Gouge in briar bowl-fixable?

[mattnelson23]

I just got an estate pipe off of ebay and it is in good shape, except for a decent sized gouge/pitted area in the bottom of the inside of the bowl. :crying: Looks like someone got too aggressive when cleaning it out at one point or something. Just wondering if there are any techniques/tricks to fixing the inside of a bowl with this condition? Thank you.

 

[baronsamedi]

There is pipe mud, but you may want to make sure it'sn not jusst an area where some cake has broken loose. Those spots sometimes look like gouges, but aren't.

 

[mattnelson23]

Pipe mud, huh? I'll check it out. Yeah, pretty sure it is in the wood itself. There's some minor wood pulp evidence in the hole. Thanks for a quick response!

 

[mattnelson23]

Ok...I'm a newbie. What exactly is pipe mud and where do I acquire it?

 

[yaboofive]

Great Question, luckily you don't have to go far. "Pipe Mud" is a combination of fine tobacco ash and some water mixed well to make a thick paste like substance. Easy to make and use just fill in the gouges in the chamber and let the mud dry for a couple of days.

 

[mattnelson23]

Sweet! Thanks, fellas!

 

[smokindawg]

I don't use pipe mud but it works. Just have to be careful you don't knock it loose when your cleaning your pipe.
What I use is powdered grout mix. I mix it just like the pipe mud and then apply it to the insid of the bowl with a Q tip that has the fuzzy end cut off. Smoke it once and you'll never see it. Also, a cake will build and adhere to it just fine. It dries like concrete (as it's crete based) and I've not had any repairs with it come out.
I also use the same thing too raise the bottom of bowls that have the airway just a bit too high. Works like a charm here too.
You can buy it at just about any home improvement place.

 

[ghost]

Thanks for the tip on that Smokindawg. There was talk of that in another thread but these are good details...

 

[instymp]

How high should the bottom of a bowl be to the airway? Don't meant to steal the post but maybe Matt wants to know also because I know as much about mud, or less.

 

[mlaug]

Ideally, they should be flush with each other, otherwise it won't burn to the bottom.
To the OP: this "gouge" isn't the start of a burn out is it?

 

[tbradsim1]

That"s good advice smokeingdog gave you, hardware stores have fireplace stove mortar repair, silica based , fills holes, builds up btm of pipes. Good for up to 2000*, all you need is a caulk gun, wished they had a small tube but they don"t, it works , I"ve used it. The old cajun

 

[baronsamedi]

Hey Old Cajun! If you want to make the ° symbol, hold down the ALT key and type 0176 and it will magically appear! ::

 

[instymp]

Same with MM cobs?

 

[tbradsim1]

Thanks Baron I"ve been looking for that degree symbol for 10 yrs, like finding gold LOL

 

[mattnelson23]

'To the OP: this "gouge" isn't the start of a burn out is it?'
No, I don't believe it's a burnout, just some overzealous digging in or something. Wouldn't a burnout have a charred appearance? This is like raw wood that I'm seeing.

 

[mikemacrdlnds]

I use Sodium Silicate aka Liquid Glass, found at any ceramic supply house, and activated chacoal powder, found at any health food store, mixed to a consistency of heavy motor oil, 30W, and apply with a q-tip. A word of caution, charcoal powder goes a long way, use a small amount, add your liquid glass and stir. I would fill the crack, let it dry, then put a light coat in the bowl. Helps with the cake.

 

[yaboofive]

I am always surprised by the ingenuity of this group.

 

[mlyvers]

what a great forum, all the info you need at our finger tips. i also have a little trick. alot of the guys here do not care for it, here it is. i have used carbon cake that has been reamed from a pipe mixed with some honey. the final mix should be thick. i have used it to raise the bottom of a bowl, and to fill in a burnt area in the bowl. let it dry for a day or two. good luck too you sir.
mike.