Metallic, Sour Taste with Both of my Cobs

[towhee89]

So I have a MM Huck Finn and Legend and they both smoked great for a few months until suddenly they've developed a sour metallic taste I can't seem to shake. It happens halfway through a bowl. No visual sign of burnout, I've cleaned it thoroughly and left out in the sun multiple times to no avail. I've done a lot of googling on it and could be any number of things. The part of the shank that extends in the bowl is still there, could this be burning down finally? Or the glue at the bottom? Was trying to figure it out before I tossed them and got a few new cobs. The insides of the bowl look OK but they have gotten quite hot before but something tells me it isn't that. I did read a comment saying to let it dry out for a week in response to the sour taste, maybe I need to let it dry much longer in the sun. Thanks all in advance

 

[Green Hill Hermit]

What sort of tobacco are you smoking?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Have you cleaned the shank and stem out well? There could be some tobacco juice/residue collecting in there that is souring.

 

[crashthegrey]

Have you cleaned the shank and stem out well? There could be some tobacco juice/residue collecting in there that is souring.

Or are there filters in need of changing? This definitely sounds like a case of residue in the mortise or the like.

 

[towhee89]

Or are there filters in need of changing? This definitely sounds like a case of residue in the mortise or the like.

No filters in there, maybe I'll have to really go at it cleaning more.

 

[towhee89]

Have you cleaned the shank and stem out well? There could be some tobacco juice/residue collecting in there that is souring.

I did clean it but maybe not enough

Have you cleaned the shank and stem out well? There could be some tobacco juice/residue collecting in there that is souring.

I did give it a run through or 2 thoroughly but I reckon I haven't gotten all of it

 

[crashthegrey]

I did clean it but maybe not enough


I did give it a run through or 2 thoroughly but I reckon I haven't gotten all of it

Do you run a pipe cleaner up the shank after each bowl? If not, you may need to use some alcohol and clean it out well.

 

[towhee89]

What sort of tobacco are you smoking?

Carter Hall, Prince Albert, some Sutliff bulks, Mac Baren HH Balkan Blend, 5 Brothers, Three Friars, Stokkebye Navy Flake, a few others also

 

[towhee89]

Do you run a pipe cleaner up the shank after each bowl? If not, you may need to use some alcohol and clean it out well.

After every few bowls yes

 

[crashthegrey]

After every few bowls yes

I like to do it every bowl. Cuts down on off flavors later. And reduces the need for deep cleans.

 

[towhee89]

I like to do it every bowl. Cuts down on off flavors later. And reduces the need for deep cleans.

Thanks, I went to town on it and it helped. Now I feel stupid! I just figured the cleaning I was doing was enough.

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

After every smoke run a pipe cleaner through it'll help in the long run. Even if you clean after every smoke atleast 1 time a month everclear or whatever you prefer through stem and shank and you will have no more sour, Ever

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Thanks, I went to town on it and it helped. Now I feel stupid! I just figured the cleaning I was doing was enough.

No need to feel stupid—you learned from this and that’s a good thing.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

This may not be a popular opinion, but cobs are ripe to become ripe. So many pores, nooks, crannys to keep gunk and semi-solid and juicy detritus hidden. Clean well and dry thoroughly. Minimize the filth.

Not Dani Filth.

 

[towhee89]

This may not be a popular opinion, but cobs are ripe to become ripe. So many pores, nooks, crannys to keep gunk and semi-solid and juicy detritus hidden. Clean well and dry thoroughly. Minimize the filth.

View attachment 231557 Not Dani Filth.

Yeah i love them but after a few months this becomes sorely apparent. And once its built up very hard to get rid of it all! Glad to know im not going mg crazy it was bothering me

 

[AJL67]

Some of us, well myself at least, always have a couple pipe cleaners handy when smoking, i often will swab the stem now and then, i can't stand the littlest bit of gurgle.

 

[kcghost]

Cleaning usually helps but not always.

 

[LeafErikson]

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.

 

[OverMountain]

Glad you figured it out. When I started I was puffing on aromatics like a freight train and I remember well that horrible taste! Glad a good cleaning has set things right.

There are some great affordable pipes out there but try a Dr Grabow if you want to look into briar to see if you like it.

 

[towhee89]

Glad you figured it out. When I started I was puffing on aromatics like a freight train and I remember well that horrible taste! Glad a good cleaning has set things right.

There are some great affordable pipes out there but try a Dr Grabow if you want to look into briar to see if you like it.

I was looking at a Grand Duke, are those decent pipes?