Cake, and Cake Questions (with Pictures)

[Malaclypse]

I just got a peterson system standard 312, its my first briar pipe and I'm not sure if cake is building correctly. previously i had a Missouri meerscham corn cob, and the cake started building very differently.



This is after about 2 ounces of tobacco, and as you can see, there is a flakey kind of buildup that looks like dross stuck to the sides, however, it doesn't come off from the spoon of my pipe tool with moderate pressure, the bottom is just as smooth as i started, even though i smoked 5 or so half-bowls to begin with. After every smoke I shake the ash and dross to coat the inside, dump out the dross, and use my fingers to remove any pesky bits of dross still inside. (not mentioning the tenon, stem and reservoir cleaning) Am i doing anything wrong? I've read a lot of people saying honey helps build cake, and I've read a lot of people saying that could ruin a pipe. Whats the truth? does anyone know?

 

[Malaclypse]

Edit: I know I shouldn't worry about this for a while but i hear people talking about using liquor for deep cleans, I'm a recovering alcoholic, is there any substitute for liquor? I don't really trust myself buying some "just" for pipe cleaning.

 

[upnorth1]

Cake is overrated. I personally consider it unnecessary but there are plenty of posts about it in this forum.
You can start here ....
Is cake necessary?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm a recovering alcoholic, is there any substitute for liquor?

Yes! Just rinse it out with water after each smoke.
Forget about cake. It will happen no matter what you do to prevent it.

 

[anotherbob]

I just got a peterson system standard 312, its my first briar pipe and I'm not sure if cake is building correctly. previously i had a Missouri meerscham corn cob, and the cake started building very differently.
View attachment 20208
View attachment 20210

This is after about 2 ounces of tobacco, and as you can see, there is a flakey kind of buildup that looks like dross stuck to the sides, however, it doesn't come off from the spoon of my pipe tool with moderate pressure, the bottom is just as smooth as i started, even though i smoked 5 or so half-bowls to begin with. After every smoke I shake the ash and dross to coat the inside, dump out the dross, and use my fingers to remove any pesky bits of dross still inside. (not mentioning the tenon, stem and reservoir cleaning) Am i doing anything wrong? I've read a lot of people saying honey helps build cake, and I've read a lot of people saying that could ruin a pipe. Whats the truth? does anyone know?

normal, that is normal cake build up.

 

[anotherbob]

Edit: I know I shouldn't worry about this for a while but i hear people talking about using liquor for deep cleans, I'm a recovering alcoholic, is there any substitute for liquor? I don't really trust myself buying some "just" for pipe cleaning.

someone who cares about you probably has some liquor and if they understand the situation I am sure they'd be more then willing to clean you pipes when needed (only use it like once or twice a decade for pipe cleaning).

 

[scloyd]

Welcome to the forum.
I don't build cake in any of my pipes. I only smoke 1-2 bowls a week and do a hot water flush after each smoke.

I flush hot water through the pipe, wipe the chamber with a paper towel and run a couple of pipe cleaners through it, that's it....pretty simple.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Most guys still use this stuff. Not guys on here really, because we like to make things more complicated. Pipe Tools & Supplies Pipemaster Clean and Cure 2oz | Buy Pipe Tools & Supplies Pipe Accessories at Smokingpipes - https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-supplies/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=137370

 

[Malaclypse]

Cake is overrated. I personally consider it unnecessary but there are plenty of posts about it in this forum.
You can start here ....
Is cake necessary?

Alot of people here are saying it provides with a cooler smoke, I'm currently having issues with smoking hot, i often times have to put a pipe down 1-2 times a bowl because it becomes too hot for my cheek, I'm trying to smoke slower but then i have to relight more. I guess i just need to find my cadence but will cake help out with this heat?

 

[Malaclypse]

Yes! Just rinse it out with water after each smoke.
Forget about cake. It will happen no matter what you do to prevent it.

I thought I was trying hard to prevent moisture?

 

[Malaclypse]

normal, that is normal cake build up.

Thats good to hear, my corn cob had more of a smooth cake to begin with so I was worried.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Alot of people here are saying it provides with a cooler smoke, I'm currently having issues with smoking hot, i often times have to put a pipe down 1-2 times a bowl because it becomes too hot for my cheek, I'm trying to smoke slower but then i have to relight more. I guess i just need to find my cadence but will cake help out with this heat?

Tool around on here for a bit. Dry your smokes drier than you think necessary, and when you think you are smoking as slow as possible, slow down more.

Go ahead and let your pipe cake up. I think that experiencing for yourself will show you what most of us have found, and that is that cake doesn't do the magic that others have told us it would.

 

[scloyd]

I'm trying to smoke slower but then i have to relight more.

Don't worry about re-lights. Re-lights are ok.

What blends are you smoking?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I thought I was trying hard to prevent moisture?

Of course, you will want to dry your pipe afterwards. I ream mine with a wadded paper towel afterwards. But, the water will also evaporate rather quickly, if you don't want to do this.

 

[Malaclypse]

Don't worry about re-lights. Re-lights are ok.

What blends are you smoking?

Plum pudding, muddy waters, and navy flake

 

[scloyd]

Those are three blends I've never smoked. I can't help you there. I do have a couple of aromatics that smoke hotter than others. Exotic Passion is one that smokes hot everytime no matter how slow I smoke or how dry it is.

 

[Malaclypse]

Those are three blends I've never smoked. I can't help you there. I do have a couple of aromatics that smoke hotter than others. Exotic Passion is one that smokes hot everytime no matter how slow I smoke or how dry it is.

plum pudding and muddy waters definitely smoke hotter than navy flake, and they're both noticeably wetter, should I dry them out a little bit?

 

[Malaclypse]

Of course, you will want to dry your pipe afterwards. I ream mine with a wadded paper towel afterwards. But, the water will also evaporate rather quickly, if you don't want to do this.

I'll start doing that, I'm just worried about too much moisture because I smoke 10-12 bowls a day between two pipes, and currently I don't really have the cash for more pipes, I'm a college student :P

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't really have the cash for more pipes, I'm a college student :P

Dear God, the forum will hear me say this for the first time ever... :::cough cough::: maybe pick up a few MM corncobs... Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick. Kill me!!! Kill me!!!

 

[Malaclypse]

Dear God, the forum will hear me say this for the first time ever... :::cough cough::: maybe pick up a few MM corncobs... Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick. Kill me!!! Kill me!!!

lol, are they really that bad? I'll try to pick up another corn cob or two, but I only work like 16-24 hours a week at louisiana's minimum wage of 7.25. I also have food and shit to worry about. I do prefer my peterson but I don't notice too much between the two unless I'm smoking super wet tobacco