Coming out of the closet.

[Puff Daddy]

I've had a couple of cobs before. They were always the smaller ones with crappy little stems and I didn't really get much out of them. I guess I just figured I should give em a fair shake so I hunted around for a couple that were larger and had better mouthpieces. Both of these came from a guy who stains them and puts various stems on them.

The Missouri Meerschaum Spindle has a nosewarmer stem on it. I think it's a very cool look. The pipe is light as a feather, has a good capacity and is much better in build than I remember cobs being (even has a metal shank ring instead of rubber). Unfortunately the stem is just a small MM factory bit and like all .49 cent MM bits it's crap. Has a straight rectangular bore that is 3 sizes too big so it's a PIA to smoke. I wrote to Walker Biriarworks to see about an acrylic nosewarmer bit. The Country Gentleman has a simple aftermarket acrylic stem that was fit to the MM shank and it works really, really well. This pipe smokes wonderfully. I'm sure the spindle will too once I manage to get a proper stem fitted to it.

Been smoking some simple burleyweed in them and yes, it tastes great in a good cob!

 

[DireWolf]

The bit on the right is from MM?

 

[Puff Daddy]

The short, clear amber bit on the spindle pipe is a Missouri Meerschaum factory bit (intended for a different, smaller unfiltered pipe). The guy who stained it put this smaller bit on it to make a nosewarmer out of it. The idea was good, the dimensions look good, but the stem is junk. The longer, multi colored stem is judt a run of the mill aftermarket acrylic stem you can buy from pipemakers emporium or other supply outfits. The guy I bought it from just cut down the tenon a bit to fit the shank. It works very well.

[[edit in: I'm pretty sure it's this stem: http://corncobpipe.com/royal-non-filtered-amber-bit.html ]

 

[DireWolf]

Interesting.

There is a guy in Texas can make you new stems for 1/4 the price of the Forever Stems, I heard. Don't know the name of his shop though.

BTW, do you have an afro in real life?

 

[Puff Daddy]

BTW, do you have an afro in real life?

An afro on a 50 year old white dude would be tough to pull off. I do have a tiger tail though.

 

[DireWolf]

Oh well.

"2 outta 3 ain't bad." - Meatwad

 

[SteelyJ]

I dig the stems. I love my MM cobs. I should look into aftermarket stems...

 

[DireWolf]

I've burned through two Morgan's and a shortstop, at the bottom. I appreciate the hardwood bottom in some of them.

 

[Richard Burley]

Just for the sake of argument, there's something to be said for a bit that you can abuse and chew hell out of, then replace for 49 cents. I use both the Walker bits (I like the quasi-Dunhill dot) and the cheapos from MM.

 

[Puff Daddy]

The cheapo MM stem would probably work fine if it were drilled in a reasonable manner. A giant rectangular airway 3 sizes too big. It just doesn't work, unless you're trying to get good fire going.

 

[Richard Burley]

The cheapo MM stem would probably work fine if it were drilled in a reasonable manner. A giant rectangular airway 3 sizes too big. It just doesn't work, unless you're trying to get good fire going.

Never noticed.  

Amendment: I've never owned or smoked a non-filter MM. The good ones all seem to have filters (smoked sans filter, at least by me). Different bores, I reckon.

 

[Puff Daddy]

Dave @ Walker is making me a nosewarmer stem that'll fit it. Will report back when I get it in

 

[Dutch]

Puff, I purchased one of the little miniature cobs from Dave with the nosewarmer stem a few years ago, and use it to smoke flakes. I interchange this stem on some of my other cobs. I really like using it on my great danes. I think you will really enjoy using it. He now makes an acrylic version, which I really need to order, since I prefer them over vulcanite.

 

[Puff Daddy]

Yep, the one I just ordered is the Tortoise shell acrylic.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Time for a cob pride parade. :snerk:

 

[Puff Daddy]

An occasion to break out my pink tu tu.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Those are great PD.. Is the stem on the C. Gentleman a Walker?

Anyone into the fancified cob work of Riccardo Santia?

http://www.rsantiapipes.com/pipes-by-riccardo-santia.html

 

[DireWolf]

 

[Puff Daddy]

Those are great PD.. Is the stem on the C. Gentleman a Walker?

No, just a generic acrylic stem but it's performing very well.

 

[Richard Burley]

Anyone into the fancified cob work of Riccardo Santia?

http://www.rsantiapipes.com/pipes-by-riccardo-santia.html

I have one, posted elsewhere. Looks like he's upped his game since I bought mine. They smoke great--just like a regular cob!