Metallic, Sour Taste with Both of my Cobs

[towhee89]

Th

To my knowledge they are all the same size per type. The biggest one they make is called their (drumroll) “big pipe”. I’ve seen one and they have a large bowl indeed.

You would have to consult one of the docs on the forum, but I think you are describing the symptoms of pipe acquisition disorder (PAD)! Good luck!

Haahah. Yeah I am like that with everything anyway, books used to be records before I started selling them all, so it's opening a can of worms. When I started nasal snuff I got a ton. Now it's pipe tobacco. At first I didn't really care too much about getting a lot of Pipes but it hasn't taken long before I am into researching those. Funds are so tight but at least I can get a few to rotate.. Ha ha

 

[Bassman65]

To get a Dr. Grabow up here on Amazon, you’re looking at $70-80!

 

[OverMountain]

To get a Dr. Grabow up here on Amazon, you’re looking at $70-80!

What! Is this in ?

 

[Bassman65]

What! Is this in ?

Yup. CAN. Dollars. They are pricey! More than half way to a Savanelli. You can buy an entry - mid level Brigham or a Lorenzetti for a similar price.

 

[Peterson314]

My cobs used to taste like shit as soon as the ember got to the shank insert. I got so irritated with it that I cut it off.

I keep my briars meticulously clean, but I rarely do anything to my cobs besides load and light. I have one country gentleman, but the rest are $3 beaters. I put a forever stem on two of them and both of those stems are translucent, so they shame me into cleaning the stem more than I would have. I need to spend some time on the cleaning bench.

 

[towhee89]

My cobs used to taste like shit as soon as the ember got to the shank insert. I got so irritated with it that I cut it off.

I keep my briars meticulously clean, but I rarely do anything to my cobs besides load and light. I have one country gentleman, but the rest are $3 beaters. I put a forever stem on two of them and both of those stems are translucent, so they shame me into cleaning the stem more than I would have. I need to spend some time on the cleaning bench.

It's possible that it started burning more after awhile but it could also be latakia tar, dunno. I did clean it but not after every smoke. My new cob tasted like crap first day while the shank burned but after thst it's been fine. Maybe I need to remove it on my bad tasting ones.

 

[Peterson314]

Yeah in my experience, cobs need a couple of smokes to break them in. Initially, I find them chalky and I imagine I am smoking corn starch.

The pipe in question was this one cob that I take out on dog walks. I only ever smoke black cavendish in it. First half was beautiful and then it would turn on me once it crossed that line. I felt like that shank insert soaked up every nasty tobacco juice grossness from dozens of bowls.

Cutting it off definitely helped. I can't really tell you how it affected the draw because I smoke this thing while I'm walking a puppy. It's not exactly quiet, focused contemplation. But it did the job.

 

[towhee89]

Yeah in my experience, cobs need a couple of smokes to break them in. Initially, I find them chalky and I imagine I am smoking corn starch.

The pipe in question was this one cob that I take out on dog walks. I only ever smoke black cavendish in it. First half was beautiful and then it would turn on me once it crossed that line. I felt like that shank insert soaked up every nasty tobacco juice grossness from dozens of bowls.

Cutting it off definitely helped. I can't really tell you how it affected the draw because I smoke this thing while I'm walking a puppy. It's not exactly quiet, focused contemplation. But it did the job.

Thanks for the info. Yeah that sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing, I'm pretty convinced now that has to be it, I doubt from the walls it would be tasting that foul.

 

[Sobrbiker]

The last couple of MM’s I’ve got had bad glue gobs, and it’s sticky so it’s tough to trim off. I’d rather dump dottle than smoke the tip of the stem, so I’m done as soon s they start tasting “woody”. The ones I’ve had for while are charred/caked where the stem insert sticks into the bowl.
I do clean the stem (why MM calls the shank) with everclear when I clean mine.

 

[Peterson314]

Because of you @towhee89, I went to town on my cobs. They were gross. I haven't had a chance to light them up yet, but I'll be looking forward to the next smoke.

 

[towhee89]

To those that do remove the "shank", what method do you use? I have an electric drill or could try a knife. I really want to get rid of it and see if it makes it smoke better. If I did mess up no problem because they're yucky tasting.

 

[Peterson314]

I knocked mine off with a chisel, as I have a shop full of woodworking tools.

It's soft wood. Anything sharp should do. Just beware of slipping and knocking through the bottom of the cob. The bottom of the cob is really thin.

 

[towhee89]

Well after my new cob started tasting funky I got out my old ones too and just poured iso in the chambers and elevated the stem. It finally fixed the issue, I'm very happy! I figured what do I have to lose. It's harder to clean the inside with the shank unlike a Briar but it totally eliminated the foul taste. At least now I know what to do...

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Different substrates will smoke / taste differently. IMO cobs do not taste good. Admittedly, I am comparing to briar so that is an unfair statement overall and one that I don't state often for that reason. Cobs also burn faster and give off more flavor than other substrates such as briar, clay or meerschaum. Some people love the flavor and use cobs for that reason. After you get a cake that dominates the flavor no matter the medium.

Meerschaum and clay pipes do not give a taste and therefore is easier to smoke for someone used to briar.

If I am mistaken, please let me know.

 

[towhee89]

N

Different substrates will smoke / taste differently. IMO cobs do not taste good. Admittedly, I am comparing to briar so that is an unfair statement overall and one that I don't state often for that reason. Cobs also burn faster and give off more flavor than other substrates such as briar, clay or meerschaum. Some people love the flavor and use cobs for that reason. After you get a cake that dominates the flavor no matter the medium.

Meerschaum and clay pipes do not give a taste and therefore is easier to smoke for someone used to briar.

If I am mistaken, please let me know.

No I totally get what you mean. There are big differences between the materials. After a while I think cobs just start to go south no matter how well you clean them. I've never had a meerschaum or clay but I plan to try them at some point. I like the taste of a cob but because of the issues I'm having it makes me want to steer more towards Briar which is easier to maintain. Thanks for the comment.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

N

No I totally get what you mean. There are big differences between the materials. After a while I think cobs just start to go south no matter how well you clean them. I've never had a meerschaum or clay but I plan to try them at some point. I like the taste of a cob but because of the issues I'm having it makes me want to steer more towards Briar which is easier to maintain. Thanks for the comment.

I would recommend a meer. Clay is fragile. Meerschaum is easy to maintain, and is fun to watch the patina darken and change with use. You can get one fairly cheap as well.

 

[Green Hill Hermit]

Try cleaning out the stem and shank with whiskey or whatever spirit you prefer. I would advise against alcohol to clean the plastic parts and would just use soap/water. You can also give your cobs a sun bath. You'd be surprised how well a sunbath can work on a rank cob. Don't worry about it either. The first pipe I ever got was a cob and I smoked it exclusively. I knew nothing about pipes, never cleaned it, and smoked it until it started to taste bad. I ended up tossing it in the garbage cause I didn't know why it tasted so awful. Thankfully this forum helped me out as I hope it helps you. Glad to have you around.

I second the sun bath. A couple of hours in the direct sun will sweeten them right up!

 

[ThermionicScott]

I think most of us who smoke cobs have had one go sour or burn out. Part of the learning curve. Fluffy pipe cleaners really help to stave that off. Use at least one to keep things dry each time you smoke, and I like to leave a fresh dry one in the stem overnight to help wick up moisture/tar.

My first cob began to taste off (like a stale cigar) a few months ago. If I didn't have a sentimental attachment to it, I would have just thrown it away. But I sanded the cake almost completely back to bare "wood" and used a lot of Everclear-soaked fluffy pipe cleaners, bent and twisted to increase the contact area, in the shank. It didn't seem to work at first, like it was just bringing more and more dormant foulness to the surface, but we're in a good place again now.

P.S. Be careful using alcohol in the stem. I've had it soften and crack from leaving it to soak over night, so maybe don't do that.