New Geppetto Pipe Has a Bad Smell

[Ryan]

I recently bought a NOS Geppetto pipe from a very reputable seller. I noticed immediately that when I removed the pipe stummel from the shipping box there was an odor.

The smell reminded me of WD-40 at first, but now I think it smells more like thread cutting oil. The pipe has a bowl coating, and that is where the smell seems to be located.

The seller has been very gracious about it, and has offered to let me return the pipe for a full refund. He even said I could try smoking 10 bowls in it and still send it back for a different pipe. I like the looks of this one and I hope to keep it. The seller also recommended using alcohol swabs in the bowl to remove the smell. I tried it a few times but I’m not sure it is doing much. At any rate, I will have no problem returning the pipe if necessary.

Is this normal for a Geppetto pipe to smell like this? Is it the bowl coating? I’m a little afraid to smoke it honestly, but I don’t want to return it if this is a normal smell for these pipes and it will “cook off”. Should I just give up on this fine looking pipe and send it back?

 

[Ghosted Tamper]

Could be the stain that was used, and/or whatever they coated the bowl with. WD-40 isn't in my catalog of new pipe smells. I've had the chemical smell from a pipe sock transfer a scent to a pipe before, though that faded once the pipe had time to air out. Have you exposed any briar underneath the bowl coating to see if it was potentially dip-stained?

I'd suggest letting the pipe air out a bit and assess after 24 hours. If the scent is still noticeable, though much "cleaner", swab again and assess after one more day. I would also suggest cleaning the mortise with an alcohol dipped q-tip, as stains can often go uncleaned from the factory within the mortise, ultimately affecting the smoke (and scent).

All this said, I've owned no Geppetto pipes, and the Ser Jacs that I've owned were bare-bowled. If your gut says something is off, best just cut your losses before you're in too deep, and ship her back to Ukrai.. the seller. There are other pipes in the sea, and you don't want to be stuck with the barnacles .

 

[Ryan]

The pipe sock definitely has the smell, at least as much as the pipe does, maybe more. I’m going to give it another day or two at least before I think about shipping it back.

 

[Coreios]

Ask him if he will allow you to try a salt treatment.

 

[OzPiper]

A high end brand new Eltang gave such a terrible 1st smoke that I dumped the bowl after 5mins
It was the bowl coating which tasted like burning rotting fish guts

A few minutes with sand paper to get rid of the coating and 2 bowls later fixed the problem

You can return the pipe.
Or try getting rid of the bowl coating.
But you may put your return at risk if you do something to the pipe.

 

[Hillcrest]

smells more like thread cutting oil. The pipe has a bowl coating, and that is where the smell seems to be located.

My Vauen had a petroleum like smell as well when new, THe bowl coating appeared to be blalk activated charcoal of some kind. BUT beneath that coating was a grey paintlike coating that was causing the petroleum smell. I lightly sanded both out and did a pipemud coating in the bowl. Its now one of my favorite and most smoked pipes. It happens. If you like the pipe just redo the coating, Some say you can smoke it out but you can also help it along by sanding some of it out and recoating. Just my 2cents. Other pipes will probably have the same coating anyway.

 

[Mike N]

I own a half dozen Gepetto's I purchased new from authorized Gepetto distributors, and all are perfect.

The title should clarify what is found in the text-- "New Old Stock" (NOS) from a re-seller is not the same as "New" from a Geppetto retailer.

I would not hesitate to return it to the re-seller. It seems you bought someone else's problem.

 

[Hillcrest]

"New Old Stock" (NOS) from a re-seller is not the same as "New" from a Geppetto retailer.

New, Old Stock, is simply an older "New" pipe as in made previously but didn't sell. It should be exactly the same as a new pipe from a Geppetto retailer unless Geppetto changed hands, ownership, carvers, process. I am NOS myself ... when did NOS come to have a different meaning ??

 

[burleybreath]

If it makes you feel any better about it, I've had the same thing happen with a new "artisan" pipe, from a very respected maker. It was so bad that I gave the pipe away to a beginner. Can't remember if it was coated or not, but bowl coatings do suck. And when you think of how pipes are stained, it's a wonder they don't all stink. Perhaps yours is too fresh?

Edit: Never mind. You said NOS.

 

[vosBghos]

This happened to me with one Ser Jacopo NOS that had a different finish than my others after about 5 bowls of Peterson flake (my break in blend) the smell vanished and never infected the cake.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Flush the bowl and airway with very hot tap water, dry- paper towels and pipe cleaners, and smoke.

Keep it away from the sock, which you perhaps should wash.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Rinse and repeat if necessary. Overall, smoke it and enjoy!

 

[badbriar]

Yeah - if it was a nice value pipe, I'd work with it and keep it. A high end pipe is entirely another matter.
I would do a return and get something else. I remember buying a very nice pipe and the stem was quite loose in the shank. I received several suggestions on how to fix, but was already jaded with the pipe and realized that I would likely not look at that pipe without feeling remorse, so I took a hit and sold it. Yes - I did disclose the loose stem and thus the favorable pricing. The new owner was pleased - everyone was happy!
Never regretted taking a loss to get rid of that one!

 

[mso489]

As a sub-brand of Ser Jacopo, I'd expect Gepetto pipes to be finished properly with no non-pipe odors. This is definitely an inconvenience to say the least. This may be a misguided version of oil-cured briar. You could air it out, sand it out, and use pipe mud. It would probably improve some. I'd be inclined to just send it back and not make its problems your own. You're not into pipes to smoke petroleum.

 

[Ryan]

I own a half dozen Gepetto's I purchased new from authorized Gepetto distributors, and all are perfect.

The title should clarify what is found in the text-- "New Old Stock" (NOS) from a re-seller is not the same as "New" from a Geppetto retailer.

I would not hesitate to return it to the re-seller. It seems you bought someone else's problem.

This didn’t come from a re-seller. It came from an authorized distributor.

 

[kcghost]

Try the things suggested and if you don't have relief in a week you will know to do.

 

[Ryan]

Just to follow up on this thread, I finally started smoking this pipe. Tastes fine, smokes well. The pipe sock still has some of that smell though. That’s fine, I don’t plan on smoking the sock.

 

[Searock Fan]

A rule every pipe smoker should follow: Don't let any patroleum based products any where near your pipes!