Outside of my Bowl is Darkening.

[Jonas T Perrin]

Title edited for caps. Please read Rule 9.

Good day all.
So I have noticed that tewo of my pipes have been getting quite dark on the outside of the bowl. No not talking about the rim.
One is a Kaywoodie saxon Zulu that smokes pretty hot easily and has a red finish on it. It almost seems like a layer of dark almost black is growing on top of the finish. Another is an estate Bentley partially rusticated pipe that just the left side is getting darker than the other. Like a patina is happening how it does on Cobs. I do smoke pretty fast and a little hot. Just wondering if anyone knows what is going on. I don't see any signs of a burnout either.
Thank you all.

 

[Davy]

It would help if you could share photos.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

If they are lacquered it could be the lacquer darkening from heat. Or it could just be grime accumulating on the pipe.

 

[bullet08]

Outside darkening could be a sign of a problem, burn out, or just could be a natural process of briar aging.

Burn out can be noticed by certain area getting dark suddenly. It will keep on darkening until.. It burns out

Natural aging is more gradual and more uniform. If you have natural finish, or light finish pipe, you will notice that pipe getting darker over time. Just picked up my Peterson Deluxe Classic 106 in terracotta. The pipe has turned darker than when I first purchased it.

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

O

If they are lacquered it could be the lacquer darkening from heat. Or it could just be grime accumulating on the pipe.

ne is a Kaywoodie Saxon Zulu. For sure has a heavy red Lacquer

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

O

If they are lacquered it could be the lacquer darkening from heat. Or it could just be grime accumulating on the pipe.

One is a Kaywoodie Saxon Zulu. For sure has a heavy red Lacquer

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

Outside darkening could be a sign of a problem, burn out, or just could be a natural process of briar aging.

Burn out can be noticed by certain area getting dark suddenly. It will keep on darkening until.. It burns out

Natural aging is more gradual and more uniform. If you have natural finish, or light finish pipe, you will notice that pipe getting darker over time. Just picked up my Peterson Deluxe Classic 106 in terracotta. The pipe has turned darker than when I first purchased it.

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

It would help if you could share photos.

This is one. The inside does not seemed messed up. The other is at my home and I am not at the moment. The other is a heavy red and gets got very easy

 

[bullet08]

It's hard to tell from the photos. It looks like there are heavy scratches or surface cracks on one side. The other side looks like there's dark grain and light grain along with couple of scratches. Burn outs I have seen are more further down the problem. They are usually on one general spot with color of that spot turning black. Also, if ream out that area inside of the chamber, you can definitely tell the wood has been damaged.

 

[Davy]

This is one. The inside does not seemed messed up. The other is at my home and I am not at the moment. The other is a heavy red and gets got very easy

From what I can see, it's just the briar darkening, which will happen to briar that is lighter in color. It is not a cause for concern, mate.

 

[Davy]

It's hard to tell from the photos. It looks like there are heavy scratches or surface cracks on one side. The other side looks like there's dark grain and light grain along with couple of scratches. Burn outs I have seen are more further down the problem. They are usually on one general spot with color of that spot turning black. Also, if ream out that area inside of the chamber, you can definitely tell the wood has been damaged.

Yeah, it's hard to tell if the line on the right hand side near the rim is grain, a big scratch or the beginning of something more sinister. Can't tell unless you actually hold it in hand, but Jonas would notice if it's of the sinister kind.

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

Awesome! Thanks

From what I can see, it's just the briar darkening, which will happen to briar that is lighter in color. It is not a cause for concern, mate.

 

[kcghost]

You're just watching the pipe darken as you smoke it. Nothing wrong with by0u if it is bothering you smoke a tobacco that doesn't burn so hot and puff on it a little slower.

 

[Scottmi]

It it gets HOT as you say, and if you are a puffer, it might be a developing burn. I had this issue with a lightweight thinwall pipe earlier this year...

Loronzo Sponge Burnout and Repair :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance

Title edited to put in caps of important words. TIL it can be easy to burn a pipe! I'd like to think it was because I smoked this outside with windy conditions... :rolleyes: This very light pipe with quite thin walls and deep rustication did a classic burn in the middle of the smoker-side of...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Not an issue. Other than black ones,all pipes darken, especially lighter ones. See two photos below of A Rubio

 

[jpmcwjr]

The more heavily darkened version of the pipe is quite handsome!

OP: No worries.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

All of my lighter pipes have darkened significantly. The red ones just seem to keep a reddish hue, but very dark. Some, I think are from tars pushing through the briar, making the grain pattern more contrasty. And, some are just from the outside, probably smoke and my hands.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I have a kaywoodie Zulu red-root and it is simply a hot smoker no matter how gently smoked. My clays stay cooler than that thing. I don’t know how the Saxon compares but if it’s anything like my redroot I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the finish or “varnish “ is melting

 

[mso489]

I'd echo earlier posts, that this is darkening from heat mostly, changing the finish over time, accelerated by your heavy puffing.

If you haven't ever smoked an unfinished pipe, that is one with no stain, varnish, wax, or polish, you might be interested in trying that. I bought three Savinelli unfinished pipes, two of them as basket pipes sold as seconds, when that was a thing.

The oldest two have evolved from darkening, on to developing vivid color and then also a polished looking finish. Mind you, this is with no added polish or wax, just hand buffing with a cloth. Without my observing this, you couldn't convince me it was an unfinished pipe.

By the way, I have two Kaywoodie Saxon pipes, a billiard and a panel four-square billiard. If you don't puff extra hard, they actually insulate very well. I mostly sip, and they do not ever feel more than warm to the touch.

I find Kaywoodie pipes good quality, despite their fall from grace, from the premier factory pipes in the 1950's, with Dunhill playing second fiddle. I've heard that Kaywoodie, that also makes Yello-Bole and Medico, is basically or mostly a one-man operation these days with maybe a temporary helper now an then, or so I've heard. From my experience, the pipes are still way above their price point in quality.

 

[pauls456]

It's the result of an overheated pipe. Very often the overheating is uneven. The main concern is that you may also be charring the inner walls of the chamber.