Should I be worried?

[Mayonaise]

So I started looking, then examining one of my new pipes this morning and noticed a few hair line cracks at the top of the bowl.  Of the three cracks I found, none of them run down into the bowl but rather on the top and outside.  I'm not sure how deep they are either.  I've smoked this pipe twice now and have not had any problems with it so far.  I was wondering if I need to look into getting the cracks fixed before I use it again or just make sure to smoke it nice and slow to avoid further damage.  I also could try to not pack the bowl to the top to keep the heat away from the cracks.  It was a fairly in-expensive purchase but I really like the pipes novelty features.  Let me know what you guys suggest.

This is the only crack that runs down the outside of the bowl.

Thanks,
Mayonaise

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Tough to say.

But one thing I noticed is that pipe has a pretty good cake in it for you having only smoked it twice. I am assuming it's an estate pipe?

Anyway I have read that most try to keep their cakes down to about the thickness of a dime at most a nickel. Thicker cakes can put stress on the briar. I have always followed this criteria myself and have never had a problem.

 

[Mayonaise]

Tough to say.

But one thing I noticed is that pipe has a pretty good cake in it for you having only smoked it twice. I am assuming it's an estate pipe?

Anyway I have read that most try to keep their cakes down to about the thickness of a dime at most a nickel. Thicker cakes can put stress on the briar. I have always followed this criteria myself and have never had a problem.

Actually the picture is deceiving. The top of the bowl has a slight bevel on one side. Now that it has been smoked, the beveled wood got a little chared.  I can actually stil see the wood down in the bowl.

 

[Richard Burley]

Not recommending this for others in any way, but when something like this happens I just toss the blanking thing.
Hope this helps. :evil:

 

[RDPipes]

I agree with D&B, this looks like cake or a weird bowl coating I've never seen.
One other reason I thought it to be an Estate the first time you posted it
was what looked like a tooth dent just under the bit but, anyway to the question at hand.
One crack looks like the carver tried to fill or cover it up, I don't know if I'd even
keep the pipe because of the major flaws myself. I would try and take it back to see
what the seller has to say about it, that should give you a good idea who your dealing with.  
As far as repairing the cracks there's really no way to do that where there located because of
the heat rising from the lower part of the tobacco chamber to say the least. :no:

 

[monbla256]

Since the novelty and price aspect were to your liking, if it were mine I'd just smoke it till it wouldn't smoke anymore ! I have a basket "Algerian Briar" no-name basket Apple I bought about 15 years ago which developed a crack along the top of the rim after smoking for about a year. That was 14 years ago and I still smoke it and the crack has not gotten any bigger so ya never know !! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[smg913]

I say if you didn't pay an arm and a leg for it and aren't worried about taking it back to the store just enjoy it. If you like the pipe and it smokes well just smoke it till its done. With that being said I would be upset if I paid over 60 bucks for it but would blame myself for not noticing them before I bought it

 

[J Soshae]

3rd Option

You have just started a "collection". Let it just sit in the rack. We all have pipes we never smoke.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Yeah, I agree. That's a good novelty pipe. I have a few of those. I'd put that one on display for fun and buy a couple MM Diplomat cobs for hardcore right-away smoking until you're ready to strike again with your next briar purchase.

 

[d4klutz]

I vote smoke it until it cant smoke anymore. If it is a good smoker, that is. If not, then keep it as a great conversational piece. I have a pipe like that. First meer lined I bought. It has a huge chunk of meer missing from the bottom that I didn't see when I bought it. It is pretty, just not gonna smoke it.

 

[idbowman]

3rd Option

You have just started a "collection". Let it just sit in the rack. We all have pipes we never smoke.

This is exactly what I'd do.

 

[SpeedyPete]

Smoke it 'till it passes away! It's gonna take a loooooooong time to do that :twisted: