Coatings on Chinese Pipes

[Leyor]

Hi everybody, I'm new here, and relatively new the pipe smoking hobby (which I'm really loving).
I just wanted to know what you're thoughts were on the safety of pipes that have varnish/coatings on them?
I have a few pipes, including a peterson dracula, and Vauen shire, but I've bought a couple of cheap Chinese pipes because I really like them, and they are great value for money. My only real concern, is that they have some sort of hard varnish coating substance on them, and I am unsure of if it will cause me any harm or not?
Is there anybody else here who smokes Chinese pipes, and what are your thoughts on them?
Any help and feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I understand the concerns about Chinese products, especially after seeing news reports of Pixar Cars toys having lead in their paints. I believe I only have one Chinese pipe (a Roadtown) and it seems like any other pipe. As long as the coating on yours isn’t inside the bowl, you’re probably fine. There are probably more contaminants in our bathrooms and kitchens that will kill us sooner than pipe finishes.

 

[Leyor]

I understand the concerns about Chinese products, especially after seeing news reports of Pixar Cars toys having lead in their paints. I believe I only have one Chinese pipe (a Roadtown) and it seems like any other pipe. As long as the coating on yours isn’t inside the bowl, you’re probably fine. There are probably more contaminants in our bathrooms and kitchens that will kill us sooner than pipe finishes.

Thank you, I really like the Chinese pipes, and they make some really great quality designs.
The bowl just appears have a carbon powder coating inside it, and the varnish is just on the outside, and on the top.
I think you're probably right, we have more chance of toxic things in our bathrooms!

 

[AJL67]

They are just knockoffs of other pipe shapes but most likely "hardwood" and not Briar. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke. The only time tried one of the chinese pipes i didn't like how it smoked and tossed it, it's more about how a pipe smokes over looks in the long run you might want to try a Missouri Meerschaum.

 

[Leyor]

They are just knockoffs of other pipe shapes but most likely "hardwood" and not Briar. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke. The only time tried one of the chinese pipes i didn't like how it smoked and tossed it, it's more about how a pipe smokes over looks in the long run you might want to try a Missouri Meerschaum.

Thanks, I've never tried a Meerschaum yet, I'll have to get myself one.
As for the Chinese pipes, they seem hit and miss, but I have 2 Muxiang Chinese pipes, and they are outstanding! They're a real reputable specific Chinese brand (handmade) that are as good as any other well established brand, but I think there are a lot of bad Chinese cheap pipes that aren't very good.
I totally agree with you, it's definitely more important how the pipe smokes over anything else

 

[WVOldFart]

I have only one Chinese pipe because most of their products are listed as just wood. I do have a Roadtown pipe made of briar which I really like.

 

[Sigmund]

I tend to remove bowl coatings. On a pipe from China I would remove every bit I could and then some.

 

[Leyor]

I tend to remove bowl coatings. On a pipe from China I would remove every bit I could and then some.

Thanks, yeah, I'm gonna remove all of it and sand the entire outside of it.
I like the pipe itself, just a bit concerned with the weird coating!

 

[AJL67]

Missouri Meerschaum are actually cheap corncob pipes. I would suggest picking up at least one, most every here has at least one or owned one.

Missouri Meerschaum Company - CornCobPipe.com

Smoking Pipes Gift Ideas Cob Wear Authentic & Original The Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe A 150-year-old legend styled for today's pipe smoker! Whether you enjoy fishing, hunting, gaming, woodworking, car collecting, reading, boating, or card playing, there’s nothing quite like

corncobpipe.com

Block Meerschaum are a type of stone carved into many pipe shapes as well as figural designs and a lot of people here have at least one of those as well, it's about all i smoke anymore as they are known for being a cool dry smoke, plus they look cool and look cool when they color as you smoke them over the weeks, months and years.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Missouri Meerschaum are actually cheap corncob pipes. I would suggest picking up at least one, most every here has at least one or owned one.

Missouri Meerschaum Company - CornCobPipe.com

Smoking Pipes Gift Ideas Cob Wear Authentic & Original The Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe A 150-year-old legend styled for today's pipe smoker! Whether you enjoy fishing, hunting, gaming, woodworking, car collecting, reading, boating, or card playing, there’s nothing quite like

corncobpipe.com

Block Meerschaum are a type of stone carved into many pipe shapes as well as figural designs and a lot of people here have at least one of those as well, it's about all i smoke anymore as they are known for being a cool dry smoke, plus they look cool and look cool when they color as you smoke them over the weeks, months and years.

I agree that you should try at least one Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe. If you get a filtered model it will come with one filter installed. I buy a ten pack of filters with each pipe and use a fresh filter with every bowl for the first ten bowls or so. Sometimes there is stain and finish that gets inside the bowl and even after sanding the inside it is a bit harsh until it is burned out, so the filters help with that. After it is broken in I smoke without a filter. The Legend model pipe is the most popular of the medium sized pipes and would be a good choice for a first cob, but there are so many options to choose from, another model may catch your eye.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Thanks, yeah, I'm gonna remove all of it and sand the entire outside of it.
I like the pipe itself, just a bit concerned with the weird coating!

I'd be concerned with only the interior coating. Hard varnish on the exterior will be a lot of trouble removing, and I don't think it will improve the smoking nor the safety of the pipe.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes and you might not like the looks of what is under the black finish. Id remove the bowl coating and worry about the outside if the black proves not to be durable.

 

[Pipeoff]

Welcome from W NY. No info on pipes but I try not to buy anything made by slave labor from China.

 

[tobakenist]

Most pipe smokers don't inhale so coatings are not a problem for us, if you inhale be careful, I don't even know what wood the Chinees use, so be real careful. And welcome to this Forum.

 

[Sigmund]

I try not to slam any one culture (they all deserve a beating) but when it comes to the folks exporting things in China the moral compass too often points only to dollar signs at the expense of everything else.

Not to get political but then you have people shouting in favor of deregulation. Be careful what you wish for. It just might kill you.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Welcome from W NY. No info on pipes but I try not to buy anything made by slave labor from China.

Well that would be an awful lot of products. ️

 

[Sigmund]

Well that would be an awful lot of products. ️

Yeah...no phone for you!

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Yeah...no phone for you!

Ya know…you’re right! ️

 

[warren]

I'm not a fan of the CCP and, where possible, avoid products made there. Lead paint on toys, possibly lethal dog foods, and so forth. Not an attractive track record, Some foreign companies spend many moneys to oversee production in China. Others? Not so much. Nothing to do with the political situation. I simply do not want "iffy" product when options exist.

 

[Leyor]

I agree that you should try at least one Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe. If you get a filtered model it will come with one filter installed. I buy a ten pack of filters with each pipe and use a fresh filter with every bowl for the first ten bowls or so. Sometimes there is stain and finish that gets inside the bowl and even after sanding the inside it is a bit harsh until it is burned out, so the filters help with that. After it is broken in I smoke without a filter. The Legend model pipe is the most popular of the medium sized pipes and would be a good choice for a first cob, but there are so many options to choose from, another model may catch your eye.

I'm not a fan of the CCP and, where possible, avoid products made there. Lead paint on toys, possibly lethal dog foods, and so forth. Not an attractive track record, Some foreign companies spend many moneys to oversee production in China. Others? Not so much.

I agree for the most part, but there are still a lot of really skilled
Creative passionate artisan brands in China that put a lot of care, and attention to detail into their brands/products. I think we just have to be careful which Chinese companies we buy from.
I have personally had some incredibly good products from China, that rival anywhere else in the world, and I have also had really poor, cheap and nasty stuff. It all depends on the company that's making it, but there is a lot of quality stuff being made over there at a fraction of the cost