Have You Ever had a Pipe “Burn Through”?

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

With the discussion we have been having about the value of “cake”….. we all know the adage of it being potentially useful to prevent “burn through” of the briar. But….. what I am wondering is how many of us, if any have HAD a pipe “burn through,” and if so, what you may think had been the cause

For me, with 40+ years is smoking a pipe…. I have never burnt through a bowl…..never even close.

With my never having experienced this malady….. I am wondering also…. if “burn through” were to happen…. might it simply be due to a defect of some sort in the briar itself? And, if there were some defect…. would “cake” ACTUALLY prevent it or at least slow it?

Just curious of other’s thoughts and experiences.

 

[mso489]

Nope, not me.

 

[spike]

In 50 years of pipe smoking, through hundreds of pipes, the only ” burn through” I’ve experienced was an old Charatan I got from the late great Barry Levin in the late 80s. He made rapid financial restorations.

 

[burleybreath]

Not even a cob. Not even a POS briar I deliberately tried to burn out. I believe it requires a serious flaw in the wood in order to happen. But you can make charcoal out of the inside of the bowl if smoked hot.

 

[Donb1972]

Nope...not even close. And I have no cake at all in my pipes

 

[Chasing Embers]

Coming up on 31 years with no burn outs.

 

[verporchting]

Nope. Started in the 80s.

 

[OzPiper]

No, not a burn through

I had a new morta (rather light-coloured one) develop a couple of scorch marks with the 2nd or 3rd bowl. Tell-tale burning wood, rather than tobacco odour. I suspect some "soft" spots in the block.

Couple of layers of pipe-mud and its all good now.

 

[sandollars]

Nope, never. And I believe the Cake is a Lie...

 

[kcghost]

Nary a one in 48 years of smoking.

 

[ray47]

I've only had an Old Dominion Cob burn out after only 5 bowls. This was some time ago when their cobs were low quality. Today their cobs are of higher quality and I haven't burnt out any of the 4 I own. I've never had a briar burn out in the 55 yrs I've been smoking a pipe.

 

[BobbyD]

Not yet, and I sometimes get my briars pretty hot because it always seems to be windy where I live. I try to be mindful to dial it back when I notice it getting hot and haven't seen any damage yet. But, I'm not exactly sure what would be evidence of the beginnings of burnout. Pits in the chamber? Darkening on the bowl?

I picked up a neglected Comoy's grandslam with a hairline fissue and some pitting in the chamber that I intend to cement and carefully break in. Seems like it has really thin walls so if I'm going to burn out a pipe, I'm betting it will be this one.

 

[leonardbill1]

One in 30 years. An Ashton Old Church Canadian that I bought new when Bill Taylor was in town at a local pipe shop on a trunk show tour of the US. I was advised (and will never do this again) to smoke the pipe hot several times at the beginning (something to do with the oil curing, but I can't remember now what it was). I followed the instructions and within the first few bowls could taste burning wood. The burnout was evident on the exterior of the bowl. I assume, but don't know, that there was a weak spot in the bowl that burned due to smoking the pipe hot at the beginning without any cake or other coating to protect that area. I was able to return the pipe for a refund.

 

[Papamique]

I never thought it was possible until last summer. I had an Old England in a prince shape burn through the front heel. It was a pipe I smoked often to and from work in the car so maybe it was the added wind. Or maybe it was due to the prince shape not having much wood in that region of the pipe. It possibly could have been faulty briar as Old England is a second line. I’m not exactly sure what happened. I’ve been smoking a pipe longer than some guys here have been alive and never thought it was possible but it most definitely is.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I've been smoking pipes for 15 years, and never had a burnout or even any pitting, and I don't let cake build up.

 

[Latakia Dave]

Never in 50 years of smoking pipes have I had one burn out. Hope I never do have it happen.
I have saw some old pipes in antique shops that were in bad shape with burn spots in the chamber, but nothing burnt through to the outside of the bowl.

 

[chilllucky]

Yup.

 

[jiminy]

I "inherited" a small little bent pipe from my uncle, and it looks like it was a scorch mark on the outside of the bowl. I suspected the beginning of a burn out so it sits on a shelf. Maybe I'm wrong and he sat it on something hot though

 

[MacMarty89]

Never. Burnouts are for suckers.

Hehe.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I suffered two burn-outs , but never a pipe burned through.
You buffs should always leave a little dottle .
Smoking your weed to the bottom is the cause of most burnouts.
No cake in my briars too.