| Author | Message | ||
     Bryan Nolte Member Username: Revelation4me Post Number: 204 Registered: 01-2006 |
I have a beautiful LARGE Don Carlos 2 Note Rustic Finish pipe. I bought it in new/unsmoked condition, and I am having a few issues with it. (1) I have some black goo coming through the briar on the shank above the nomenclature. I do not smoke a "wet" pipe, and I keep it clean and always have a pipecleaner in it when it is resting. Looks like tar! (2) It looks like a "lacquer" or something was applied to the outside of the pipe at the factory. The pipe is now developing some "spots" of what looks like large patches of dried glue! It looks like the heat might be doing something to the coating? Any help would be greatly appreciated, as it was quite an investment and a FANTASTIC smoker! | ||
| Todd Bannard Member Username: Sasquatch Post Number: 654 Registered: 05-2006 |
Bryan, get the pipe cleaner out of the pipe when it is resting. Pipes need air, not cotton. The "tar" you are seeing could be some resinous material trapped in the wood (though it should have been boiled out in the curing process). As for the spots, it sounds to me like you have identified the problem - a waxed pipe won't spot up like that. I do not have a Don Carlos, but have never heard a word against them. Your post makes me wonder if their quality had gone down, or if perhaps you have a fake? I hate to put that doubt in your mind, but I've never heard anything but glowing reports of that brand... I would contact Don Carlos and see about a replacement. | ||
| W. A. Lanman Member Username: Blenheimbard Post Number: 107 Registered: 01-2009 |
pictures please? | ||
| Dave Neeb Member Username: Mkelaw Post Number: 190 Registered: 04-2005 |
Hi Bryan: By the way you described it, it sounds as if you bought this from someone other than Don Carlos. I would be astounded if a Don Carlos pipe was coated with anything but wax. I would bet that someone decided to varnish or lacquer the pipe and that the heat of smoking is causing it to turn into goo. It may even be some kind of furniture wax that was applied. I'd try rubbing out the affected area with some high proof alcohol and see what comes off. Try it first on a small, inconspicuous spot if possible to test. Good luck! Dave | ||
| Tom Mueller Member Username: Tommueller Post Number: 157 Registered: 04-2008 |
Todd wrote: "Bryan, get the pipe cleaner out of the pipe when it is resting. Pipes need air, not cotton." Thanks Todd. Is this the general consensus? I just tossed about 6 pipe cleaners I had in pipes resting, thinking I was helping to absorb any moisture I would have otherwise missed. | ||
| Bryan Nolte Member Username: Revelation4me Post Number: 205 Registered: 01-2006 |
Hey...thanks to all! No, it is definitely not a fake, but possibly coated with something other than wax. Dave, I will try the alcohol test and get back to you....Thanks! | ||
| Melvin S. Schwartz Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 4297 Registered: 02-2002 |
Tom, You may be interested in the following-- Leave It In or Pull It Out?? http://www.vegassmokes.com/pipe-smoking-tips.htm#leave | ||
| Ted Saufley Member Username: Montag Post Number: 18 Registered: 03-2009 |
Good article, Melvin. Thanks. But it begs the question...how long should a pipe cleaner remain in the pipe? Obviously, we don't want to twist off the stem and start cleaning when the pipe is still hot. | ||
| Tom Mueller Member Username: Tommueller Post Number: 158 Registered: 04-2008 |
Melvin, Thank you! The link you provided - which I bookmarked - is probably the most comprehensive I've seen. FMOTT in my 'other' Shamrock 406 | ||
| Tom Mueller Member Username: Tommueller Post Number: 159 Registered: 04-2008 |
Ted, My read of the article suggests using a cleaner to . . . well, to clean the pipe, not to leave it in to absorb moisture (and possibly damage) the pipe. Thanks to Todd and Melvin, I'm a believer. I'll do a preliminary clean - tossing the cleaner[s] - and remove the stem for a better cleaning after the pipe has cooled, then return to my rack till next time. | ||
| Todd Bannard Member Username: Sasquatch Post Number: 655 Registered: 05-2006 |
Briar is not particularly absorbant wood, compared to many others (pipe woods like cherry and olive are more absorbant), which is why don't think that Bryan's "Black Goo" would have anything to do with moisture (or with leaving pipe cleaners in a pipe, for instance). Sounds like a briar flaw to me. Put another way, any briar that would allow so much transference of liquid is not suitable for a pipe. A pipe cleaner should not remain in the pipe at all. When you are done smoking, you might run a cleaner right away, or wait till the pipe cools (like, 10 minutes?). Then stir and/or dump the ash, run a cleaner, take the pipe apart if that is required (like with a Peterson System pipe), use a qtip or a pipe cleaner to get any liquid you can, then leave the thing apart overnight to air out. I would have that defective pipe back to the seller or back to Don Carlos immediately. | ||
| john Fordham Member Username: Pipe_dreamer Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2008 |
on the don carlos. the alcohol test is good. if not satisfied after send pipe to walker briar or night owl etc for refinish.never had a bad don carlos, one of the best. NEVER leave a pipe cleaner in a pipe. they love 3 things.tobacco, air and hopefully you. |