noob ? on cobs

[wharfrathoss]

noticed today that the outside bottom of all my cobs is getting soft-it's not burning thru, but for some reason the center compressed when my finger was on it-took the worst one & removed material all the way to the wood stem, no blackness so i don't think i'm oversmoking-read somewhere about setting the pipe down when hot causing burnout from the outside in?-i clean them after every use running pipe cleaner thru them so i don't think it's from moisture-when they get hot to the touch i set them down to cool-anyone else experienced this?-is this normal w/cobs or am i doing something wrong?

[Nutiket_32]

i believe cobs are dipped in some kind of lacquer or other chemical to seal them. Could that have either worn off or not have been completed and the cob is rotting?

The center of a corn cob is made up of pith which is soft, spongelike, and runs the central cylinder of the cob. THere is no real floor to the cob you're smoking and thats why you were able to dig right through. They do make cobs with hardwood plugs for the floor plate. These are the kinds of cobs i smoke and i've never had a problem in the almost two years i've had them.

[wharfrathoss]

so i may be able to cut a slice of hardwood dowel & plug the hole if i read correctly-any ideas on type of adhesive to secure the plug in place or maybe just friction fit it? (yes, i'm a cheap bastard!)

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

so i may be able to cut a slice of hardwood dowel & plug the hole if i read correctly-any ideas on type of adhesive to secure the plug in place or maybe just friction fit it? (yes, i'm a cheap bastard!)

That might work for you, i don't know what type of adhesive but i'm sure if you wrote the Missouri Meerschaum Company and asked what they use, they'd tell ya.

E-mail: pipes@corncobpipe.com

[The Pirate]

I doubt MM will tell you much of anything, other than you are a cheap basrard.
Ken

[Mister Moo]

Cheap Basrads Ole Timey Wood and Natural Permeables Glue - or - The Original Plastic Wood & Ultra Putty:

make a thick paste from a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch and water and use it as wood glue or filler on natural permeables. When it hardens it is practically forever.

But, really...

[Alyks]

I had a mini corn cob that did the same thing. Eventually my pipe tool ended up pocking through.

[wharfrathoss]

well, i bored the bottom out down (or up actually) to the bottom of the stem that comes thru, was still airtight but looked funny-took an oak dowel & cut a slice to fit-didn't have to use anything to keep it in there, the friction fit was tight enough-i did take a drop of super glue & rub it over the bottom when i was done-seems to work well-for 30 cents i got a dowel long enough to plug another 40 pipes instead of spending a whole $4 on another one

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

well, i bored the bottom out down (or up actually) to the bottom of the stem that comes thru, was still airtight but looked funny-took an oak dowel & cut a slice to fit-didn't have to use anything to keep it in there, the friction fit was tight enough-i did take a drop of super glue & rub it over the bottom when i was done-seems to work well-for 30 cents i got a dowel long enough to plug another 40 pipes instead of spending a whole $4 on another one

Why you pipe-fixing scamp, you. Pictures?

[wharfrathoss]

unfortunately, no digi cam at this time-may be able to borrow one, then one of y'all will hafta tell me how to post pics (3yrs posting on cigar boards, probably time i learned!)