Box O' Cobs for Testing and Tasting

[woodsroad]

Just in on the Slow Boat From China
I've been collecting samples of a lot of different tobacco types, mostly pure varieties for blending, with the intention of trying a bit of each to get acquainted with them. Then, I'll move on to some simple mixtures, and maybe do some pressing, mixing with various spirits, etc..
A nice clean cob should help.

 

[petes03]

Those should do fine for sampling, but being from China, you may not get many smokes out of them before they burn up.

 

[scrapyardape]

Ack! Chinese cobs! I hope you have better luck with them than I did. I got 10 of them back in June, and of that lot only 3 worked. I should note that those three still work for me, but I think I got extremely lucky.

 

[mike73]

Should have bought American!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You might want to test them. They may have made the cobs out of lead.

 

[woodsroad]

You might want to test them. They may have made the cobs out of lead.

Funny thing, there, the box weighed about 60 pounds...
OK, Oh Vaulted Knowledgebase, schoool me on corncobs and the advantages/disadvantages of US vs China. And don't give me the "buy American" thing unless you don't have a non-US pipe in your collection!

 

[petes03]

Missouri Meerschaum has specifically bred their corn for making pipes, and they coat them with a kind of plaster which makes them harder and more resistant to heat.

 

[woodsroad]

Well, that makes sense.

 

[mlyvers]

Why would anyone buy anything but a MM corncob? They are a proven staple in the industry. Look at their website, i have smoked many a cob in my day. Good luck with those cobs, oh yeah on cobs BUY AMERICAN.
Mike.

 

[woodsroad]

Why would anyone buy anything but a MM corncob?

That is so helpful, thank you.
And what pipe is that in your sig photo, and what 'baccy is in it?

 

[plateauguy]

Chinese = chemicals that are not controlled.
While I own British and Irish briars, I'd never consider anything but an MM cob. Still, if Chinese works for you, go for it.

 

[scrapyardape]

Here's the trouble I had with the chinese cobs, woodsroad. They were full of "leaks". The stems did not fit well with the cobs, allowing air to pass when I attempted to draw... the cobs themselves also allowed air to pass in and out through micro-holes in the sides and in the bottoms. All that "leakage" kept the tobacco from staying lit no matter how much one huffed and puffed.
Like I said earlier... three of them did turn out to be fairly decent smokers. The way I found out which ones they were was to hold my thumb over the top of the bowl, forming a seal of sorts. I then attempted to draw through the bit... If there was no airflow into my mouth, then I knew that they were ok. The bad ones let air flow easily even with the bowl sealed off.
Hope that helps.

 

[fitzy]

I would totally suggest you have ordered a bag of 2nd's from MM instead.
10 pipes for 30 bucks.
http://corncobpipe.com/10-pipe-grab-bag-of-smokable-seconds.html

 

[mlyvers]

You are welcome sir. That pipe is a Charatans Make Supreme S100 FH Lane Era(L) made in ~1957. I paid 30 dollars for it and refurbished the pipe. Tim West did put a nice lucite replacment stem on the pipe for me. iam not sure what tobac i was smoking at the time of the photo. This pipe is a very good smoker. Look get (buy) a Missouri Meerschaum Corncob pipe (s). They are great corncob pipes, many members here prefer this type of cob. Good luck and thanks for asking about my pipe. Oh yeah Tim told me that this pipe in my avatar is worth 500-1000 dollars.

Good catch for 30 dollars.
Take Care.

Mike.

 

[woodsroad]

Chinese = chemicals

That's supposed to be MY argument! Why don't I listen to my own advice?

They were full of "leaks"

Yup, I'm finding that out.

a bag of 2nd's from MM instead

Wish I knew about that, but that's my fault for not doing the research. Impulse buy bug bit me.
OK, I tested all of the Chinese cob pipes and none of them seal shut. A bunch come close, and only two are sieves. So I think that they will be OK for their intended use, but in the future, no more cobs from Column B. I have a big old bucket of furnace cement, and I'm going to try coating a couple of the leakers.
Much obliged for the help and pointers. Feel free to keep chiming in with your .02¢!

 

[scrapyardape]

Well.. if you live in a northerly area, you have some nice snowman props now. :wink:

 

[woodsroad]

Oh yeah Tim told me that this pipe in my avatar is worth...

Yipes. I'll bet with a find like that, anything will taste like Victory in that pipe.

 

[woodsroad]

you have some nice snowman props now

Ha!

We had our first flurries today here in Bucks County, PA, which bodes well for a snowy winter. Maybe I can wander down the street and sell them to the neighbor kids on a snowy day. Make back what I have in them.

 

[scrapyardape]

I can wander down the street and sell them to the neighbor kids on a snowy day.

Good lord, I can almost see the headlines now.. "Man Caught Peddling Smoking Supplies to Minors on Snowy Afternoons." :nana:

 

[plateauguy]

Now that you have your "testers" use 'em up and throw away when they're no good.
Then find a MM cob shape that works for you, and your next step will need to be a Forever stem. A good cob and stem should last "forever". I really didn't care for my cobs until I replaced the stems. What a difference! The great thing is that when the cob finally does go, you've still got the stem.
Another member found a page on the bay that also had lucite stems. Think the search line was: MM cob lucite stem