Are Cobs The Disposable Razor Of The Pipe World?

[tiltjlp]

My MM Country Gentleman is going on six years now, probably smoked it about 150 + times, and looks like it will outlive me. I've heard people talk about them burning out (and I've busted up a few or lost them on canoe trips), but I've never had one burn or ware out from smoking.

Natch

I haven't had a burn out in over 50 years. The key is to smoke slow and easy, which oviously not all pipe smokers do.

 

[Smoker99]

Cobs are cheap, and therefore considered disposable to many. They are exposed to high risk situations, and sometimes not well taken care of. I have a few I really like, and some I use for trial pipes that may ghost, and if I don't like the tobacco, I just pitch the pipe. They can become decent smokers after you burn off the pine shank portion they leave sticking into the bowl. They are an American Icon, and I will have a few.

 

[jefe1037]

the mm pipes ive seen all come with a 6mm filter... how does this change how they smoke? i haven't read much on filters in general. can you just take it out?

 

[williamcharles]

Regarding filters...yank and toss.

 

[jefe1037]

Regarding filters...yank and toss.

thats what i thought.... thanks for the help

 

[Rusty Mouse]

Regarding filters...yank and toss.

I've seen unfiltered cobs, now would the bore not be larger for a filter equipped cob just as a briar would be? I ask because I would assume this might affect the smoke in a negative way, hence the adaptors I see available. I'm completely uneducated in the realm of filtered pipes with the exception of Brigham.

 

[tiltjlp]

Regarding filters...yank and toss.

I've seen unfiltered cobs, now would the bore not be larger for a filter equipped cob just as a briar would be? I ask because I would assume this might affect the smoke in a negative way, hence the adaptors I see available. I'm completely uneducated in the realm of filtered pipes with the exception of Brigham.

The great thing about corncobs is that the more open draw helps most smokers leran how to smoke slower and easier, which helps extract more flavor from your tobacco, especially if you dry your blends some, than smoking too fast and hard. 

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Also, cobs are awesome.

On that note, not using the filters on cobs that are designed with filters in mind is a good idea. I have come to enjoy the open draw of a filter pipe sans the filter.

On my Diplomat, I picked up a trick here at BoB that helps ash burning bits from being introduced to my tongue, 1/3 or so a pipe cleaner cut to size, and placed neatly in the stem, discarded after every use. For some reason, the Washington doesn't really need this trick.

 

[finsup21]

I've been looking at the Missuri Meerschaums and just a question: filter or unfiltered? It seems only the smaller ones are non-filter.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I've been looking at the Missuri Meerschaums and just a question: filter or unfiltered? It seems only the smaller ones are non-filter.

Get the shape that suits you, or get one of each. They aren't expensive. I'm not sure which are designed to accept filters and which are not--I believe a majority of them are designed for a filter, and I remember something about the freehand models being standard.

Total wild guess on my part--I just deal with the filtered types and smoke 'em unfiltered. It's no big deal.

 

[KevinM]

I'm also an active member of the 20+-year-old cob smokers club. I have a half doz of 'em. Just break 'em in and treat 'em as you would a briar. I think the short life span rep of cobs is connected with their knock about image. They get beaten up, sat on and dropped overboard. My brother-in-law used to buy a cardboard display of cobs at a whack, smoked the first one constantly 'til it was a soggy, stinky mess, then went to the next. But if he'd rotated them one cardboard display of cobs might have lasted him a lifetime.

 

[Rusty Mouse]

I'm also an active member of the 20+-year-old cob smokers club. I have a half doz of 'em. Just break 'em in and treat 'em as you would a briar. I think the short life span rep of cobs is connected with their knock about image. They get beaten up, sat on and dropped overboard. My brother-in-law used to buy a cardboard display of cobs at a whack, smoked the first one constantly 'til it was a soggy, stinky mess, then went to the next. But if he'd rotated them one cardboard display of cobs might have lasted him a lifetime.

Thanks for the tip! I'm gonna have to buy a few when I place my next order for whatever from wherever. A pipe related source of course.
More importantly, welcome to your new home. I didn't see you in "The Welcome Wagon", so this will have to suffice. Stick around!

 

[smokey422]

Cobs can last for years if cared for properly. I have a couple of MM Country Gentleman that I bought at the St. Louis Pipe Show in '03 and they still smoke just as well as when they were new. I just keep them clean and don't smoke them too hot and they will probably last for a while longer.

Smokey

 

[KevinM]

Cobs are especially nice for a quick puff with a cheap beer between yard chores. If you look at a pic of a cob you're conemplating, the stem intersects halfway up the bowl. So, chances are, someone used to a capacious briar may think he's getting half a smoke. OTOH -- cobs are light, very easy to get along with, seem to welcome just about any blend, there's a wide selection of styles available and the price makes them easily tbe winner of the Best Smoke For The Buck prize. Keep Smilin' filled my last order for a Diplomat, Country Gent and two Legends For $26 + shipping. They'll enter my rotation, and I hope they'll be there for the next 20 years or until the Bad Habit Police totally outlaw this manly diversion.