Ends of the Bowls Getting Acrid

[The Turk]

Hello all,

No matter what I'm smoking, the flavour begins to deteriorate after the halfway mark and the last 1/4 is always unsmokable. This is not affected by the pace or the draw whatsoever because I am getting some really cool and flavourful puffs in the first half. I'm cleaning after every 2 smokes. Any insights on what may be wrong and how to improve?

Currently smoking

Elizabethan Mixture
C&D Star of the East
C&D Bijou
C&D Black Frigate

Rotating 3 MM corncobs and 2 briars.

Any comment would be welcome.

Thanks,

 

[warren]

Quit the bowl if it becomes unsatisfactory. Seems obvious. It's what I do. Emptym reload and go about my work. Problem solved!

 

[Hutch Piper]

Don’t think anything is wrong per se. It happens to me frequently. If you want to keep going, spill the bowl and pack another.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Seems odd it would be an issue with every pipe but all I can offer is what's been said -- dump it when it isn't enjoyable, experiment in the meantime.

 

[doctorbob]

This sometimes happens to me- usually with the last third. I'll just dump it at that point.

 

[The Turk]

Thank you all. It's a relief to understand that it is a part of the fare.

Happy puffs.

 

[Briarcutter]

Try something other than C&D and Eliz just for a experiment. see how it smokes, try some Carter Hall for example.

 

[Hillcrest]

Hello all,

No matter what I'm smoking, the flavour begins to deteriorate after the halfway mark and the last 1/4 is always unsmokable. This is not affected by the pace or the draw whatsoever because I am getting some really cool and flavourful puffs in the first half. I'm cleaning after every 2 smokes. Any insights on what may be wrong and how to improve?

Currently smoking

Elizabethan Mixture
C&D Star of the East
C&D Bijou
C&D Black Frigate

Rotating 3 MM corncobs and 2 briars.

Any comment would be welcome.

Thanks,

I don't think its the tobacco or pipe. I think your starting to ghost your own pipe. Next time you make hot coffee pour some into the bowl and shank for about 30-45 seconds then rinse with water and wipe out with oaper towels and pipe cleaner and let dry. That's how I refresh mine when they get that way. The coffee helps clean out the tars and oils quicker. Just 2/5ths of a nickel of advice !!

 

[fireground_piper]

My guess would be the bottom of your bowl is getting damp for any number of reasons......packing, tamping, pace, etc. which is causing moisture build up in the bottom portion of your bowl as you smoke and providing you with an acrid taste.

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

I recommend raising your tobacco up with either a bowl screen or some nording keystones. You're shortening the bowl, so less tobacco of course, but I find this not only helps with cooling the smoke a bit, but also keeps the flavor fresh through the end of the smoke.

 

[Sigmund]

Keystones, meer chips and also drying your tobacco a bit more.
Those things will help.

Reguardless, the bottom part usually is not as nice as the upper portions of the bowl for me but they are rarely terrible.

Additionally, if you smoke fast and hot it will get more nasties than a well paced session.

 

[The Turk]

This is the first time I'm hearing about Nording keystones and meer chips. Do the clay keystones have any aroma to them, or are they just humidity absorbents?

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

I've never noticed any kind of aroma or taste from the keystones.

 

[The Turk]

I will sure try that. Trying to source it.

Thank you all,

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

Keystone Filters 100g - Nording | Smokingpipes.com

Nørding's Keystone Filters help eliminate leftover dottle by promoting a moisture-free smoking experience through natural, flavor-neutral pellets of volcanic clay.

www.smokingpipes.com

*Sorry, just noticed they're sold out.

 

[Sigmund]

Meer chips do the same thing.

I dont know where you live and how hard it is to get certain products. Honestly, I make my own chips. My wife gardens so there are always broken flower pots around. I clean them, beat the red clay pieces to chip size, toss them in a collander and rinse them. I cant tell a difference between them and meer chips. If you use enough meer chips they supposedly do some minor filtering. For your purpose (and mine) they basically are space holders.

Some people who live where tobacco is very expensive or hard to get use them to reduce dottle. They actually do save on waste.

 

[Chris T]

Hello all,

No matter what I'm smoking, the flavour begins to deteriorate after the halfway mark and the last 1/4 is always unsmokable.

Not being critical here, just sharing perspective. It could that what you're finding unsmokable is what some of us call "getting to the good part." Those are some pretty full flavored blends you're smoking. I'd suggest trying a Danish style blend, something around the halfway mark or less on the strength and flavor scale on the reviews, and see if you have different results.

 

[The Turk]

Meer chips do the same thing.

I dont know where you live and how hard it is to get certain products. Honestly, I make my own chips. My wife gardens so there are always broken flower pots around. I clean them, beat the red clay pieces to chip size, toss them in a collander and rinse them. I cant tell a difference between them and meer chips. If you use enough meer chips they supposedly do some minor filtering. For your purpose (and mine) they basically are space holders.

Some people who live where tobacco is very expensive or hard to get use them to reduce dottle. They actually do save on waste.

I'm based in Istanbul but travel frequently to the UK. It shouldn't be hard for me to find meerschaum in Türkiye

 

[The Turk]

Not being critical here, just sharing perspective. It could that what you're finding unsmokable is what some of us call "getting to the good part." Those are some pretty full flavored blends you're smoking. I'd suggest trying a Danish style blend, something around the halfway mark or less on the strength and flavor scale on the reviews, and see if you have different results.

That's actually quite the insight. I have less of a problem with easier blends and I don't get the acrid taste (sometimes cigar-like) as much. Thanks,

 

[Chris T]

Love your icon BTW, and welcome to the group!