BURNT THROUGH BOWL IN 5 MINS!!!!!

[lordnoble]

OK, I'm going to interject here in an official capacity.
TO ALL MEMBERS: Please refrain from name-calling and foul language. Thank you.
kdubk, welcome to the pipesmagazine.com forums. I understand it was probably very frustrating for you not to be taken seriously. I apologize on behalf of the members of this forum. That said, please understand why your posts and demeanor got the responses it did. This forum isn't one where you have to sign up to view the information (most nowadays aren't like this but back in my day...), so we get our fair share of people signing up with spurious names who are either spammers (90%) or chain-yankers (5%). The remainder are people who come across as one or the other and have yet to find their footing. One of our Mods started out very similarly as you have and it took a little for the membership to accept him. So please don't take it personally. On the other hand, Your original name that you used wasn't kosher with Kevin, site owner and master of all that he surveys, so he gave you a new slightly less vulgar name. One he thought appropriate given your original choice of name.
OK, there were some stellar answers by members here (some you liked, others, not so much) which, if you're serious about getting into this hobby, you should heed. As ravkasef stated in his post, those three rues are ones to live by. Also, I suggest you just read the threads on this forum and the articles on this site. I've yet to meet a member who didn't learn something about this hobby from here.
Lastly, please read the forum rules found: HERE

This, coupled with my novel of a post found HERE will set you on the right path.
Thank you for joining this site, I look forward to more of you questions and eventual pics of your pipes and tobacco.
-Jason

 

[kdubk]

Thanks andrew and jason.

 

[andrew]

I just bought a tin of Peterson's Sherlock holmes for $55 hoping that I would enjoy it in my missouri meershaum corncob pipe but, sadly I burnt through the bowl in about 5 minutes or less I've smoked out of this pipe before and never had that problem the last blend I smoked was captain blacks. I'm a noob I just started smoking pipes last week, is my pipe damaged? please help a.s.a.p.

Now that I'm at a computer and a bit buzzed I'll answer your question. You were smoking captain blacks which is full of this chemical we call PG which keeps tobacco from drying out. Personally I hate it, I've had blends with it that won't dry out in a year. It would also extend the smoking time greatly of a bowl. You've just spent 55$ on a tin of tobacco these guys get for 8.99$. You want it to last you so you're smoking small bowls. You can't do this with a pipe really. This tobacco is more natural and high quality so you'll have to load it up, this is what pipe smoking is about. Fill the bowl once loosely, pack it down to about half way. Fill it again loosely, pack it 3/4. Fill it again loosely, now tamp it down so it's about even with the rim, about a centimeter lower. Now draw on the pipe, it should feel like drinking from a straw. If it's too tight dump it out and re pack it. Once you have it right light it once, puff on it a few times. Let it go out. Light it again, puff on it a few times, let it got out. Tap it down. Light it again, and this is the true light, now smoke slowly, don't be afraid if it goes out, just tamp and light it again. You can light it up again the next day, it will taste even better most likely, we call this DGT (delayed gratification technique) Don't puff to hard or you'll get tongue burn, but after smoking a bowl at fist you'll always feel it a bit the next day at first. Then start ordering online, 2 100 gram tins plus shipping from somehere like 4noggins will set you back 50$ with shippin, that would be over 150$ in Canada. Keep at it and it will become second nature. Personally I just tried a cob and I love it, but the first few smokes you'll taste wood when the bottom stem burns out, once it's broken in though it's a great smoke, just go slow and don't puff too hard. I know what's it's like to have to pay up the ass for pipe tobacco and not wanting to totally load a bowl up.

 

[newbroom]

burnt through the bowl

as in: the bowl of tobacco....OR as in: burnt through the bowl?

and...do you live in Newfoundland?

 

[kdubk]

I live in Calgary, I just removed the Missouri Meershaum sticker from the bottom of my bowl and there's a hole in the bottom of the bowl. The hole is about the same diameter as the sticker was, the hole doesn't go right through the bowl but, the hole feels soft to the touch.

 

[kdubk]

I don't have a cam but, I will try to borrow one and post pics on a different thread.

 

[gtclark]

I just removed the Missouri Meershaum sticker from the bottom of my bowl and there's a hole in the bottom of the bowl.

That's probably the wood plug. The corncob is hollow from top to bottom, and a wooden plug is placed at the bottom to make the "floor" of the pipe, so to speak. It is normal for the interior of the pipe to char after you smoke it, but after the first few smokes, the interior should carbonize. If the area at the bottom of the pipe where you removed the sticker appears burnt or charred, the pipe is most likely ruined. Charring on the inside of the pipe is normal, charring on the outside is indicative of what's called "burn-through".

 

[kdubk]

The exterior isn't charred: it just has a hole about a centimeter deep. Also, it feels all soft when I stuck my finger in the hole to feel it. Do you think I just purchased a fault cob? Or I wrecked it myself?

 

[kdubk]

The hole is on the exterior at the bottom of the bowl, where the sticker was.

 

[condorlover1]

I loathe corn cob pipes. Don't get me wrong they are very functional and cheap but boy do they heat up and yes you can burn through the bottom especially if you smoke 'hot' by puffing too much. Some people love them. Sadly I have tried them on numerous occasions and I just cannot enjoy the damned things. If you are burning through the bottom that means you are burning the wooden dowel of the shank as well. Have you perchance also burnt your tongue?

 

[kdubk]

I've burnt my tongue a little but nothing painful, and I agree the bowl gets extremely hot at times. Another thing is i can never really taste the tobacco it always has a burnt taste to it, and when I start getting towards the bottom of the bowl I often end up with ash in my mouth. Either I don't know how to smoke a pipe, or cobs just suck.

 

[conlejm]

Kdubk said:

No I'm serious I didn't literally burn the bowl it's self, I mean the tobacco. I live in Canada pipe tobacco is outrageously expensive the first blend I've ever tried was Captain Blacks Royal Blend and that costed me nearly $40. Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's my pipe that's defunct or if i was just smoking too heavily.

Now I am confused. You said at first you didn't burn through the bowl itself, now you are saying you burned through the bowl. At first your concern was that you were going through tobacco too quickly, and that was expensive in Canada at $40-$55 per tin, but now you are worried about the pipe itself.

 

[kdubk]

Yeah because, I tried smoking it again today and when I placed my finger under the bowl where the sticker was it felt a little hollow so i peeled it off. There's a hole the diameter of the sticker on the exterior of the bowl it isn't charred and it doesn't go all the way through. The hole appears to be about a centimeter deep, and when i feel inside of the hole the cob has a really soft texture in comparison to the rest of the bow. I'll have to upload pics later in a new thread so you guys can get an idea of what I'm talking about.

 

[homeguard95]

Do you know what model of Missouri Meerschaum pipe you have? (eg. Country Gentleman, eaton, Patriot) because if you do that would help. I'm almost certain that not all Missouri Meerschaums have a hardwood plug they simply use the shank insert as a line of defense per say. Like my mizzou doesn't have a hardwood plug but I believe the Country Gentleman does. My unnecessarily long ramble leads me to believe that you smoked your corn cob way to hot, and fire managed to get to the underlying pith of the cob, assuming of course that your pipe doesn't have a hardwood plug. Ramble over. ::

 

[conlejm]

I don't know what corn cob pipes cost in Canada, but they are pretty inexpensive down here in the States. Maybe you buy a few more; they are good to keep on hand for trying new blends and for keeping in your car or doing yard work (because of their relatively low cost). It sounds like you may have both a defective pipe and perhaps have smoked it too vigorously.
If you do a quick search on this Forum, there is a "Free Pipe Project" intended for new members who do not have many pipes and are new to pipe smoking. Many Forum members contribute pipes and tobacco to the project. Maybe you could get on the list and be a recipient; all the contributors ask is that you post a pick of the pipes and tobacco receive so that they can know their generosity went to a grateful recipient. It is a great way to spread the joy of pipe smoking to newcomers to the hobby. I don't know if the project extends into Canada or not, but if you search the Forum you can get the details.

 

[conlejm]

Found the link to the Free Pipe Project:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/free-pipe-project

 

[andrew]

Yeah sign up for the free pipe project and get a briar, or take smokey up on his offer or find a cheap estate pipe (used pipe) on ebay or a second hand store if you can. I just tried a corncob but I've got smoking down pat. You can find pipes on ebay for 10$ easily. It takes a bit to get the hang of it, there are some guys on here from alberta as well. It's a great hobby but don't expect to be a pro overnight, it took me a good couple months to get the hang of it. Alot of people are ready to give up in frustration then suddenly get the hang of it. You probably smoked your cob too hot, your pipe shouldn't get too warm to touch to your cheek and not hurt when you're smoking. It took me a good year to be able to smoke a bowl properly. Start ordering online though and learning won't cost you so much

 

[kdubk]

Yeah I'm gonna buy a pipe off of Smokey I just have to wait until I can verify my PayPal account. I posted up on the free pipe project thread but, it doesn't seem to be active.

 

[rangerearthpig]

You might try the pipe mud trick I mentioned. Build up a tick later, and let each layer dry.

 

[kdubk]

On the cob?