a seriously compromised pipe?

 

[disinformatique]

I agree with Sablebrush, stay clear of these kind of pipes. If you want estate pipes you can look at Smoking Pipes and Estate Briar Pipes to start with. I have done business with the guys at Smoking Pipes and William Lundsgaard of Estate Briar Pipes (1 pipe from Smoking Pipes and 4 pipes from William - Estate Briar Pipes) and was very satisfied with the quality and service offered by them.
Cheers,

Chris

 

[pipesinperu]

I think OP is talking about smokingpipes.com. I've seen that description on some of the pipes there and wondered how serious a "soft spot" was, too. Thanks for the responses, I'll definitely have to steer clear of those. I see SPC still grades the pipe condition quite high, though, which makes me wonder... I think they give more of a discount for replacement stems and the like.
On a related note, what is "spiderwebbing" in the chamber, then? From what I understand, it's a sign that the pipe's been smoked too hot? Is it also something that may possibly compromise the pipe in the future?

 

[fishingandpipes]

Spiderwebbing is just what it sounds like, when a pipe has been smoked too hot and the interior of the bowl is showing charring.
No idea what a "soft spot" is.
I do like their quality grading methodology though, this is an exaggeration but it feels like I see stuff along the lines of "bowl out of round, over-reamed chamber, rim char, replacement stem. 4.9/5."

 

[foggymountain]

It's burnout. Stay clear.

 

[mso489]

Over zealous amateur reaming could be one cause, wearing the bowl unevenly and getting soft spots started.

I'm one of those who isn't big on cake building and reaming. Keep the carbon layer thin and don't ream, is

my method.

 

[rcstan]

Since we take our estates down to bare wood most of the time in the restoration process here at SPC, the sins of the previous owner (s) come to light.

Soft spots are caused by uneven burning, fast puffing, smoking the pipe whilst laid on one side, lighting that last pinch of tobacco in the bottom of the chamber instead of dumping it out, breaking in a bare wood bowl with pinches of tobacco, not resting the pipe between smokes, and God knows what else.

They look like small charred spots in the wood.

If the charred spots are over a larger area, they classify as "spider webbing" since they resemble such.

We have a post-restoration QC process in which pipes with thinned walls, burnout risks and the such, don't even make it to the website.

The ones with spots and webbing have a lot of life left in them still, but they need to be smoked with care ( I.e. don't load up a bowl of RYO and hook it up to a vacuum cleaner ). If anything happens, we have a solid return policy ......

 

[lostandfound]

Does pipe mud soften over time? I have an estate pipe that seems to have some sort of rubbery substance at the bottom of the bowl.

 

[monty55]

Thanks everyone for your comments, and thank you rcstan for the clarification.

 

[pipesinperu]

Great thread. And thanks again to rcstan for the explanation on the grading!

 

[antbauers]

I wonder what happens to the ones mentioned that don't make it to the website.

 

[rcstan]

The ones that don't make it to the website get donated, are used for various projects ( up to and including spray painting them and hanging them from the ceiling as ornaments ), and every now and then make bench/desk smokers for the staff.

A former partner-in-crime in restoration made an apron rack for us from a 2x4 board and "dead" bowls which serve as hooks :lol: