Cob - Bad Tobacco - Switched SWR - Now Bitter Moldy

[PipeIT]

I recently purchased a Samuel Gawith 2013 Tin, even though these tins don’t come vacuum sealed, I thought I could rehydrate the tobacco.

I packed a bowl today into a MM Apple Diplomat Smooth, that I’ve only had a month.

The taste wasn’t good, but hoped it would get good. I tried around 7-8 lights, I then let the cob cool, I tossed it out, and ran a bristle and soft cleaner through it.

I then loaded the cob with SWR, hoping to smoke a bowl and have the Burley clean it out.

On the first few lights the Burley was noticeably a bit bitter, after the first few lights, I now have a constant moldy taste, so I couldn’t handle that taste, I let the pipe cool, tossed out the SWR, ran the cleaners through it, and figured I should let the pipe dry out for a few days.

What I don’t understand is that I only lit the Gawith 7-8 times, it wasn’t like I smoked an entire bowl, I don’t understand how that could of ghosted/ruined the cob, and I assumed I could smoke the SWR right away and it would not taste this way.

Any thoughts here, would be appreciated.

Thanks

P.S. My smoking day is already off to a bad start, and I can’t get the crappy bitter taste of the Gawith out of my mouth. Suffice to say, never going to buy older Tobacco that doesn’t come in a vacuum sealed tin again.

 

[bullet08]

Did you rehydrate the tobacco? Did you dry it before loading? Nothing wrong with relight, but 7-8 times seems little too many. Sounds like the cob took on too much moisture, possibly from bad source. Let it dry and try your normal blend.

 

[PipeIT]

Did you rehydrate the tobacco? Did you dry it before loading? Nothing wrong with relight, but 7-8 times seems little too many. Sounds like the cob took on too much moisture, possibly from bad source. Let it dry and try your normal blend.

Yes the Gawith I rehydrated it for 4 days, then stuck in a Mason jar, and the texture/moisture felt great and it smelled really great too.

I took a bowls worth out and let it dry for 20 minutes before smoking, but it was bad, so I threw the whole thing out, but of course I kept the tin for collection.

Ok, pipe drying for the next few days.

Thanks

P.S. @bullet08 I was editing the post over.

 

[upnorth1]

You lit it ONLY 7-8 times. Seems like a lot of lights to me. I've never used that many lights on any SG or GH tobaccos, or any other for that matter. It could be the tobacco. Have you been smoking a pipe very long?

 

[PipeIT]

You lit it ONLY 7-8 times. Seems like a lot of lights to me. I've never used that many lights on any SG or GH tobaccos, or any other for that matter. It could be the tobacco. Have you been smoking a pipe very long?

Not 7-8 lights to get it burning, I lit it, smoked it 7-8 times, is what I meant by the lights...

Sorry for the confusion.

1 light to get it burning...

P.S. The point of the post was to determine, if all it might take sometimes with bad tobacco, that only 7-8 smokes/puffs on a bowl could ghost it?

 

[upnorth1]

Not 7-8 lights to get it burning, I lit it, smoked it 7-8 times, is what I meant by the lights...

Sorry for the confusion.

1 light to get it burning...

P.S. The point of the post was to determine, if all it might take sometimes with bad tobacco, that only 7-8 smokes/puffs on a bowl could ghost it?

I wouldn't think so unless it was over hydrated and the cob absorbed whatever is wrong, if anything, with the tobacco. Try a few more bowls of burley in that cob. Can you see anything suspicious inspecting the tobacco? You mentioned it tasted mouldy.

 

[FurCoat]

Clean out the bowl with Everclear and run a soaked pipe cleaner through the stem. If that doesn't work, lightly sand the bowl with 200 grit sandpaper.

 

[PipeIT]

I wouldn't think so unless it was over hydrated and the cob absorbed whatever is wrong, if anything, with the tobacco. Try a few more bowls of burley in that cob. Can you see anything suspicious inspecting the tobacco? You mentioned it tasted mouldy.

Well it’s a pouch of SWR I’ve only had a few weeks, it looks and smells just fine, I don’t think it’s the problem, and the ambient temperature and humidity where I live is ideal for wood and tobacco too.

I just assumed if it’s tasting bad, after only like 7-8 smokes/puffs on the bad tobacco, and then 3-4 s smokes/puffs with the SWR moldy, I should just let the pipe dry out for a few days...

Hmm ?

Clean out the bowl with Everclear and run a soaked pipe cleaner through the stem. If that doesn't work, lightly sand the bowl with 200 grit sandpaper.

Ok, I have 100 Proof Vodka I bought for cleaning, no Everclear, and no sandpaper. How long to dry out before trying over?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It's what, a $12 cob? Pitch it and move on.

 

[PipeIT]

It's what, a $12 cob? Pitch it and move on.

Yeah my exact thoughts, but it only took a few minutes to clean, so I’m interested to see how it smokes, after letting dry out a little.

Will report back...

 

[shermnatman]

It may not be the tabak at all; it may be your pipe. I 'burnt' either the rim, or the inside of the bowl of a brand-new MM once, and it was the worst smell/taste imaginable - combination of burnt popcorn and burnt plastic. I had to pitch that pipe. I then began as S.O.P., coating the inside of the bowl, and the rim, of any new MM cob with a thin layer of either honey or maple syrup - left to dry overnight - before lighting it up the very first time. Never had that problem with cobs again. By the way, the same pipe you used, the MM Diplomat apple smooth - I like the bent stem - is one of my favorite, best smoking and tasting pipes in my collection. Love the Diplomat apple MM pipe... especially, since I don't burn them any longer. Give it a try for yourself. - Sherm Natman

 

[Pit&Pipes]

I’d also suggest the quick clean and if it’s not better toss and buy another one. You might already have it “mentally ghosted” and that you won’t get over. Cobs are cheap unless you get a custom one LOL. Toss and move on?there’s too much tobacco to smoke to not enjoy ?

I used to do the honey on my briars way back in the day, never thought about doing it on a cob.

 

[stokesdale]

I recently purchased a Samuel Gawith 2013 Tin, even though these tins don’t come vacuum sealed, I thought I could rehydrate the tobacco.

I packed a bowl today into a MM Apple Diplomat Smooth, that I’ve only had a month.

The taste wasn’t good, but hoped it would get good. I tried around 7-8 lights, I then let the cob cool, I tossed it out, and ran a bristle and soft cleaner through it.

I then loaded the cob with SWR, hoping to smoke a bowl and have the Burley clean it out.

On the first few lights the Burley was noticeably a bit bitter, after the first few lights, I now have a constant moldy taste, so I couldn’t handle that taste, I let the pipe cool, tossed out the SWR, ran the cleaners through it, and figured I should let the pipe dry out for a few days.

What I don’t understand is that I only lit the Gawith 7-8 times, it wasn’t like I smoked an entire bowl, I don’t understand how that could of ghosted/ruined the cob, and I assumed I could smoke the SWR right away and it would not taste this way.

Any thoughts here, would be appreciated.

Thanks

P.S. My smoking day is already off to a bad start, and I can’t get the crappy bitter taste of the Gawith out of my mouth. Suffice to say, never going to buy older Tobacco that doesn’t come in a vacuum sealed tin again.

Swish your mouth out with Listerine...the original Listerine, not that flavored crap. Take two shots of Knob Creek 100 proof, drink 3 beers, smoke a cigar, and the taste should be gone.

 

[mso489]

Sand paper and everclear or vodka sound like a start. Maybe put some fire to he chamber, a match or lighter, to kill off any super-spores. Then run a few bowls of SWR through it. I'm dubious any sour taste would remain. If so, go to plan B and throw out the pipe.

 

[FurCoat]

Well it’s a pouch of SWR I’ve only had a few weeks, it looks and smells just fine, I don’t think it’s the problem, and the ambient temperature and humidity where I live is ideal for wood and tobacco too.

I just assumed if it’s tasting bad, after only like 7-8 smokes/puffs on the bad tobacco, and then 3-4 s smokes/puffs with the SWR moldy, I should just let the pipe dry out for a few days...

Hmm ?



Ok, I have 100 Proof Vodka I bought for cleaning, no Everclear, and no sandpaper. How long to dry out before trying over?

Let it dry for a couple hours. The alcohol will evaporate pretty quick.

 

[shermnatman]

"... 'Mentally Ghosted' that you won't get over", like having been married; or when you see 'That Guy' again at the annual All-You-Can-Eat Bean Burrito & Chili Challenge. - Sherm Natman

 

[PipeIT]

"... 'Mentally Ghosted' that you won't get over", like having been married; or when you see 'That Guy' again at the annual All-You-Can-Eat Bean Burrito & Chili Challenge. - Sherm Natman

Yes I believe I have experienced a Traumatic Tobacco Ghosting. ?

Now I have PTSD (Post Tobacco Stress Disorder) and I don’t believe there are any Therapists in my area knowledgeable about this condition.

Thank goodness I am strong willed, so I will Survive! ?️‍

LOL

The bloody Mold taste was coming from the SWR. I packed it into another pipe to smoke, to do a Burley cleaning, and on the first light, there was that mold taste again.

Only had the SWR for 2 weeks, I can’t believe it was a bad batch I received, oh well, in the trash it went, Mold Mystery Solved!

The Cob chamber, after wiping/cleaning it out with the 100 Proof Vodka, it now smells sweet inside.

 

[Cotton1]

@PipeIT - I just remove the stem and clean the pipe with pipe cleaner and let it sit in the sunshine for a few hours. That seems to reset my cobbs pretty good-I never put any liquid in my cobbs but have done the vodka treatment on a briar.

It might just be me but the sunshine, fresh air and getting the stem nice and clean seem to work great on the cobbs.

Cotton1

 

[PipeIT]

@PipeIT - I just remove the stem and clean the pipe with pipe cleaner and let it sit in the sunshine for a few hours. That seems to reset my cobbs pretty good-I never put any liquid in my cobbs but have done the vodka treatment on a briar.

It might just be me but the sunshine, fresh air and getting the stem nice and clean seem to work great on the cobbs.

Cotton1

Pipe Vitamin D Deficiency!

I just dipped a little of the Qtip into the vodka, then wiped the chamber with it, and a little on a soft cleaner, running it through.

The chamber smells really sweet and I smoked it yesterday, smoked nice.

 

[Sonorisis]

What I don’t understand is that I only lit the Gawith 7-8 times, it wasn’t like I smoked an entire bowl, I don’t understand how that could of ghosted/ruined the cob, and I assumed I could smoke the SWR right away and it would not taste this way.

Incomplete combustion is the "dirtiest" combustion.