Chacom - New Pipe Smell...?

[Northern Neil]

I just purchased a new Chacom Royale with a Vulcanite stem. When I got it home and started testing the draw, etc (I never like to perform these test in the shop for some reason), I noticed a burnt rubber smell coming from the stem, which does not come through in the taste mind you. Also, the smell is hardly noticeable until it gets wet from my saliva.

Has anyone ever noticed this before? Did the smell come through in the smoke? Did it just disappear like a new car smeel does with use? I ask because I have not smoked the pipe yet, and paid far too much to chance the smell of burnt rubber ruining my favorite tobaccos.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brewdude]

Based on what you report, I'd return it immediately. This can only get worse with smoking IMO.

FWIW I've never had this happen with any of my vulcanite stems, and I have a few.

Sounds to me like perhaps an inferior vulcanite was used.

JMHO


Cheers,

RR

 

[lb]

Ounce I had that problem with a cheap no brand pipe . The condition improved with olive oil. However , I never had that problem with the 2 or 3 Chacoms I had.

 

[Northern Neil]

Based on what you report, I'd return it immediately. This can only get worse with smoking IMO.

FWIW I've never had this happen with any of my vulcanite stems, and I have a few.

Sounds to me like perhaps an inferior vulcanite was used.

JMHO


Cheers,

RR

I was hoping that would not be the case. This pipe has a pretty impressive story and I would hate to have to give it up. The Briar was apparently harvested in the late 19th century, rough cut around 1942, and finish cut in 2003. I may have to look into getting the stem replaced rather than return the whole pipe.

 

[Northern Neil]

Ounce I had that problem with a cheap no brand pipe . The condition improved with olive oil. However , I never had that problem with the 2 or 3 Chacoms I had.

I was thinking of rubbing some obsidian oil on the stem to see if that did anything. But I also thought it was more for oxidization rather than smell... may be worth a shot.

 

[Brewdude]

Based on what you report, I'd return it immediately. This can only get worse with smoking IMO.

FWIW I've never had this happen with any of my vulcanite stems, and I have a few.

Sounds to me like perhaps an inferior vulcanite was used.

JMHO


Cheers,

RR

I was hoping that would not be the case. This pipe has a pretty impressive story and I would hate to have to give it up. The Briar was apparently harvested in the late 19th century, rough cut around 1942, and finish cut in 2003. I may have to look into getting the stem replaced rather than return the whole pipe.

And that might indeed be your best option. If, of course, the stem is the problem. Which is what it sounds like to me.

If it were me, I'd contact the manufacturer first detailing your concerns. Surely they would stand behind their product line.

HTH


Cheers,

RR

 

[Brewdude]

Ounce I had that problem with a cheap no brand pipe . The condition improved with olive oil. However , I never had that problem with the 2 or 3 Chacoms I had.

I was thinking of rubbing some obsidian oil on the stem to see if that did anything. But I also thought it was more for oxidization rather than smell... may be worth a shot.

Not going to do anything about the smell and taste.


Cheers,

RR

 

[Anonymous]

Might try one of those retorts or a cleaning used on estate pipes. They can do in ghost and that's sounds similar. Might have been drilled with a dull bit that caused some heating. A heavy pipe cleaner with some Tripoli on it or coated with Barkeeper's Friend might remove such residue too.

 

[Anonymous]

Acrylic replacement stem 8)

:face:

 

[Northern Neil]

I may have to look into getting the stem replaced rather than return the whole pipe.

And that might indeed be your best option. If, of course, the stem is the problem. Which is what it sounds like to me.

If it were me, I'd contact the manufacturer first detailing your concerns. Surely they would stand behind their product line.

HTH


Cheers,

RR

I am 99% sure that it is the stem that is the problem. The briar has a beautiful cut wood smell at the moment. Nonetheless, I sent an email to Chacom this morning. I'll probably take the pipe back to my tobacconist as well and chat with them about the issue. They are quite helpful (never had a warranty issue before), and if nothing else, it is always a good chat

 

[monbla256]

There really should not be any type of odor to the stem with a new pipe. I would not do anything to it till you see if your retailer will exchange for another. I'm sure they will honor this as Chacom will probably do some credit their account thing. I wouldn't put ANY type of substance or do ANYTHING to the stem till you have exhausted all return/exchange possibilities.

 

[Northern Neil]

There really should not be any type of odor to the stem with a new pipe. I would not do anything to it till you see if your retailer will exchange for another. I'm sure they will honor this as Chacom will probably do some credit their account thing. I wouldn't put ANY type of substance or do ANYTHING to the stem till you have exhausted all return/exchange possibilities.

Thanks Monbla, that is good advice. Now just waiting for the tobacconist to open

 

[MisterE]

My guess it's something that will go away with time. Have you ever opened a new plastic product like an inflatable pool toy? The plastic smell is quite noticable right out of the box or wrapper. After having it out for a while it goes away. I suspect the same thing will happen with your stem.

You also might consider getting some alcohol and give it a good scrubbing inside and out. Thay might help speed up the process.

 

[HCraven]

Hi, Neil. First, let me say you are correct to take monbla's advice and attempt to remedy the situation through the dealer before altering the pipe in any way.

Now, let me tell you a short story about my Chacom, a Semi-Churchwarden I purchased about ten years ago. When I got the pipe home from Chicago, having purchased it either from Iwan Ries or Updown Cigar (can't really remember which, as the trip yielded several new pipes), I soon found that the draft was highly constricted, making it nearly impossible to pull smoke through the stem. There was no problem with the drilling of the stummel, as the stem felt clogged even when it was removed from the pipe, and after a few aborted attempts to smoke it, I concluded that the airway collapsed during bending, and put the pipe away, lesson learned. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was packing for our recent move and came across the pipe. I started fiddling around with it and poking up into the stem from the tenon end with a paperclip when something gave way inside. I ran a pipe cleaner through, and this little piece of cylindrical vulcanite popped out of the tenon, and after that the stem was clear of obstructions and good to smoke, which I have been doing a bit of since. So ten years later, I'm finally enjoying my Chacom, which now seems to be a great pipe, by the way.

I see a similarity here, and wonder if whatever they do to drill these stems is generating heat enough to melt the vulcanite and leave bits behind in the airway. I don't suppose it could hurt to try and run at least a stiff bristled pipe cleaner through your stem a few times and see if any extraneous material comes out, though I'd save any more agressive measures until you've exhausted all possible remedies through the dealer.

Good luck, and happy puffing!

 

[Northern Neil]

Well, I made back to my tobacconist and of course, he could not smell the burnt rubber I was smelling. After a long chat, he convinced me to try the pipe and that if there is an issue with the stem, that a smoked pipe would not void the warranty. Nevertheless, the smell I was getting from the stem originally, is virtually undetectable now that the pipe has been smoked. And, the key fact, the smell did not effect the taste of the tobacco.
In the end, everything worked out and I think I might have been slightly paranoid.
Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Sasquatch]

There's a tobacconist in Calgary??? :cheers:

 

[Northern Neil]

There's a tobacconist in Calgary??? :cheers:

There are a couple, but really only one worth visiting for pipe smokers.