Pipe Mud Question

[lightxmyfire]

Hey everyone,

I've got a MM Charles Towne Cobbler, it came with a pretty decent gap in front of an under the draft hole which usually leaves a little pile of unsmokable leaves. I finally decided that I was tired of the "loss" and to try and pipe mud the gap. This is my first time even making or using pipe mud and I did some reading and found what seemed like a pretty straight forward process.

I smoked a nice Nub Habano, saved the ash, and the next day mixed it with water until I had a kind of thick but still wet lump of "mud". It filled in the gap nicely, and I've let it sit to dry for about 24 hours now, it's drier than it was but it is still a little soft, I can poke little dents in it with my pipe tool and scrape little bits out if mimicking a tobacco removal.

My questions are thus; Does it just need to dry longer or have I done something wrong? Is this stuff supposed to be like hard clay down there? I'm thinking maybe I had it too wet, to begin with?

All advice is much appreciated, thanks all!

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

I'm interested in this as well...

 

[badbeard]

I've mudded a few pipes, and every time I've done it the mud has been sort of fragile for a couple days. I've noticed that smoking the pipe with something you know will burn easily (CH, PA, SWR..etc) will tend to set the mud, and help deposit a layer of carbon over the top. After a few bowls you won't know where pipe begins and mud ends.

 

[lightxmyfire]

I've mudded a few pipes, and every time I've done it the mud has been sort of fragile for a couple days. I've noticed that smoking the pipe with something you know will burn easily (CH, PA, SWR..etc) will tend to set the mud, and help deposit a layer of carbon over the top. After a few bowls you won't know where pipe begins and mud ends.

Thank you! I'll give it another day of rest and then smoke a few bowls of something and report back!

 

[edger]

I’ve used the controversial hardwood fireplace ash. Imagine pipe smokers concerned by toxins! Anyway, I sift the ash and use small amounts of water until the mixture “peaks” and stays. It doesn’t settle at all. I put pipe cleaner in stem and apply the mud,reshape the draft hole with pipe nail and let dry for 48 hours. Oh, I don’t bother with cutting out the stem extension at bottom of bowl.

 

[tomatamot]

Hey everyone,

I've got a MM Charles Towne Cobbler, it came with a pretty decent gap in front of an under the draft hole which usually leaves a little pile of unsmokable leaves. I finally decided that I was tired of the "loss" and to try and pipe mud the gap. This is my first time even making or using pipe mud and I did some reading and found what seemed like a pretty straight forward process.

I smoked a nice Nub Habano, saved the ash, and the next day mixed it with water until I had a kind of thick but still wet lump of "mud". It filled in the gap nicely, and I've let it sit to dry for about 24 hours now, it's drier than it was but it is still a little soft, I can poke little dents in it with my pipe tool and scrape little bits out if mimicking a tobacco removal.

My questions are thus; Does it just need to dry longer or have I done something wrong? Is this stuff supposed to be like hard clay down there? I'm thinking maybe I had it too wet, to begin with?

All advice is much appreciated, thanks all!

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If so as you mention: give it at least another 7 Days or even more to dry ( cure ).

 

[Crawley1066]

I’ve not really had cause to ‘mud’ any pipes just yet, but I do remember reading someone recommending a little blob refractory cement once. Not sure how that would age over time but it’d certainly plug gaps and be good for the heat. ?

 

[lightxmyfire]

I’ve used the controversial hardwood fireplace ash. Imagine pipe smokers concerned by toxins! Anyway, I sift the ash and use small amounts of water until the mixture “peaks” and stays. It doesn’t settle at all. I put pipe cleaner in stem and apply the mud,reshape the draft hole with pipe nail and let dry for 48 hours. Oh, I don’t bother with cutting out the stem extension at bottom of bowl.

Based on what you said about the peaks, it sounds like I had it wetter. Mine was stiff enough to roll into a ball and hold it's shape for maybe 45 seconds but it was still settling back into a sort of formless blob after a minute or so, made a real nice flat surface in the bowl after a few taps too.

It seems like my next step is definitly to let it set a bit longer and then give it a few smokes.

I contemplated the hardwood ash idea as well! Good to see someone who's tried it is still alive! haha Had a fire in the fire place a few nights ago, but then I realized I hadn't cleaned it in a while and at some point, we had burned one of those endura logs and I thought I'd better clean it first and make sure it's only hardwood ash before I test that one myself haha

 

[edger]

Based on what you said about the peaks, it sounds like I had it wetter. Mine was stiff enough to roll into a ball and hold it's shape for maybe 45 seconds but it was still settling back into a sort of formless blob after a minute or so, made a real nice flat surface in the bowl after a few taps too.

It seems like my next step is definitly to let it set a bit longer and then give it a few smokes.

I contemplated the hardwood ash idea as well! Good to see someone who's tried it is still alive! haha Had a fire in the fire place a few nights ago, but then I realized I hadn't cleaned it in a while and at some point, we had burned one of those endura logs and I thought I'd better clean it first and make sure it's only hardwood ash before I test that one myself haha

It only takes a few bowls to lose that delightful hickory aroma! Seriously, the mud gets very hard. I’ve used it in briars that were drilled too high in the tobacco chamber.

 

[lightxmyfire]

Progress report! After a few days of drying it’s gotten nice and solid. Taping it with the pipe tool makes a nice “clink” type sound and it’s not scraping up anymore! Looking forward to smoking with it! Will report back again! Cheers!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I gave up pipe mud in favor of fireplace mortar.

 

[ben88]

Takes about a week to dry. Few smokes to cure completely.

 

[judas530]

Ive always done it the way you did and it works great. The first time I made mud I made it a bit too wet also. Next time put it outside in the sun. It will dry it much faster that way.

 

[FurCoat]

I have good friends that are cigar smokers so I have a steady supply of ash. I mud the bottom of my MM as soon as I get them. From a previous reply, my interest is peaked on fireplace mortar.

 

[Chasing Embers]

From a previous reply, my interest is peaked on fireplace mortar.

It's good stuff. Pipe mud can be dislodged, fireplace mortar is there to stay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Curious: Why do some insist on cigar ash, when good pipe ash is so plentiful and available?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Curious: Why do some insist on cigar ash, when good pipe ash is so plentiful and available?

They say cigar ash is more coarse and makes a denser mud. I've used both as well as cigarette ash in the past and noticed no difference.

On a side note, a friend of mine in high school decades ago, fashioned an ashtray from a brick of cigarette ash and water in shop class, and that thing lasted for years.

 

[lightxmyfire]

Progress report! Just had my first smoke in the mudded pipe. So far is great! Smoked all the way down, no stupid pile of un-smokable baccy, and the mud held great! Will be mudding my cobs from now on!

 

[rajangan]

I never used ashes.

I've done it by reaming pipe carbon out, mixing the carbon with honey, then filling the hole with this cement, letting it dry for a day, then smoking it. Sometimes it takes two treatments.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You can also make a slurry of sugar and water if honey isn't at hand.