In Praise Of The Cob

[WyoBob]

True, but their naturals, other than the Pride, are only available from the factory.

John, Which cobs besides the Freehand and Prides are available in natural? The last time I checked, MM had run out of natural Diplomats, probably my favorite of the naturals with the "Morgans" following close behind.

Have you tried the Morgans and, if so, do you know anything about the availability? A few months ago, I got a 71 minute smoke out of a Morgan smoking LNF which was quite surprising for such a little pipe and it was a great smoke!

WyoBob

 

[Blackhorse]

The 'Morgan'?

 

[WyoBob]

The 'Morgan'?

The Morgan is a prototype that I really hope they start producing. There's no better nose warmer, IMO and they smoke great!

In the picture, left to right: Morgan with factory stem, Diplomat with Forever nose warmer stem, Diplomat with MM "Danish" stem and Morgan with "Pony stem.

WyoBob

 

[tiltjlp]

True, but their naturals, other than the Pride, are only available from the factory.

John, Which cobs besides the Freehand and Prides are available in natural? The last time I checked, MM had run out of natural Diplomats, probably my favorite of the naturals with the "Morgans" following close behind.

Have you tried the Morgans and, if so, do you know anything about the availability? A few months ago, I got a 71 minute smoke out of a Morgan smoking LNF which was quite surprising for such a little pipe and it was a great smoke!

WyoBob

As far as I know, natural versions are available, when they have them, of the Diplomat, Patriot, General, Spool, and possible the Great Dane Egg, as well as the Freehand. I've been playing Phone Tag with Phil, but hope to talk with him soon. All according to how good the current crop is, more naturals will eventually become available. Also, I know they want to bring back the Bulldog, and start offering a few new models, one being a mini-churchwarden. I too have never heard of the Morgan.

 

[WyoBob]

As far as I know, natural versions are available, when they have them, of the Diplomat, Patriot, General, Spool, and possible the Great Dane Egg, as well as the Freehand. I've been playing Phone Tag with Phil, but hope to talk with him soon. All according to how good the current crop is, more naturals will eventually become available. Also, I know they want to bring back the Bulldog, and start offering a few new models, one being a mini-churchwarden. I too have never heard of the Morgan.

I called MM to order some more natural Diplomats a few months ago and Marylin said they were out and that they'd have more when they had cobs large enough to make some. She mentioned the Morgan "prototype" and wanted to know if I'd like to try one out. You bet! The little guys weigh around 18 grams, smoke for an hour (with LNF on several occasions) and provide a great smoke. MM needs to get more of these out in circulation. I think the Morgan would be a top seller.

Sweet talk Phil into sending you a couple. (And sorry for the large picture that causes folks to have to scroll. I would have resized had I known.)

WyoBob

 

[tiltjlp]

The Morgan almost looks like a nosewarmer, and might be a shorter version of the mini churchwarden they have planned. Let's hope that their crop is all larger cobs so they can get more new models and more naturals out before too long. If their quick drying works, it may be a matter of months, if not, about two years.

 

[Blackhorse]

Wyobob - what are you using for 'bit protectors'? They look like pieces of black 'surgical tubing' or something.

 

[WyoBob]

Wyobob - what are you using for 'bit protectors'? They look like pieces of black 'surgical tubing' or something.

It's heat shrink tubing available in different diameters at automotive stores, Radio Shack, maybe Lowes or Home Depot. I tried the "soft & squishy" rubber bit and they were a mouthful! H.S. is thin and tough and cheap.

WyoBob

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I'm kind of tempted to pick up a couple of cobs and have them handy... total travel-worthy, simple, yet sophisticated, especially if they smoke wonderfully and aren't so delicate. I'm in! 8)

Point of question... I notice many of them come "filtered" or "unfiltered." There's just some styles I'd love, but don't dig a filtered smoke much. Can I smoke a filtered model sans the filter? Or should I just get an unfiltered model?

Thanks for the links!

 

[Boulder]

Anyone else ever feel like they could just have a handful of quality cobs and be just as happy?

Yep, that's me. I have around 15 cobs, eleven of them having a natural finish which I found I prefer over the plaster finished pipes. "My five briars and two meers are now in a drawer".

Be selling any soon?

I just placed an order on MM.

 

[Blackhorse]

Smoking the filtered models without a filter is not a problem. But they feel really 'open' re draw when you do. But they work just fine. Buy a freehand...that's the 'one'.

 

[Boulder]

Smoking the filtered models without a filter is not a problem. But they feel really 'open' re draw when you do. But they work just fine. Buy a freehand...that's the 'one'.

Ordered a diplomat and a general to try them out first, Every one seem to like the freehands.

 

[WyoBob]

Point of question... I notice many of them come "filtered" or "unfiltered." There's just some styles I'd love, but don't dig a filtered smoke much. Can I smoke a filtered model sans the filter? Or should I just get an unfiltered model?

The draw is a bit too open for me with the filtered stems with no filter installed. So, I bend a one inch section of pipe cleaner into a "V" (so it has some "spring" to it to hold it in place) an insert it in the stem in place of a filter. This will keep bits of tobacco and embers from being sucked in and collects some tars and moisture. I replace the P.C. filter after each smoke.

The only unfiltered MM cob I have are the Morgans and the draw is perfect on these.

Walker Briar works has stems that fit the MM filtered models that are quite nice, though expensive. I have one of the "nose warmer" stems that I use with my Diplomats and Prides. These do not use filters. http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html/_forever__stems.html

WyoBob

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I dig the Diplomat shape quite a bit...

..as always, great tips from great folks! Updates soon on what I end up ordering....

 

[Kyle Weiss]

...looks like the cobs on my way are:

1 x bent Diplomat
1 x straight Washington (looked like a nice little travel pipe)
1 x bent spool-style Great Dane (for my partner, Zack, who is really envying my hobby...a cheap way to see if he is indeed into it)

Sign me up as a charter member of the Corncob Snobbery. 8)

 

[tiltjlp]

I'm kind of tempted to pick up a couple of cobs and have them handy... total travel-worthy, simple, yet sophisticated, especially if they smoke wonderfully and aren't so delicate. I'm in! 8)

Point of question... I notice many of them come "filtered" or "unfiltered." There's just some styles I'd love, but don't dig a filtered smoke much. Can I smoke a filtered model sans the filter? Or should I just get an unfiltered model?

Thanks for the links!

I think the majority of cobbers toss away the filters. All they do is get damp and smell bad. A big plus for me is the open draw without the filter.

 

[mgtarheel]

Whatever cob you buy put a "Forever Stem" on it. They are great.

 

[Rob_In_MO]

While I prefer the Diplomat as well, there does (like another stated above) need to be some kind of restriction in the draw for it to 'feel' right to me. I've found that I prefer the Savinelli 6mm Balsa Filters much more than the paper type.

They perform the function of keeping bits/embers out of your mouth, providing some resistance in the draw, and absorb some of the tars/resins at the same time. I change the Balsa filter every half-dozen smokes and have to problems at all.

I've also found that the Balsa filters affect the flavor of the tobacco less than a paper filter does.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

My MM order is in!

These things are beautiful!! No, I do not have the "forever stems," but these are some wonderful pipes. I'm really impressed.

So, now that I'm a first-time cob owner, is there any special care, cake-building, seasoning or any tips another cob snob can hand down?

Excited about these!

 

[Rob_In_MO]

So, now that I'm a first-time cob owner, is there any special care, cake-building, seasoning or any tips another cob snob can hand down?

Nope, load it and smoke it. If you want to smoke it more than once a day, that's fine too. Cobs are very forgiving and can be used/abused regularly and have no problems. Most on here prefer not to build a thick cake in a cob, since expansion of the cake layer (if thick) can speed the cracking of the cob bowl. No need to season it either, although some remove the wood-stem insert in the bottom of the bowl. I find that after 5 or 6 smokes, it doesn't really matter anyway - so that step isn't absolutely necessary anyway.