Breaking in a Cob.

[SSGT.]

I started smoking a pipe a couple years ago. first pipe was a cheap cobb, graduated to Meerschaums which I love for their smoke ability, the way my eagle claw looks and the pleasure it gives to watch it color. but miss the cob. I just got a Missouri Meershaum Huck Finn, and really know nothing about proper break in. my first cob I just filled it and went to smoking and it seemed to be fine, but have read on this site about the break in period, any advice would be great.

 

[AroEnglish]

I started smoking a pipe a couple years ago. first pipe was a cheap cobb, graduated to Meerschaums which I love for their smoke ability, the way my eagle claw looks and the pleasure it gives to watch it color. but miss the cob. I just got a Missouri Meershaum Huck Finn, and really know nothing about proper break in. my first cob I just filled it and went to smoking and it seemed to be fine, but have read on this site about the break in period, any advice would be great.

I don't think cobs need a break in period and like meerschaums, you don't want to build a cake in the chamber.

 

[kcghost]

No break in required, just fill it up with tobacco and light her up.

 

[PaulRVA]

Load your Cob up and smoke away!
No special steps are necessary.
Welcome from Richmond Virginia

 

[johnnyflake]

Just fire it up and smoke away! No break in necessary for a Cob Pipe!

 

[BingBong]

I started smoking a pipe a couple years ago. first pipe was a cheap cobb, graduated to Meerschaums which I love for their smoke ability, the way my eagle claw looks and the pleasure it gives to watch it color. but miss the cob. I just got a Missouri Meershaum Huck Finn, and really know nothing about proper break in. my first cob I just filled it and went to smoking and it seemed to be fine, but have read on this site about the break in period, any advice would be great.

I think that you're supposed to lend it to a ne'er-do-well for a fortnight and change the stem when you take it back. The American Way.

 

[proteus]

Recommend smoking full bowls but never hot. No cake in a cob that I've seen. Maybe a little. But heat will affect the pipes construction more so as some pipes like MM have a glued in plug plus plaster filling which could be affected by excess heat. So I just make sure to go easy.

 

[khiddy]

There's not a "break-in period" like you will find with a briar, but the first few smokes may be a bit rough as you burn away the portion of the wooden shank that extends into the bowl. It's just wood that you're burning, so it's not toxic or bad, just not 100% tobacco. After a few smokes (3-5 or so), that process will be complete and it'll be smooth sailing.

Happy piping!

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

The flavor will improve after you get a layer of carbon on that cob. No extra steps, but in my experience just patience.

Or like Sam Clemens and BingBong suggest:

Always hire a cheap man--a man who doesn't amount to much, anyhow--who would be as well--or better--dead, and let him break in the pipe for you. Get him to smoke the pipe for a couple of weeks, then put in a new stem, and continue operations as long as the pipe holds together.

 

[Auxsender]

I started smoking a pipe a couple years ago. first pipe was a cheap cobb, graduated to Meerschaums which I love for their smoke ability, the way my eagle claw looks and the pleasure it gives to watch it color. but miss the cob. I just got a Missouri Meershaum Huck Finn, and really know nothing about proper break in. my first cob I just filled it and went to smoking and it seemed to be fine, but have read on this site about the break in period, any advice would be great.

Wait. You just recklessly put some pipe tobacco in your new pipe and then just…smoked it? You didn’t face west while hopping on one foot? Did you even say the new pipe incantation?

 

[bullet08]

It's broken in when you don't taste the corn.

 

[captainsousie]

Expect a little burnt wood taste at the bottom for the first few smokes but otherwise treat it as a beater out of the box. Cobs will take a lot of punishment without tasting nasty for a long time, providing you don't let them get too much cake.

 

[ophiuchus]

Easy. Hire a cheap man … a man whom who doesn’t amount to much, anyhow … who would be as well or better dead, and let him break in the pipe for you. Get him to smoke the pipe for a couple of weeks, then put in a new stem, and continue operations as long as the pipe holds together.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

As others stated, no break in necessary. I personally don't like the cobs until they develop a cake as they have a strong taste they impart to the tobacco when new.

 

[badbriar]

No break in required, just fill it up with tobacco and light her up.

This ^

 

[PiperCalvinist]

The main issue with the cob is getting past the cob taste, which should only require about 5-6 smokes. At least that’s what I’ve experienced in the 5 cobs I’ve smoked.