Corncob vs Hardwood

[Griffith]

I am about to order my first pipe. The Diplomat corn cob pipe I selected is $17 including shipping. Thats a no from me. It IS cheap, but I can get some $6 pipes that look the same to me. I'm not picky, and I'm trying to get my feet wet.

I found an Ozark Mountain Hardwood pipe that is meant to be shaped like a corn cob, and it is made by Missouri Meerschaum as well as the corn cobs I am looking at.

To me, the hardwood looks better. But looks aren't everything. Which do you prefer, and why? Also, how do pipe shapes affect the smoke? For example, 5th Avenue, Apple, Rob Roy, etc.


Here is the pipe in-case interested: OZARK MOUNTAIN (Cherry Or Maple) Missouri Meerschaum Hardwood Pipe - Aristocob - https://aristocob.com/OZARK-MOUNTAIN-Cherry-Or-Maple-Missouri-Meerschaum-Hardwood-Pipe-P2080237.aspx

 

[stokesdale]

I am about to order my first pipe. The Diplomat corn cob pipe I selected is $17 including shipping. Thats a no from me. It IS cheap, but I can get some $6 pipes that look the same to me. I'm not picky, and I'm trying to get my feet wet.

I found an Ozark Mountain Hardwood pipe that is meant to be shaped like a corn cob, and it is made by Missouri Meerschaum as well as the corn cobs I am looking at.

To me, the hardwood looks better. But looks aren't everything. Which do you prefer, and why? Also, how do pipe shapes affect the smoke? For example, 5th Avenue, Apple, Rob Roy, etc.


Here is the pipe in-case interested: OZARK MOUNTAIN (Cherry Or Maple) Missouri Meerschaum Hardwood Pipe - Aristocob - https://aristocob.com/OZARK-MOUNTAIN-Cherry-Or-Maple-Missouri-Meerschaum-Hardwood-Pipe-P2080237.aspx

In general, the cheaper cobs don't have hardwood plugs and the more expensive ones do; this makes a difference if you are planning on smoking out of the same pipe for a lot of continuous bowls because the bottom of the bowl will tend to get soft because of the moisture and blow out, while the hardwood doesn't. In my opinion, the shape of the cob doesn't make much of a difference though.

 

[mso489]

Griffith, welcome. Either of those pipes will work well for an introduction to pipe smoking and as part of a rotation of a few pipes. Personally, I'm a big fan of MM pipes, but I like to buy the ones that come stock with acrylic stems, special edition pipes, for a modest $25 or so, because the stems last longer than the usual plastic stems and don't require replacing. MM pipes can last for years, so you might like a stem that doesn't need to be replaced. I'd consider any of them a permanent pipe.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

The Hardwoods are good.. My favorite pipes. I like my briars, but I really like the hardwoods just as well. Cobs are cobs.. they ight. The Hardwoods are a different animal.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’ve owned MM COBs for many yrs. They were my first pipes. They are still great smokers. I do appreciate the beauty about a well-crafted briar. But, I’ll never stop smoking my cobs. I also agree with getting acrylic stems for them as the “come ready” stems are chewed through rather easily. Never owned a hardwood, but many folks highly approve of them.️

 

[Jaylotw]

The bowls of the hardwoods always tended to get a little hot for me, but I’ve owned a few as fishing pipes...they’ve all met their watery doom, and I’ve never replaced them...but they smoked just fine apart from not insulating as well as briar.

I think, for a first pipe, you might be better off with a decent level Cob pipe, I’m partial to the Legends myself, but if you like the looks and feel of the hardwoods, get one! And a Cob, too.

 

[didimauw]

I much prefer the cobs. The hardwood always smoked hotter to me. I've determined to like the hardwood though. I just think they are neat, and very light clenchers. I just can't get rid of my hardwood.

 

[Erehwesle]

I decided to get both the Elf Cobbit and an Ozark Mountain bent, both from MM. I figured they were fairly inexpensive, it would let me try out two different materials. Plus that way I'd have two pipes to alternate between.

 

[weezell]

It IS cheap, but I can get some $6 pipes that look the same to me.

They are not the same though. Get a MM Pride, (is cheap) the only way to go. The hardwoods are nice pipes but to ME, are a bitch to break in. The cobs are a breeze. ..

 

[bullet08]

Thing is, you are going to smoke it, and no one can say how you will like it. You want to get one that you like enough to smoke from for some time. You have to like how it looks. Just don't get something that's tiny. You want at least 30 - 45 min smoke so you can hopefully savor the tobacco developing the flavor, once you get to the point where you can taste the blends.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Some cake helps with the heat. Not a lot of cake. I wash mine basically every other smoke, and the small layer of hard cake that forms, helps with the durability or the pipe. Breaking one in can be a hassle, because the taste of the varnish inside the chamber. Once you get a little hard cake built up the smoke like a dream. They are very lightweight pipes that you dont have to cry about even if you lose or break them.. although I have a couple that I've definitely built a friendship with.

 

[weezell]

because the taste of the varnish inside the chamber

I sand it out, but still takes a while to char/cake it up. Don't get me wrong, I have 3 of them and once getting there they are great. But for a newbee a Pride will be a short cut that pays off quick...

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I sand it out, but still takes a while to char/cake it up. Don't get me wrong, I have 3 of them and once getting there they are great. But for a newbee a Pride will be a short cut that pays off quick...

As much as I like mine.. Yep, that nasty taste could run a newbie right off.

 

[marlinspike]

Only some experience with pipes will tell you what your personal preference is - when it comes to cobs, I almost always prefer the unfinished ones (although the plaster-finished models are good pipes, too). The unfinished versions reduce moisture in tobacco and improve coolness, and as such are really good functionally. The Legends (mentioned above) are such; the "Let Freedom Ring" set gives you 2 unplastered, unlacquered pipes in a small case. I often think my acquisitive side needs to be beaten, since all the pipes I've accumulated can readily be equaled or beaten as smokers by a decent cob pipe.

 

[Black Forest Piper]

I've got a dozen briar pipes and a couple cobs and I prefer to smoke more out of the cobs. Mostly because the flavor seems better to my newish palate.

 

[marlinspike]

I should add that Aristocob offers the Diplomat, the Country Gentleman, and 1 or 2 other models in an unfinished state, instead of polished and lacquered versions MM and other retailers sell.

 

[F4RM3R]

I have both and like them. The cob smokes a tad drier and cooler, but they are fairly similar once broken in. The cob will be good to go right at first smoke, but the hardwood will take a few bowls to loose the woody taste.

All in all since the airway diameters is pretty much the same, it's a very similar smoke. I'm not sure which I like more, both are Great. My cob gets smoked more though since it's dedicated to Lakeland style. I use the hardwood for Virginia and vapers for now.

 

[JMcQ]

Sort of on topic... What is the pipe with the largest bowl that MM offers?

 

[Black Forest Piper]

If I'm really honest, I'm not very careful with my cobs. They're scorched a little on the rim, dinged a lot. I like that. I also sanded and stained one so it's "mine". They're good working, but the outside are beaters.

 

[marlinspike]

Sort of on topic... What is the pipe with the largest bowl that MM offers?

The freehand model is like a conical stack. That pipe will hold a fair amount of 'baccy.

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