Problem with new Meerschaum corncob

**KarlMaldensNose** · 06-08-2012, 06:30 PM

Picked up my first pipe today, see thread title. Started to load it and noticed a blob of something stuck to the inside of the bowl near the top. Looks like hardened glue or something like that. It's translucent-white and the size of about 6 pin heads stacked on top of each other. Kinda looks like a booger. What is this? Whatever it is I think it's safe to assume that I shouldn't smoke from this pipe until it is remedied, returned, or recycled. Any ideas?

EDIT: Dang! I was so looking forward to relaxing tonight with my new pipe while watching the Blue Jays kick some Braves butt. Hope someone chimes in soon with a quick fix so I can still fit in a bowl while the game is on.

**haiku44** · 06-08-2012, 06:52 PM

It's glue. I scrap it off with a knife if it sticks out like that. The stem on a cob is glued into place. Never had an issue after I scraped it out.

Originally Posted by KarlMaldensNose

Picked up my first pipe today, see thread title. Started to load it and noticed a blob of something stuck to the inside of the bowl near the top. Looks like hardened glue or something like that. It's translucent-white and the size of about 6 pin heads stacked on top of each other. Kinda looks like a booger. What is this? Whatever it is I think it's safe to assume that I shouldn't smoke from this pipe until it is remedied, returned, or recycled. Any ideas?

EDIT: Dang! I was so looking forward to relaxing tonight with my new pipe while watching the Blue Jays kick some Braves butt. Hope someone chimes in soon with a quick fix so I can still fit in a bowl while the game is on.

**haiku44** · 06-08-2012, 06:54 PM

weird that it's near the top. I usually get it at the bottom of the bowl.

**Uncle Jackie** · 06-08-2012, 07:01 PM

I agree, it's glue. Scrape it out, maybe give a gentle wipe with some fine grit sandpaper. It'll be fine.

**Argonaut** · 06-08-2012, 08:33 PM

Guy named KarlMaldensNose makes a reference to boogers and no one gives him a hard time? Frankly, I'm disappointed in you people.

**haiku44** · 06-08-2012, 08:37 PM

Bahahaha. I can't believe I missed that. Feeling very ashamed..

Originally Posted by jmallen5

Guy named KarlMaldensNose makes a reference to boogers and no one gives him a hard time? Frankly, I'm disappointed in you people.

**KarlMaldensNose** · 06-08-2012, 08:51 PM

Just chipped it off with the tip of knife and it was fine. Wish I could say the same for my Blue Jays and my first pipe bowl. Both were disasters. Toronto's woes were a matter of public record so I needn't go on about them. The bowl, unfortunately like the Jays, was a comedy of errors, including everything from burning the rim to an inability to light the tobacco to a late night raid by a marauding gang of racoons. But I never say die when the task at hand doesn't involve hard work, so I'm off to try again before I go to bed. Hope the 'coons have moved on to my neighbours' yards by now. As far as the pipe problems go, I believe the difficulty lighting and keeping it lit are due to packing it too tightly. I'll go a little lighter on the finger this time.

**Argonaut** · 06-08-2012, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by KarlMaldensNose

Just chipped it off with the tip of knife and it was fine. Wish I could say the same for my Blue Jays and my first pipe bowl. Both were disasters. Toronto's woes were a matter of public record so I needn't go on about them. The bowl, unfortunately like the Jays, was a comedy of errors, including everything from burning the rim to an inability to light the tobacco to a late night raid by a marauding gang of racoons. But I never say die when the task at hand doesn't involve hard work, so I'm off to try again before I go to bed. Hope the 'coons have moved on to my neighbours' yards by now. As far as the pipe problems go, I believe the difficulty lighting and keeping it lit are due to packing it too tightly. I'll go a little lighter on the finger this time.

It's a well known fact that racoons are intrigued with pipe smoking, throw a Pop-Tart in the neighbors yard and they'll leave you alone. Practice makes proficient, keep at it.

**Stevew443** · 06-08-2012, 09:08 PM

One wonderful thing about corncobs is that they are so inexpensive that who really cares if you scorch the top. I will need to pick up a few to replace some missing pipes. I saw that I still had my huge MacArthur corncob, so I may just fire that up when I get off work in the morning.

**jdto** · 06-08-2012, 10:05 PM

I can pretty much guarantee you'll win at pipe smoking before the Blue Jays win the division.

**Kentos** · 06-08-2012, 11:42 PM

Raccons are better than the skunk I encountered up in Laketown County, N California. I was out smoking a cig(back in the day) and heard the sound of nails clicking on the pavement. I stood and looked around the porch corner and came eye to eye with a skunk. Scared the bejeezus out of this Island Boy Ill tell ya. It froze in its tracks, and I bolted back in the house.

Is this your first try at pipe smoking? I had good results with the fill, tamp lightly to half way down the bowl, fill again, tamp down lightly to 3/4, then fill again and tamp to just below the rim. I still am learning myself, but I realized now that I packed the tobacco WAY to tightly in the beginning. Loosely is better, as you can always tamp it down a bit, while a too packed pipe is no fun.

**2b1ask1** · 06-09-2012, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by jmallen5

Guy named KarlMaldensNose makes a reference to boogers and no one gives him a hard time? Frankly, I'm disappointed in you people.

**KarlMaldensNose** · 06-09-2012, 02:37 PM

Yup, it's my first go with a pipe. My second bowl was a bit better after I packed the tobacco looser. Still having problems lighting it without scorching the rim. I'm packing it below rim level, as I believe is correct. The problem is partly with the tiny bowl. It is so small in diameter that it's difficult to get flame on the tobacco without it touching the rim. I'm sure I'll get better with practice but I will be looking into finding a pipe with a larger bowl to make things easier for me while learning.

Another issue I'm having is getting used to a completely different smoking process. Coming from cigarettes, I'm used to getting a lot of resistance during the pull, and in turn being rewarded with a mammoth hit of smoke to inhale (evil and gross, I know, that's why I'm trying to quit). So this concept of "sipping" from the pipe feels completely alien to me, and then not even getting to inhale what little smoke I do get has me feeling cheated in a way. Almost like I'm not understanding the point of it all. I know, I know, it's a completely different game with different objectives and rules. It will take some time but I am committed to seeing it through. I'm one of the few who actually enjoys the flavour of cigarette tobacco, and I try to smoke for enjoyment as much as to simply satisfy my addiction. I think that tendency lends itself well to pipe smoking and will ultimately help in the transition.

**Kentos** · 06-09-2012, 02:53 PM

It takes a while, but eventually the habit takes. I really enjoy the small sips and the delicious aromas and taste. It is counterintuative, but the smaller and slower your hits, the more flavor you get. I also try to circulate the smoke across my whole mouth to get the flavor.

I am still a novice as yourself, but I really like the aged virginia flakes and light Latakia blends. Aromatics have a bunch of aroma, but flavor wise seem to be relatively flat, IMO of course. Sometimes I like to relax with some CD autumn evening and enjoy the smell.