I have a Peterson Army Mount, and it’s taking a long time to enjoy tobaccos out of it. I’ve bought other pipes since then and they smoke great. I’m confused.
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Pipe Breaking-in
- Thread starter GawithPiper
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I’m confused too. What aspect of the new Peterson isn’t allowing you to enjoy your tobacco?
Bad airflow? Bad flavor? Burns hot?
Compared to your other pipes — is the new pipe filtered and those not? P-lip and those not?
Your first Peterson? Peterson uses a sticky bowl coating that I remove, others keep. Imparts no flavor but should give you a good initial smoke.
Need more info. Welcome to the forum.
Bad airflow? Bad flavor? Burns hot?
Compared to your other pipes — is the new pipe filtered and those not? P-lip and those not?
Your first Peterson? Peterson uses a sticky bowl coating that I remove, others keep. Imparts no flavor but should give you a good initial smoke.
Need more info. Welcome to the forum.
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I didn't like the sticky bowl but I clean it properly and the blends just taste kinda weird in that pipe. It almost gives the tobacco a tart or tangy flavor.
Sounds like the bowl coating is the culprit. Try removing it to see if that helps. There are threads on the process here on the site, IIRC one can use a fine-grit sandpaper to remove the coating down to bare wood. Be careful not to scratch up the rim or get too aggressive.
I second removing the bowl coating. I use 200 grit sandpaper.
To hide ugly stain spills into the chamber.
How did you clean out the coating? If you just smoke without removing it, you can just ream out after few bowls. Don't sweat the small things.
Use scrunched up bits of paper towel moistened with hot water, stuff and twist until you can see the briar. Then use the sandpaper. If you start with the sandpaper my experience has been you just gum up the sandpaper and it isn't as effective. The one that took the longest to do may have taken 5 minutes.
Or do nothing. My Petersons have coatings, my Nordings all came with coatings. I haven't noticed any ill effects at all, but I enjoy looking at the cleaned and sanded chamber.
I've had a little stain in a couple of chambers, no big deal, it's not there now.
I haven't noticed one bit of a taste issue, doesn't mean somebody else wouldn't.
Or do nothing. My Petersons have coatings, my Nordings all came with coatings. I haven't noticed any ill effects at all, but I enjoy looking at the cleaned and sanded chamber.
I've had a little stain in a couple of chambers, no big deal, it's not there now.
I haven't noticed one bit of a taste issue, doesn't mean somebody else wouldn't.
Here is the Pete. The bowl is getting some cake build. I have water flushed it a few times and used a paper towel to clean.
Yeah, it's the coating. Fortunately it can be removed easily.
Smoke your first bowl with the coating, then rinse immediately with warm water and a twist of papertowel. It should all come away easily. No sanding is needed to see the briar. Unless you want to sand away the stain drips.
How many bowls smoked in that Pete?
If it's not residue from the coating, some pieces of briar are newer/denser/lighter/less well cured than others. Pretty confident that after a couple dozen bowls, pipe will sing for you.
I’ve seen more of these threads lately. I’ve never had an issue w/the coating. Maybe I’m just lucky (doubtful), but after smoking a few bowls it’s perfectly fine. As mentioned, a wet twisted paper towel should remove most of the coating, or at least that’s my experience.
Years ago it was common for a pipe smoker to rub the inside of the bowl of a new pipe with a thin coat of honey. Note, "Thin". This would help caking as honey is almost pure carbon. After coating let it dry before smoking. 
Yes, and often the instructions advised to wet the inside of the bowl with water prior to the first smoke.
I've used a sugar coating a few times, as it lays down more carbon-making cake than honey. But even honey bakes into carbon and is neither sticky or sweet after a couple of smokes. The heat is more than enough to kill any bacteria and a hot water flush takes care of the rest.