The porous cob contributes to the superior quality of smoke, in my opinion. The pipes will smooth out and develop a deeper color with use. You might try the paint or shellac scheme on just one. I think in the long run, you'll like the unfinished ones better. The other more useful way to jazz up cobs is with a upgraded acrylic stem. The outfit called Forever Stems used to do a good job of supplying these, but if they aren't back up in business, I think others sell replacement stems. You have to specify if it is a filter or non-filter MM cob; often you can have them cut to length (usually only shorter than some standard length). They come in an array of colors, from black and tortoise shell to orange with swirls, etc.
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