Burley vs Virginia for Breaking in a Cob

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cobguy

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
3,742
17
The subject of a particular tobacco for breaking in cob pipes has come up frequently.
I have always used, with great success, Carter Hall to break in my cobs.
However, in the name of fairness and experimentation, I decided to break-in two cobs at the same time.
The first cob has been getting Va #1, while the second has been CH.
I'm not sure if the pictures will do justice as to how different they are,

but the CH has produced a darker, more consistent carbon layer.
The Virginia is more grayish and patchy so far.
The Virginia:
img_20140811_142631-555x600.jpg

The Carter Hall:
img_20140811_142505-600x571.jpg


 

clarkj734

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jun 2, 2014
112
1
I've always been under the impressions that cobs smoke best without cake? Do you typically clean / wipe the inside of your cob bowls?

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
60,635
I favor burley and burley blends, so the answer for me is easy. But I have discovered from Forums that a significant

fraction of pipe smokers don't taste burley, or they find it unpleasant. For them, either Virginia or Va/Per might have

to suffice. Breaking in a new (or new to you) pipe should be a pleasure not a chore. Smoke what you enjoy at every

phase, I say.

 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,192
5,116
I know there are many who would disagree, but I find these quandaries over-zealous. To break in any pipe I load it and smoke slowly from top to bottom, and I repeat until I am satisfied that it has a sufficient cake. The caking properties of VA vs. burley are not my consideration as the important thing is to cake the bowl and smoke slowly while doing so. These fine discriminations miss that point.
But I know your practice is practiced by a number of pipers. I would honestly like to know what the supposed advantage is such that CH, for instance, is preferred.

 

cobguy

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
3,742
17
The point, for myself, of getting that carbon layer on there is to enhance my smoking pleasure

of whichever blends I will choose for that pipe.
The cob dissipates heat and moisture fairly quickly and the carbon layer slows things down a bit.

Once a nice layer develops, the bowl stays much cooler to the touch.
The advantage of CH, to me, is it's ease of smoking. This is a blend that I can scoop and plug

in one motion, smoke all the way down with one light and still enjoy. After this comparison,

I can now also see that CH does in fact create a nice consistent carbon layer.
All that being said ... this is what I do and what has worked for me.

I "break-in" cobs because they smoke better afterwards.

If you can't stand the taste of CH then it's an obvious choice not to smoke it.
My over-zealous quandaries come from being a scientist ... I can't help it.

Since I was doing it anyway, I thought some pics would be fun! :)

 

ravkesef

Lifer
Aug 10, 2010
3,039
12,529
82
Cheshire, CT
Fascinating study, Cobguy, and as I mentioned in another thread a couple of days ago, it really is counterintuitive. I do get better results breaking in a pipe with Burley, though you would think that Virginia with its higher sugar content should do it.

 

henrymars

Lurker
Mar 13, 2013
7
0
I know a guy that would take a small hand held torch and char the inside of the cob bowl before he would smoke it. I actually tried it and if you go lightly it kind of works. Personally I think that it really dosent matter what type of tobacco you use. ( I don't torch my new cobs BTW. It was just an experiment.) load the thing up and smoke it. Unless there is a problem with the pipe it will break in just fine after several smokes. If the cake is causing a problem scrape it out. Cobs are not rocket science, they are user friendly and easy to maintain.

 

bonneville

Lurker
Aug 14, 2013
17
0
You're entering the realm of personal preference here. I break in my pipes with the tobaccos I like to smoke. The exception to this rule would be certain pipes that seem to break in much slower than others. Some new pipes taste like paint when they're breaking in, so I'll smoke somthing to help mask this. Also, Meerschaum pipes give off a very rancid odor during the break in period. And since they're not as prone to ghosting, I'll smoke a heavy aromatic in them to get through this miserable period.

 

cobguy

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
3,742
17
Some new pipes taste like paint
Meerschaum pipes give off a very rancid odor during the break in period.
Yes ... qualities of pipes that are not cobs.

My thread title states that this is specific to cobs.

Also, the entire comparison was for kicks and grins. :)
I'll smoke a heavy aromatic in them to get through this miserable period.
I would never subject myself to such harsh punishments ... if I want goopy sweetness I'll get a sundae.

 

mcitinner1

Lifer
Apr 5, 2014
4,043
25
Missouri
This week was my first for cobs and in all four of them I went with

my go to favorite, BBBB and I thought they all tasted fine from the get go.
tinner

 

bonneville

Lurker
Aug 14, 2013
17
0
Some new pipes taste like paint
Meerschaum pipes give off a very rancid odor during the break in period.
Yes ... qualities of pipes that are not cobs.

My thread title states that this is specific to cobs.

Also, the entire comparison was for kicks and grins. [:)]
I'll smoke a heavy aromatic in them to get through this miserable period.
I would never subject myself to such harsh punishments ... if I want goopy sweetness I'll get a sundae.
Okay sorry sir.

 
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