Long Term Cob Torture Test: 6 Months Under The Elements

[cosmicfolklore]

I mean, how much abuse is leaving it on a Canadian roof. It's merely being subjected to mild temperatures and good intentions.

Put it on an Alabamian roof and it will be at the mercy of blistering heat, tree leveling winds, and brutal sarcasm.

 

[jpmcwjr]

It looks like that leaf is setting up to mate with the cob....or maybe the stem!

 

[mikethompson]

I mean, how much abuse is leaving it on a Canadian roof. It's merely being subjected to mild temperatures and good intentions.

This past summer was very hot, with crushing humidity some days. So far the fall has been mild but we've had stretches of nothing but wind and rain. I'd say its getting a good workout up there.

 

[Christos D. Tsatsaronis]

Hail! Children of the Corn!

 

[lawdawg]

I've got a few cobs that I've had as long as I've been smoking pipes (close to ten years), and I still smoke them. I doubt they are as durable as briar, but they are good for decades of service if you treat them halfway decently.

I don' t have any of the un-sanded, unfinished cobs like @mikethompson used for his test. All mine are of the variety where the cob is sanded and plastered. They all eventually start to crack after enough smokes, and I fill the cracks in with a bit of pipe mud. None of the cracks go all the way through the bowl. They appear to be just on the surface and mainly cosmetic.

Of the 20 or 30 MM cobs I've owned, I had only had any issue with two of them. One of them is a model without a hardwood plug in the bottom. The bottom of the pipe because very spongy and weak under the center of the bowl, so I carved it out and made a hardwood plug myself out of a dowel rod. I enjoyed the process and still smoke that pipe. I had one other cob that started cracking apart. I think it was just a bad cob combined with my poor technique early on where I smoked it way too hot.

 

[JOHN72]

I don't want to imagine who will be your next victim..................................

 

[scloyd]

@mikethompson In your original post you stated you would leave the cob up on the roof for six months (January 2022). It may be frozen and encased in ice, preserving it like one of those cave men they find frozen in ice. I think you should leave it for 1 year...all four seasons. Either way, I'm enjoying this thread.

 

[LotusEater]

I think you should test it out and see how it smokes,

 

[anotherbob]

Here are some updated pictures.

View attachment 103396View attachment 103397View attachment 103398View attachment 103399

I noticed as well that the metal ring on the stem is very loose. Probably the wooden part shrinks/swells and it's worked its way loose. The bowl is still developing cracks but it hasn't disintegrated yet.

that looks horrible. I love it.

 

[JKoD]

A somewhat corny experiment. Might be kind of fun for multiple people to do this across different climate zones…just for comparison’s sake. If you’re going to do it might as well go for more data to make the experiment more valid. ?‍

 

[mikethompson]

A somewhat corny experiment. Might be kind of fun for multiple people to do this across different climate zones…just for comparison’s sake. If you’re going to do it might as well go for more data to make the experiment more valid. ?‍

Who else on this forum would put a cob on their roof for a year?

Experiment more valid? Do you think I'm looking to publish in a scientific journal or something? Ha!

 

[JKoD]

Who else on this forum would put a cob on their roof for a year?

Experiment more valid? Do you think I'm looking to publish in a scientific journal or something? Ha!

Judging by comments alone, multiple.

I’m certain making it more valid is as ridiculous as doing it in the first place. Sarcasm doesn’t read well sometimes I suppose…?‍

 

[upnorth1]

That pipe wouldn't last 5 minutes with our squirrels!

 

[Ahi Ka]

Who else on this forum would put a cob on their roof for a year?

Experiment more valid? Do you think I'm looking to publish in a scientific journal or something? Ha!

I can confirm mine is still in the gutter. I shall attempt to climb up tomorrow and find it

 

[mikethompson]

I can confirm mine is still in the gutter

I forgot all about your gutter pipe!

Lets see how that's fairing shall we?

 

[mikethompson]

Took a quick peek earlier to confirm it is in fact still on the roof.

I will post up some updated shots when the Christmas lights get put up.

 

[pipestud]

Nothing wrong with smoking a good cob, but there is a downside. unless you are my age, you will outlive the cob.

 

[Grangerous]

Nothing wrong with smoking a good cob, but there is a downside. unless you are my age, you will outlive the cob.

Some of these guys shouldn’t even buy green bananas.

 

[mikethompson]

I'm actually really surprised the sticker is still on the bottom of the bowl. Doesn't look too bad so far, but sub zero temperatures and snow are still to come.

 

[mikethompson]

FYI the folks at Missouri Meerschaum are keeping an eye on the thread now, so its officially official ?