To cake, or not to cake, that be the question

[RJpuffs]

What really scares me is that 19% of the polled folks (so far) have no idea what cake is!

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

What really scares me is that 19% of the polled folks (so far) have no idea what cake is!

That screams poll takers and not cake makers.

[bigkev77]

I would guess the 19% are our cigar friends

[Alyks]

mmm...cake...
as Mr. Moo had stated earlier, I noticed a decrease in gurgling and my fingers were getting less scorched as the cake built up. I'm not going to spend my time worrying about the cake, or take too much time maintaining it. Pipe smoking is for relaxing, not for fretting about cake build up.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by bigkev77

I would guess the 19% are our cigar friends

Cake on a cigar, that would have Sigmund Freud scratching his head!

[RJpuffs]

As an aside, I have also noticed that burley blends tend to cake faster. VA's are slow forming but more even/clean. Aromatics make a spongy and soggy uneven wall that has to be hacked into shape.

[Arizona]

I don't worry much about it, alot depends on the type of tobacco you smoke. Some tobacco's give you a great cake that's solid and strong, others it's crumbly and not very strong so breaks of flakes off too easily.

My blend gives me a very slow steady cake. It doesn't build up fast but it's strong and durable. I use the edge of my pipe tool (the nail type pipe tamper) and very gently scrape the cake once in awhile to just smooth off the rough/bumpy spots on the cake. I don't DIG into it or gouge it, just very gentle pressure and sort of scrape it smooth very carefully.

I don't ever get obsessed with cake. I just smoke and clean my pipe and put it in the rack and over time it will build. Relax and don't worry about it. It's sort of like gray hair, it comes with time and just suddenly you realize it's there, hehe.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Arizona

I don't worry much about it, alot depends on the type of tobacco you smoke. Some tobacco's give you a great cake that's solid and strong, others it's crumbly and not very strong so breaks of flakes off too easily...

Speaking of breaking cake (or was that breaking bread) - I heard someone mention somewhere about "repairing" cake. Of course, can't search for it since "cake" is 4 letters, and the CS search forbids 4 letter searches.

I accidentally dinged the cake on my tapered bowl Jirsa while chasing a stubborn un-burnt bit of baccy. A wee gouge (about 2mm) is missing from my carefully cultivated and manicured cake! Does anyone know how to repair such callous travesties of cakedom? Crazy glue, you say?

[Nooner]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Speaking of breaking cake (or was that breaking bread) - I heard someone mention somewhere about "repairing" cake. Of course, can't search for it since "cake" is 4 letters, and the CS search forbids 4 letter searches.

I accidentally dinged the cake on my tapered bowl Jirsa while chasing a stubborn un-burnt bit of baccy. A wee gouge (about 2mm) is missing from my carefully cultivated and manicured cake! Does anyone know how to repair such callous travesties of cakedom? Crazy glue, you say?

I've heard of people using JB Weld (for heat resistance) combined with powdered cake either from that same pipe or one of your others.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Nooner

I've heard of people using JB Weld (for heat resistance) combined with powdered cake either from that same pipe or one of your others.

Hmm glue. Not sure I'd want to smoke its fumes as it cooked. I was thinking more about spit-n-ash (maybe honey) to patch the spot?

[Nooner]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Hmm glue. Not sure I'd want to smoke its fumes as it cooked. I was thinking more about spit-n-ash (maybe honey) to patch the spot?

I think pipe makers use yogurt and charcoal(you can buy in health food stores), or Sour Cream and Charcoal(maybe milk or buttermilk too?).

From what I've heard the JB Weld doesn't give off fumes once it's cured, because when it is cured the temp doesn't affect it.

I dunno - I am personally a scrubber, I scrub down the inside of my pipes with the folded pipe cleaners I use for the shank after each session.