Breaking in a new MM Legend

[Hot Stuff x]

I searched this on the forums and couldn't find anything, so I'm going to ask here.


The question is, do I need to do any prep work to a Missouri Meerschaum Legend before smoking it?

Now for a little background so you understand why I'm asking.

I got a new MM legend from a friend who just got several of them.

He called me tonight to warn me to not smoke out of this pipe until after I char the bowl. he says he loaded a bowl of tobbaco and it tasted like crap--he says it was "oily". I think he means it tasted like petroleum. Anyway, I have a MM patriot, and the bowl on that one looks like it was already charred and is ready to smoke. But this Legend (he el-cheapo of the MM line of pipes) looks like it was treated with some kind of varnish or coating, but doesn't look like it has been prepped to smoke. So what do I need to do to this thing to get it ready? My friend is taking a torch lighter to his to burn off the crap on there that's causing the "oily" taste.

Any knowledge you guys can share will be appreciated.

[Sovereign]

All the cobs I've had I just packed and smoked away

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by Hot Stuff x

I searched this on the forums and couldn't find anything, so I'm going to ask here.


The question is, do I need to do any prep work to a Missouri Meerschaum Legend before smoking it?

Now for a little background so you understand why I'm asking.

I got a new MM legend from a friend who just got several of them.

He called me tonight to warn me to not smoke out of this pipe until after I char the bowl. he says he loaded a bowl of tobbaco and it tasted like crap--he says it was "oily". I think he means it tasted like petroleum. Anyway, I have a MM patriot, and the bowl on that one looks like it was already charred and is ready to smoke. But this Legend (he el-cheapo of the MM line of pipes) looks like it was treated with some kind of varnish or coating, but doesn't look like it has been prepped to smoke. So what do I need to do to this thing to get it ready? My friend is taking a torch lighter to his to burn off the crap on there that's causing the "oily" taste.

Any knowledge you guys can share will be appreciated.

eh.. usually cobs are pretty good about being pack-and-go.. though I think maybe he should think twice before torching the inside, and instead just build up a cake with a less tasty/expensive tobacco..

really up to you

edit: really, the only prep you should be doing with your pipes is building the cake naturally

[Hendu3270]

Sounds kinda odd to me. I have 2 MM cobs and they needed no prep at all. Just smoke and go. Perhaps your buddy was smoking questionable baccy??....

[cp478]

i have neber had any prep work to do with mm cobs. the only thing i prefer to install a screen in the bottom of the bowl then i go for it!

[MarkC]

The only odd taste I ever got from a cob was, I think, due to that varnish you speak of. It was inside the bowl, and the first bowlful tasted foul. After that, it was fine, and I've never had any problem with one that didn't have varnish in the bowl. So, I can see where he's coming from; if that stuff is in the bowl, burning it out would help. Although an easier method might be just using a cotton ball and grain alcohol the way you would with a briar that has stain inside the bowl.

[jamesstew]

Me hates it that first few bowls when you burn the tobacco down to that stupid pine thingy.

[mojo]

When I first smoked the Legend cob, I noticed a "plastic" taste that probably came from the plastic stem. After a few bowls, I haven't noticed that "plastic" taste again. The advantage of a cob pipe is that there is no break-in required in comparison to a briar pipe.

[drastic_quench]

Yeah, just smoke it. In my experience, the first couple bowls have a little sweet corn note added in there. Hardly foul, and it goes away very quickly.

[Hot Stuff x]

Ok, I'll try it out with some known good and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

[Arizona]

Just smoke it. You may notice a slight taste the first bowl or two but after that it's one of the greatest of smokes regardless of price.

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by Arizona

Just smoke it. You may notice a slight taste the first bowl or two but after that it's one of the greatest of smokes regardless of price.

[Hot Stuff x]

Ok, Gents, I smoked that cob with no major issues. Like some here said, I did have a subtle hint of corn in the first bowl, but more of a novelty than an annoyance. Thanks for the replies.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

... the first couple bowls have a little sweet corn note...

Yeah - a little Niblets thing might go on with a new cob; some do it and some don't. The wooden stem that sticks into the chamber can be pretty burnt-wood tasting for a few bowls. Like the corn thing, some are better than others about that.

Your friend may have a point. Pre-charring the wooden stem before the first fill could be a great idea. The taste of charring raw wood can be a tad unpleasant near the end of the first couple of smokes.

[Hey Joe]

"I always hire a cheap man--a man who doesn't amount to much, anyhow--who would be as well--or better--dead, and let him break in the pipe for me. I get him to smoke the pipe for a couple of weeks, then put in a new stem, and continue operations as long as the pipe holds together." Mark Twain