What Does Pipe Burn out Look Like?

[mikethompson]

I was going through my pipes and got out my 1955 Dunhill, thinking that this winter I'd like to take some time and clean it up. The pipe is in great shape, clear nomenclature, everything. What I noticed on the side of the bowl was a darkish spot. It doesn't look like it was burned from the outside or anything, and the cake inside looks Ok.
When a pipe burns out, what exactly happens, and what does it look like?

 

[sasquatch]

Burnouts usually do present as a dark spot before they come through. But... a dark spot doesn't necessarily mean the pipe is doomed either.
I think the thing to do is clean the pipe up, ream it gently, get to where you can see the inside chamber walls and make a determination about whether there has been significant burning in there or not - this will be pretty easy to see.
But even if it has previous damage, if you smoke slow and careful, there's no reason any more damage has to occur.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

... and what does it look like?

Wood in a campfire.

 

[mikethompson]

Pictures are clearly required here. I will post up some today.

 

[haparnold]

Does it look like this?

This is a Peterson Deluxe I got as an estate years ago. I noticed the dark spot after a smoke where I was definitely not puffing hard. It freaked me out, but I've felt around the inside of the bowl and can't feel any thin spots or depressions, and it's had several bowls run through it (very carefully) since then with no ill effect.
At the end of the day, pipes are meant to be smoked. I say smoke it carefully and see what happens. If it burns out, you won't want it, and if you can't smoke it, I assume you also won't want it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

One of my pipes had/has a dark spot similar to the above, but higher on the heel, a bit darker and larger. That was years ago: Chamber is fully intact, and it's now just seen as a slight beauty mark on the pipe. (which is hiding somewhere or other at the moment). Unlikely to be a problem.

 

[crashthegrey]

It looks like sadness and despair. And the above picture. Sometimes if you take it easy on the pipe and put some pipe mud in or build up some carbonization, it will never progress. Sometimes it will.

 

[mikethompson]

thanks for the responses guys! Hopefully its not as bad as I fear. I'd love to have a vintage Dunhill in the rotation.

 

[crashthegrey]

The bad news is, that looks like a burnout. The good news is, it looks like someone may have already filled it and built up a cake inside. Very interesting.

 

[woodsroad]

 

[mikethompson]

I bought it locally from a non-pipe person, it was his fathers or something. I was hoping it could 'buff right out', but probably no huh? Guess I will have to leave a layer of cake in there and hope for the best.
Dan your photo doesn't work for me
Edit: wait now it does! Yikes!

 

[scloyd]

Interesting. I too wondered about a burn out on this Poul Hansen pipe I picked up at an antique shop. The chamber looks and feels fine. I have yet to smoke it.

 

[onestrangeone]

<p>@Mikethompson, it’s had to tell from a picture but it looks to me like a cigarette burn. If it were mine there’s no way I could Not pick at it a bit and see what’s up. Maybe it’s just me but when I enlarge that pic a little I see a ‘face’ on that pipe! It’s kinda freaking me out a little bit

 

[jpmcwjr]

Woodsroad: Drill press or Photoshop??
MikeT- Yours is the only one so far that looks like it might be burnout. Hope it isn't. Why not ream n clean the thing and have a good look inside the chamber?

 

[seldom]

Maybe it’s just me but when I enlarge that pic a little I see a ‘face’ on that pipe! It’s kinda freaking me out a little bit

Onestrangeone: Don't worry! It's just the Bender robot from the animated TV show "Futurama".

As for burnout sorry I don't have input. I hope that pipe isn't burning out and will provide you years of utility and enjoyment.

 

[crashthegrey]

Now this is just my opinion, but if it looks like there was a previous burnout, I wouldn't ream and clean it. Whatever happened, that is working. As soon as you try to see that chamber, you may cause that burnout to continue. YMMV

 

[brian64]

The most epic pipe burnout photo I've seen was in a post by Sparrowhawk (if memory serves) probably at least a couple of years ago.
I made a brief attempt to find it, but did not succeed.

 

[mikethompson]

I think what I will try to do is see if I can wipe it with coffee and a paper towel to remove it. Maybe it is just a superficial mark? Maybe not.
If not look for a listing for a 1955 Dunhill Bender Zulu on eBay!

 

[scloyd]

@brian64...is this the thread? pipe burn out

 

[brian64]

That's it! Thanks SC.
Now that's what pipe burn-out looks like.