Resting Corn Cob Pipes

[msromike]

Well, just getting back into it and over the past year have smoked maybe 70 different blends, I am finally nailing my rotation down. BUT, I really found out by trial and error (and the hard way) that you really DO need to rest your briars. I have a Meer on the way for further "smoke offs" of various tobaccos.

However for my main rotation I just can't afford to have as many briars as I really need, since I am smoking 8 bowls or so a day.

So, corn cobs for rotation fill in pipes!

Long story short, my question is do cobs really need to rest much? What is your personal experience with how many bowls versus how much rest a cob needs?

Mike R

 

[bullet08]

Everything gets rested. Cob, at least for me, gets pretty wet. Some smoke briar one smoke after another, but they usually clean it out and run cleaner to somewhat dry them.

 

[AJL67]

Much like a certain female police i run trains on my pipes, i smoke meers 99% of the time now, i always run a pipe cleaner through the stem and fold it to run it around the bowl, i don’t really set them to rest for more than a few minutes.

 

[msromike]

Cool. But I have to be realistic, I just can't seeing having a 56 pipe collection to smoke 8 bowls a day with a week rest on each pipe. I'm Just trying to get some real world practical tips, rather than the overkill you see on the "we like to sell a lot of pipes" websites.

 

[anotherbob]

I think as long as the pipe is dry it's fine to smoke. I have never had a cob get nasty even if I don't clean it as much as I should.

 

[msromike]

Yeah I could see an 8 briar 4 to 6 meer collection someday. That wouldn't break the bank since I already have that many briars.

 

[bullet08]

You don't need to let them rest a week. Clean them after each smoke. Take 5 min to clean and you can go again.

 

[anotherbob]

Cool. But I have to be realistic, I just can't seeing having a 56 pipe collection to smoke 8 bowls a day with a week rest on each pipe. I'm Just trying to get some real world practical tips, rather than the overkill you see on the "we like to sell a lot of pipes" websites.

if you smoke a 8 a day and want to give a "proper" rest you'd only need sixteen. Alternating per day. Every single pipe "rule" seems to exaggerate by the way. It's like they knew we wouldn't listen and fudge the details. Like telling someone to only have one drink because you know they'll turn it into 6.

 

[msromike]

Yeah I actually clean after every smoke, and Renaissance wax the vulcanite stems daily at the end of the day. Maintenance is part of the fun believe it or not.

 

[anotherbob]

Yeah I actually clean after every smoke, and Renaissance wax the vulcanite stems daily at the end of the day. Maintenance is part of the fun believe it or not.

Excessive care can probably cause as many problems as under care. Waxing the stem daily? That's fine but it's not normally and not needed. Cool as long as you realize that's overkill. I just want to make sure you don't think you have to do all that.

 

[msromike]

Good point @anotherbob! Once I get an actual rotation down and have enough pipes to rest, I might not have to clean the living bejesus out of them to keep them tasting good.

 

[warren]

I just can't seeing having a 56 pipe collection to smoke 8 bowls a day with a week

There's a reason a "seven day set" is only seven pipes. You may want more but, smoking one pipe, only a mere eight bowls in a day is fine. Many folk have only one pipe and smoke more than that in a day, seven days a week. It's what you want and are comfortable with. Just keep your pipe(s) reasonably clean ... You'll do just fine.

Or, you can be "anal" about the process, if that suits your personality. They are your tools, your property, and the "Pipe Police" aren't really a true entity. So, do what you like, no validation required.

If the bottom of the bowl is wet, lotsa lees ... swab it dry, reload and smoke. That's pretty much all that's required for me.

 

[ray47]

Long story short, my question is do cobs really need to rest much? What is your personal experience with how many bowls versus how much rest a cob needs?

I own 50 cobs, but usually pick 2 that I'll smoke all day. I average 10 bowls a day, sometimes more if I'm in the mood. All I do is run a pipe cleaner thru the stem and clean the inside of the bowl with these and I'm good to go, for even back to back bowls. Sometimes I'll use the same 2 cobs all week. I've smoked my cobs this way for 56 years and still have some that are 30+ years old and still in use and they smoke better than my newer cobs. Smoke them like you stole them.

 

[anotherbob]

Good point @anotherbob! Once I get an actual rotation down and have enough pipes to rest, I might not have to clean the living bejesus out of them to keep them tasting good.

nothing wrong with that. I just have seen a few posts that seems like many people are under the impression pipes are more fincky and fragile then they are. In fact I've let a pipe or two get genuinely nasty and then found out it's really easy to correct. Well o.k. I have one bowl that just is prone towards getting nastier. I think it might be because it's a very often smoked meer lined briar. The meer is actually blacker then the cake. Thought it was done but nope fixed it and it's smoking sweet again.

 

[Streeper541]

There are days I smoke the same rusticated Peterson 107 all day long and don't touch any other. I can also guarantee you, that same pipe gets smoked at least 20+ times a week.

I've got close to 80 briars, at least a dozen cobs, and a couple meers. I could rest that pipe if I chose, but I don't. Why? I just really like that particular pipe.

Don't worry so much about what everybody else does, and do what works best for you.

 

[BarrelProof]

I bought a bunch of cobs just to have “cheap” pipes to be able to wear out as I saw fit. To that end, I know there are some that were smoked back to back to back for days on end without so much as a quick wipe down between bowls with a pipe cleaner.

I’m sure they’ll wear out a little faster that way, but I wouldn’t be too bothered by your process. Just get busy.

 

[kcghost]

I think you should rest meers that same amount as you do your briars.

 

[FHlight]

I'm used to changing a pipe every time I smoke.

 

[msromike]

I own 50 cobs, but usually pick 2 that I'll smoke all day. I average 10 bowls a day, sometimes more if I'm in the mood. All I do is run a pipe cleaner thru the stem and clean the inside of the bowl with these View attachment 206290 and I'm good to go, for even back to back bowls. Sometimes I'll use the same 2 cobs all week. I've smoked my cobs this way for 56 years and still have some that are 30+ years old and still in use and they smoke better than my newer cobs. Smoke them like you stole them.

So different caliber barrel brushes? I suppose if they don't fit at first, they will after a couple of uses. LOL I might try some in the appropriate pipe.

Just curious, is there a downside to having the draft hole a little oversized if you get too zealous?

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Cobs can be smoked multiple times a day, multiple days in a row. With a modicum of care, they can and will most likely last you for many years. While Ray's brushes are a nice touch, they are not required. Just run a pipe cleaner through it and keep on chooglin'. A few cobs should do you just fine until you have the time, opportunity and resources to further your briar pipe collection.