Cake or Burnout?

[AroEnglish]

I got this pipe from an estate seller. They listed the condition as 9.5/10 and didn't mention any further details. I was very disappointed when I received this and contacted the seller and assured me it was just cake. It looks like burnout to me but wanted to get other opinions.

https://imgur.com/a/se0HLwl

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Cake.

 

[jakesmokes]

I got this pipe from an estate seller. They listed the condition as 9.5/10 and didn't mention any further details. I was very disappointed when I received this and contacted the seller and assured me it was just cake. It looks like burnout to me but wanted to get other opinions.

https://imgur.com/a/se0HLwl

Looks like cake to me

 

[Roach1]

All my pipes look like that,it's cake.

 

[BingBong]

Biscuit.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Looks like the cake I had in my meerschaum that I was worried was the stone cracking in some sort of weird layering thing.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

When cake gets trimmed or sanded back smoothly, it can end up looking like the wall of the chamber. I suspect if you held a straight rod against the wall, you’ll find there will be a space between where you see the “burnout” and the upper part of the chamber where there is no build up.

I use the Low Country reamer all the time, and love it:

https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-tampers-and-tools/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=202915

 

[burleybreath]

All my pipes look like that,it's cake.

Ditto. Except for the ones that don't smoke worth a damn.

 

[lraisch]

Cake.

 

[AroEnglish]

Thanks for the responses. Glad to know that the consensus is cake.

 

[dottlejockey]

Ream that baby and you're in business!

 

[Briarcutter]

Cake, priceless!

 

[FLDRD]

I too, have several that look like that. It won't change with "my" standard cleaning once there, until I get more aggressive with sandpaper or reamer. I think it got that way from not being detailed with my basic cleaning and leaving some "sides" less attended to...

 

[Sobrbiker]

I agree on the diagnosis of baked goods.

I use the Low Country reamer all the time, and love it:

https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-tampers-and-tools/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=202915

I’ve been meaning to grab one for a while, they were out of stock for a long time. Thanks for the reminder.

The spey blade on an old pocketknife works well, if blade is held “flat” against wall to control blade pressure (as the low country or oyster knives are used).

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

IMO:

Best thing to do would be to just hold it under hot running water and rub your finger around in the bowl to smooth it out. Then let it dry and you'll be set.

I've never used a reemer, but it seems like that might do more harm than good.

 

[georged]

Not a burnout, but the wood is definitely "heat shrunk" (sunken) where the carbon makes a ring halfway down.

Fairly common, and it shouldn't burn through, but trying to take the chamber back to wood everywhere by sanding or scraping is NOT recommended. You'd end up with the chamber either jugged or enlarged in diameter everywhere by appx 2mm. Better to let the sleeping dog sleep.

 

[AroEnglish]

Not a burnout, but the wood is definitely "heat shrunk" (sunken) where the carbon makes a ring halfway down.

Fairly common, and it shouldn't burn through, but trying to take the chamber back to wood everywhere by sanding or scraping is NOT recommended. You'd end up with the chamber either jugged or enlarged in diameter everywhere by appx 2mm. Better to let the sleeping dog sleep.

Thanks for the advice, George. I remember your recommendation to use popsicle sticks but I'm glad you chimed in before I did something I would regret.