Cob>Briar

[cosmicfolklore]

All I was getting at is I believe quality materials makes a difference in the quality of the smoke.

He has obstinately hung on to this belief since I have been here. You are arguing with a broken fence post that no one is going to be able to relate to on this issue. It doesn't matter to the rest of us why he does this. There is only a short term harm in just letting him be, and that is that someone might believe him for fifteen minutes, until they smoke two different pipes for themselves. Best just to save your breath.

 

[woodsroad]

HTF does this go on for 5 pages?

 

[Grimlineman]

HTF does this go on for 5 pages?

Because there lots of folks that know cobs are the superior smoke and need to get it off their chest!

I do like my briar pipes I just was expecting more....that's on me for not knowing all I was getting was a pretty stick.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

HTF does this go on for 5 pages?

Cob guys are mostly homeless people out living on the streets in cardboard boxes. going on and on takes their minds off of how cold it is out there on the streets. At least till the clinic opens.

 

[WirelessSmoke]

I enjoy my cobs and my cheapo briars. I don't know that I actually taste much difference between the two, but I do find the experience differs for me. I will say though, that my "value" tobaccos like Gambler Regular always seem to smoke better out of a beat up cob. I wouldn't want to give up either, but if cobs were all I could smoke I'd be pretty happy with that.

 

[woodsroad]

I have briars, cobs and clays. I like smoking them all, but in terms of which ones deliver the most out of any given blend, I have to say clays win, followed by cobs, then briar. Briar wins for aesthetics, and are much more portable than clay, so that bumps briar up a bit.

But it’s all very subjective.

 

[Steddy]

I like my cobs, briars, and meerschaums. I enjoy the variety. I appreciate the history of all three. I enjoy the different shapes and bowel sizes that briar and meerschaum provide. I enjoy how meerschaum colors. I enjoy the cheapness and not caring if I abuse a cob. Is one better than another? I don’t know or care. It’s all about enjoyment for me. I am still a new pipe smoker at three years in and reserve the right to be flexible in my opinions.

 

[Chasing Embers]

He has obstinately hung on to this belief since I have been here. You are arguing with a broken fence post that no one is going to be able to relate to on this issue. It doesn't matter to the rest of us why he does this. There is only a short term harm in just letting him be, and that is that someone might believe him for fifteen minutes, until they smoke two different pipes for themselves. Best just to save your breath.

P.T. Barnum loved that sort of thinking.

 

[PipeIT]

And that's only if the pipe is new. Once broken in and a carbon layer has formed, you're no longer smoking in the pipe's construction material but from a chamber of carbon.

My Cobs never formed much carbon, not even 1mm. Maybe I wiped them to much, but I would never wipe the chambers with any pressure, just gently.

My cobs always gave a lighter, more airy flavor to the blends, not as intense tasting as briar. I would always smoke the cobs when I wanted a lighter gentler taste.

Now Meerschaum is an interesting one, because it’s always been my understanding you don’t want to build carbon in a meerschaum. I’ve also never heard of building carbon in Clay.

 

[Chasing Embers]

you don’t want to build carbon in a meerschaum.

@didimauw and I have debunked that one numerous times.

 

[PipeIT]

@didimauw and I have debunked that one numerous times.

I believe I read some of this before.

I should of said, I thought when it came to meerschaum it doesn’t matter, or change anything, it will smoke the same, with or without a carbon layer.

I just thought from what I’ve learned in the past Meerschaum smoke great without a carbon layer is all, not like they need breaking in like briar.

 

[Chasing Embers]

not like they need breaking in like briar.

They do mute flavors for the first couple of dozen smokes until they start to saturate with oils from the smoke.

 

[PipeIT]

They do mute flavors for the first couple of dozen smokes until they start to saturate with oils from the smoke.

I remember reading meerschaum do need a few smokes in them, as your mentioning. But my understanding, that once they saturate, this is all they need, and no need for cake.

Thanks

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I like cobs, but I prefer briar. I tend to get more of those nirvana smokes from briars.

 

[didimauw]

@didimauw and I have debunked that one numerous times.

Yup I found no difference either way!

 

[Zamora]

I only use my cob for codgers and the rare occasion I smoke an aro. I have a decent collection of cheap briars I mostly use, also a meer lined olive wood. I did get a good deal on a smaller meer but i haven't had the chance to smoke it yet

 

[JackOrion]

I don’t smoke everyday and at that rarely more than once a day, dowhen I do light up. The aesthetics and ritual matter to me. I choose which pipe and tobacco will be explored. I fire the pipe with 2 matches before switching to a lighter. I like the feel in hand.

 

[BogOakPiper]

I prefer briar. Cob has its thing. But I like what briar adds to the smoke. Only smoked one meer, and meer is rather too clean. Cob, to me even after the break in, adds that corn sweetness to smoke. Briar, on the other hand, adds that certain warmness. Meer misses all of any added notes.

That's why I turned to morta/ bog oak. Clean cool smoke, and more important virgin taste of the blend, no added flavours of any kind.
But I agree the cob is drier than a briar. The reason I don't like it, the added corn flavour.

 

[Grimlineman]

Still stand behind the cob is the gooder smoke and if that's all I could have until the Lord comes back I would be doing just fine. But it's not and I got this pretty stick in the mail today and it puts smoke out like my other briars so I guess I'll let it sit at my cobs foot stool

 

[tolstoyevsky]

Some people just won't admit it... But it's true, cobs are better suited for smoking than briar.

I still mostly smoke my briars.

Nobody with any self-respect wants to go around looking like a homeless hillbilly, smoking a pipe made out of a piece of corn.

Dude. I'm just one bird-dropping away from looking like I'm homeless anyway. But I did just order my first briar. Grateful for your help, btw.