Tsuge to replace a cob?

[bolio]

the 'precarbonization/coating' is nothing to worry about. my first bowl was perfect. no strange flavor or foreign smells.

for the money, they are well worth it.

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i dont know about you guys but mine seems to burn a little hotter compared to my other pipes. btw, its a kaga 904.

[RJpuffs]

FYI smokingpipes appears to have just gotten a load of new Tsuges on sale
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/tsuge/index.cfm
Tsuge Arashi Smooth Bent Dublin for $65 quite a few of them.

[smokinmojo]

Originally Posted by bolio

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i dont know about you guys but mine seems to burn a little hotter compared to my other pipes. btw, its a kaga 904.

I have a Kaga as well. The construction and grain is good but the pipe is too short to filter the heat, and the bowl does warm up.

(I stay away from VA's and stick to softer OTC or Burley or English blends.)

.....that being said I'm lighting the little feller now.

[mclayton]

Sorry for this being an old post, but I figured that since I bought one of those Tsuges from SP.com, I'd chime in.

Before purchasing, I did my research and was aware of the bowl coating "phenomena". I got the pipe, and after doing a normal inspection, I figured to try it. The bowl was a nice black, and it matched the pipe well (obviously). However, the taste was almost foul...I couldn't describe it. It seemed almost artificial...chemical...etc. I withstood the taste for about 4 bowls (how, I don't know), until last night when I decided I didn't want to waste my $65 on a pipe that smoked like a syringe filled with formaldehyde. I sanded out the bowl with 220 grit, and while it took quite a long time, it'll be worth it. Slight stain seepage (as expected to be honest), but the grain is generally cool and it's neat seeing the natural color break up the dark stain and the plateau. I wiped her down with alchie, and now I'm patiently awaiting to smoke her tonight.

I just couldn't live with the taste anymore, and anyone who says there isn't one really needs to smoke two pipes side by side. You'll taste it, I guarantee it.

Aside from that, the only problem I have is a flat spot in the buffing/polish near the stem. it's right on that edge. Somewhat noticeable, but eh, the price was so discounted I'll just not look at it

Again, sorry for bumping, but I figured I'd have something worthwhile to say.

[Blaylock]

Originally Posted by mclayton

The bowl was a nice black, and it matched the pipe well (obviously). However, the taste was almost foul...I couldn't describe it. It seemed almost artificial...chemical...etc. I withstood the taste for about 4 bowls (how, I don't know), until last night when I decided I didn't want to waste my $65 on a pipe that smoked like a syringe filled with formaldehyde.

I just couldn't live with the taste anymore, and anyone who says there isn't one really needs to smoke two pipes side by side. You'll taste it, I guarantee it.

I have several pipes with the Pre-Carb bowls, including a Tsuge Bent Brandy, and to be honest, I have never tasted any 'chemical or foul taste' in any of them.

Most of what I've read about this process came from a pipemaker named David Johnson. I have two of his pipes. For informational purposes...here's a little background on the Pre-Carb coating method and his opinion on why he uses it:

To Pre-Carb, or not to Pre-Carb, That is the Question!

Guess the best rule of thumb when it comes to these types of bowls, is to give them a few lights and see how they taste to you.

[mclayton]

I guess? I don't know, it all depends on your tastes I suppose. I thought I was hallucinating (if that's possible with a taste), but I literally passed it around and the same observations were met by all. Maybe I just got a bad coating? Who knows. I do know that it is prevalent problem, or else there wouldn't be so many complaints about them (or at least I'd hope).

[Big D KC]

Someone post a pic of these tsuge bent brandy's you got for so cheap. I'm not seeing them on the smokingpipes site..

[mclayton]

They sell quickly. My Arashi was one of three...I hesitated, they were down to 2, and by the time I had bought mine the last was snatched up. Gotta keep a watchful eye!

I believe all they have are the $110 triangles right? Iwan Ries might have some cheaper ones too, but i'm not a fan of the black blasted ones in the least.

Look at the "natural" rusticated ones, for ~$75:
http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/dept...&submit=Submit
(or: http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/spgm...tem=tsuentr109)

BTW, note that in that picture, there is no bowl coating.

Here's a Kaga and a couple of naturals:
http://store.pipesandcigars.com/tsuge2.html

[Big D KC]

Thanks for the links, but I was mostly interested in the ones mentioned earlier in this thread that were labeled as "short" or "small". I think i found a pic of one on of the bent brandy's on the web but no reference of size.

I'm a big fan of small or short pipes and this piqued my interest..

[mclayton]

FWIW, my Arashi is fairly small, sans the depth of the bowl. I love the size of it, especially for when im studying/working. Fairly light, and it's efficient in that sense (I guess a reflection of the Japanese culture, perhaps?). I can see both the disadvantages and advantages of the size, but for me, it fits quite a few moods.

Happy hunting, and keep us (or even just me lol) posted!

[IHT]

Originally Posted by Big D KC

Thanks for the links, but I was mostly interested in the ones mentioned earlier in this thread that were labeled as "short" or "small". I think i found a pic of one on of the bent brandy's on the web but no reference of size.

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showpos...&postcount=442

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showpos...&postcount=449

still no size references there for you, but you can see what they looked like.
i think my Tsuge was barely 5" long.. i know it is almost too short to put in my pipe rack.

edit: and i think i'm one that said they didn't taste anything from the bowl coating, and i also believe i posted that i smoked this back to back with another pipe that i could taste the coating (the other was a thomas richard - tasted like balsa wood).

found another picture, this one has other pipes in it for size ref.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showpos...&postcount=549

a-ha, and another!! it's the 4th on the bottom left (the first short pipe)
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showpos...&postcount=631

and another. it's the last one on the right.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showpos...&postcount=695

[Big D KC]

ahhh! Very cool! Right up my alley size wise! And yea I guess I should have hit up the search feature on here for it! Sorry about that.

Nice pipe collection there IHT! What are the other little short guys in the rack?

[mclayton]

Not to get back on a sore subject, but some more reading regarding the coating:

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00497.html
http://www.pipeandcigar.info/pipe/pr...83.html#p37669
http://www.glpease.com/Pipes/Reviews/001221Eltang.php (3rd para)

As far as first hand experience, well, I just finished a bowl (well, half), and the smoking pleasure, even when not breaking in, is clearly better than before. So it's probably still a matter of tastes, but certainly one rooted in what you like tasting

[Mad Hatter]

FYI - If no one else mentioned it in this thread Smokingpipes has regular half off sales on Tsuges and they don't all get snatched up in a hurry.

[IHT]

Originally Posted by Big D KC

Nice pipe collection there IHT! What are the other little short guys in the rack?

bottom row (l-r):
Savinelli Hercules
Winslow Crown (now owned by OT Loki)
Tim West (now owned by Kayak Rat)
Tsuge Kaga
Tom Richard (a gift)
Big Ben Presidential (a gift)
Stanwell Golden Danish
Stanwell Zebrano (or Brazilia) was sent as winnings for a contest recently.
Mastro de Paja
Mastro de Paja

top row (l-r):
Karl Erik
Sasieni 4dot
Sasieni 1dot (now owned by kheffelf)
Ser Jacepo Maxima
Ser Jacapo Maxima Maxima
Leonardo Da Vinci
Pipa Croci
ClubStogie Forum Pipe '07 made by Tinsky
Rad Davis (a gift)
Cavicchi (a gift)

in the little pipe rack on the right is Savinelli 2nd Zulu and a couple cobs.
not pictured are a handful of pipes i had at work or in the truck.
and the photo is over a year old now.