MM Corncobs - Chewing Gum as Pipe Mud

[WerewolfOfLondon]

I have some cobs, but never really smoke em. This thing with pipe mud made from cigar ash, does it not come loose when you clean the pipe out? Or even when you use a czech tool to gouge out the dottle?

 

[WhiteCrown]

I have some cobs, but never really smoke em. This thing with pipe mud made from cigar ash, does it not come loose when you clean the pipe out? Or even when you use a czech tool to gouge out the dottle?

Some of it can if you don't use a light touch. If it does just re-apply some mud, but only if you want to, it's not critical to anything but your own desires.

 

[FurCoat]

Pipe mud is not necessary at all, as others stated. I use it because I don't like digging out the leftover tobacco in between the shank and the wall at the bottom, but you probably don't even need to do that. My biggest problem with pipe mud is the last bits of leaves sticking to it when I try to clean it, and then using too hard of a touch and gouging out the mud. Pipe ash is worse for this, cigar ash is much better, and I think chewing gum would potentially be worse. You should try it and let us know! lol Cobs are cheap, get a Missouri pride or legend and experiment.

I don't think a tire fire is much of a risk, as you would have to somehow convince the ember to burn deeper than the hole in the shank when the air is coming in from the top. It usually goes out if you smoke the bowl down that far and you'll be sucking ash before/when that happens. When you get gray powder in your mouth, stop sucking! lol. Either way have a cup of water near by just in case I suppose if you are worried about it.

Also, Swisher Sweets cigarillos are only $2.99 for a 5-pack. If you can smoke medium blends, one of these shouldn't be much different than smoking a pipe, just not as good. Pretend it's a paper stem. Five will make you plenty of ash for several cobs.

Part of the joy of cobs is that, while they smoke great, you don't have to worry about messing them up and being out 50-150 bucks or more. Have fun with it! ...where is that Silly Putty? Its around here somewhere...

I fill the space between the shank and bowl with hydrostone. Works great and is permanent. It won't gouge or come off like pipe mud.

 

[Coreios]

I wouldn't use gum. I use ash corn mill and water.

You don't need mud unless its one that is hard to clean the bottom of the bowl.

 

[Sobrbiker]

No

 

[ThermionicScott]

I have some cobs, but never really smoke em. This thing with pipe mud made from cigar ash, does it not come loose when you clean the pipe out? Or even when you use a czech tool to gouge out the dottle?

If you build a good cake over it, you may eventually forget you used mud at all.

 

[Usman]

Thanks for your replies, guys! Sorry for the late response.

Actually, I did some research and, like Scott wrote above, it seems that chewing gum is partly composed of hydrocarbons - something I definitely do not want in my pipe bowls
Besides, as almost all of you said, there really is no need for this kind of an experiment with corncobs so I have just given up on this idea

 

[obc83]

I don't think I would use chewing gum but who knows? You can use ash from a fireplace if you have any. Or pipe tobacco ash if it's pure ash. If not, hire a friend to smoke a cigar for you. Or, you could send me a Padron 64 Anniversary pyramid and I'll smoke it for you and send you the ash when I'm finished.

Haha, I seriously considered outsourcing cigar ash production when I was working on a few cobs. I did give my father a jar to ash into but he barely smokes. I begrudgingly went with pipe ash and patience. And ground up charcoal from my filters.

Regarding the chewing gum; I tend not to be easily grossed out... congratulations.

Seriously though, I do think you will regret that choice. It will likely never be actually cured and you'll probably have a double-mint pipe for far longer than you'd find it entertaining.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I have several cobs that date back to the 40's and 50's and a few even older that are possibly 100+ years old. If you take care of them they will last as long as any other pipe. No need to mud em.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The thing is, I don't smoke cigars

Since my first time joining this forum, I keep reading that someone just doesn't smoke cigars, so they can't make pipe mud. I don't understand. Cigars are the easiest thing in the world to smoke. No skill needed. Plus, it will give you a set of new tobacco flavors to experience. If you are strictly an aromatic smoker, try a Black and Mild. The thing that makes cigar ash so much better for this than pipe ash, is that the design of a cigar makes it so every particle of tobacco is incinerated. This rarely happen with pipe tobacco, because the nature of a good smoke means the surrounding tobacco is the last to burn. But, even a Black and Mild will give you good ash to use for mud.
And, if you just hate everything about cigars, then just let it burn in an ashtray.

 

[Usman]

Haha, I seriously considered outsourcing cigar ash production when I was working on a few cobs. I did give my father a jar to ash into but he barely smokes. I begrudgingly went with pipe ash and patience. And ground up charcoal from my filters.

Regarding the chewing gum; I tend not to be easily grossed out... congratulations.

Seriously though, I do think you will regret that choice. It will likely never be actually cured and you'll probably have a double-mint pipe for far longer than you'd find it entertaining.

Yes, I gave up on the idea - not because it was gross but because of some of the ingredients of chewing gum.

Since my first time joining this forum, I keep reading that someone just doesn't smoke cigars, so they can't make pipe mud. I don't understand. Cigars are the easiest thing in the world to smoke. No skill needed. Plus, it will give you a set of new tobacco flavors to experience. If you are strictly an aromatic smoker, try a Black and Mild. The thing that makes cigar ash so much better for this than pipe ash, is that the design of a cigar makes it so every particle of tobacco is incinerated. This rarely happen with pipe tobacco, because the nature of a good smoke means the surrounding tobacco is the last to burn. But, even a Black and Mild will give you good ash to use for mud.
And, if you just hate everything about cigars, then just let it burn in an ashtray.

That's easy. I tried smoking cigars but found that I tended to make the leaf very moist (because I smoked them wet for some reason) and that just tasted bad. I guess it was a case of user error on my part. I have nothing against cigars at all and I am sure lots of people prefer cigars to pipes.

 

[Usman]

I have several cobs that date back to the 40's and 50's and a few even older that are possibly 100+ years old. If you take care of them they will last as long as any other pipe. No need to mud em.

That gives me a lot of hope! I was particularly concerned about a couple of my limited edition cobs - especially the honeypot model, which is no longer available.

 

[AJL67]

Pipe mud is used for repairing crack, pit and so on. If your pipe is new, just smoke it. No need to fix things that's not broken. Preemptive repair isn't necessary. It's like giving Nobel price to someone for a future possibility. Wait.. That's been done before..

Twice! One for a PowerPoint slide one of them wasn’t even nominated that destabilized the entire Middle East!

 

[HRPufnstuf]

I recently rec'd a MM Legend with a 1/4" gap beneath the stem insertion. Filled it with pipe mud made from oak ash. Bombproof! I suspect the bowl plug was missing, but this was a very effective solution.

 

[Sigmund]

Just for the record. Pellet stove ash works great too as long as you arent using crap pellets with additives. Its super fine and so far is very sturdy. I used it to raise the floor on a couple of estates.

 

[ADKPiper]

Wouldn't pipe ash work?

 

[ThermionicScott]

I recently rec'd a MM Legend with a 1/4" gap beneath the stem insertion. Filled it with pipe mud made from oak ash. Bombproof! I suspect the bowl plug was missing, but this was a very effective solution.

My MM Hardwood also has a pretty big gap under the "spoon". I suspect that's just how the tolerances are at that place. (They would probably argue that an air space at the bottom is a "feature" to deal with excess moisture.)

I've come to prefer buying cobs from B&M stores, so I can pick through the bowl to find the ones with the spoon landing at the bottom of the chamber, thus needing less "rework".