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The Complete Corncob primer: Difference between revisions
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'''By tiltjlp''' | '''By tiltjlp''' | ||
While I’ve been smoking cobs for | While I’ve been smoking cobs for nearly 50 years, I’m no expert, but just maybe my dad was, and he taught me everything I know. So at the urging of Ed Anderson and John Q, I’ve decided to do my best at passing on some of dad’s knowledge. I’ll first give a run down on all the current Missouri Meerschaum models I’ve smoked. Over the years, as models have been dropped, and others added, my choice of favorites has changed, as it has recently. I’ll then go into detail on my dad’s lessons to me on the care and feeding of cobs. Both the cleaning and maintenance as well as packing, lighting, and smoking; information he began gifting me on June 1, 1959, the day he handed me a corn cob and a large tin of Carter Hall. And I’ll also give advice based on various concerns of both new pipers, and veterans new to cobs. | ||
Missouri Meerschaum brand cobs are all that I smoke, and the only ones I would advise anyone to use. Sure, I’ve tried other brands, but none had the quality of MM cobs. MM has been making cobs since 1869, and they simply are the best. You can check out their entire product line, and read their history here: http://www.corncobpipe.com/ Mars http://www.marscigars.com/index.asp?...TS&Category=24 has the best selection and prices of any e-tailer I have found, and they offer a 10% discount on dozen lots. Frenchy www.frenchyspipes.com gives cobs and supplies to our military, and still offers excellent prices and service. Most MM models come with paper filters, and I’m of the opinion that the filters only get damp and smelly. So I very strongly suggest you remove and discard them. | Missouri Meerschaum brand cobs are all that I smoke, and the only ones I would advise anyone to use. Sure, I’ve tried other brands, but none had the quality of MM cobs. MM has been making cobs since 1869, and they simply are the best. You can check out their entire product line, and read their history here: http://www.corncobpipe.com/ Mars http://www.marscigars.com/index.asp?...TS&Category=24 has the best selection and prices of any e-tailer I have found, and they offer a 10% discount on dozen lots. Frenchy www.frenchyspipes.com gives cobs and supplies to our military, and still offers excellent prices and service. Most MM models come with paper filters, and I’m of the opinion that the filters only get damp and smelly. So I very strongly suggest you remove and discard them. | ||
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I'd say the Diplomat and Country Gentleman are quite similar now; the differences being that the Diplomat has a hard wood bottom, and isn't stained dark, which is the obvious, Signature feature of the Country Gentleman. The Country Gentleman has its fans, and is a nice pipe; I just don’t care for that black stain. More about the CQ later. | I'd say the Diplomat and Country Gentleman are quite similar now; the differences being that the Diplomat has a hard wood bottom, and isn't stained dark, which is the obvious, Signature feature of the Country Gentleman. The Country Gentleman has its fans, and is a nice pipe; I just don’t care for that black stain. More about the CQ later. | ||
The Pride is an extremely nice smallish cob, and one of only a few MM models left alone, or unfinished. For that reason, it offers the dry and cool smoke every piper hopes for. I love this model, and its small size makes it ideal for quick smokes. | The Pride is an extremely nice smallish cob, and one of only a few MM models left alone, or unfinished. For that reason, it offers the dry and cool smoke every piper hopes for. I love this model, and its small size makes it ideal for quick smokes. The Washington is the same pipe as the Pride, only with the Plaster-of-Paris and lacquer treatment. | ||
The Washington is the | |||
The American General has, as do most MM cobs, a polished exterior. Some folks remove this coating, for a more natural smoke. I’m much too lazy to do that. What would make the General a favorite is that it has a tall bowl, sort of a stack, and thicker walls than the popular Country Gentleman. This to me is a near perfect cob, other than its weight. I can fill the bowl all the way and have a nice, long, relaxing 90 minute or longer experience, or I can partially fill it and enjoy a nice, shorter smoke. Although it’s less expensive than the Freehand, I would choose the Freehand over the General, personally. | The American General has, as do most MM cobs, a polished exterior. Some folks remove this coating, for a more natural smoke. I’m much too lazy to do that. What would make the General a favorite is that it has a tall bowl, sort of a stack, and thicker walls than the popular Country Gentleman. This to me is a near perfect cob, other than its weight. I can fill the bowl all the way and have a nice, long, relaxing 90 minute or longer experience, or I can partially fill it and enjoy a nice, shorter smoke. Although it’s less expensive than the Freehand, I would choose the Freehand over the General, personally. | ||
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And now I’ll offer the advice my father gave me back in June of 1959. While I’ve learned some things on my own over the years, I still use every bit of information my dad gave me. While he did own a few briars, he much preferred smoking a cob. | And now I’ll offer the advice my father gave me back in June of 1959. While I’ve learned some things on my own over the years, I still use every bit of information my dad gave me. While he did own a few briars, he much preferred smoking a cob. | ||
After 50 years, I still use my dad's way of doing things. I don't fool with a false/charring light, but simply light it and start smoking. | |||
Dry your tobacco more than you think you need to. | |||
Pack it looser than you think you need to. | |||
Smoke it slower than you think you need to. | |||
Tamp it less , and more lightly, than you think you need to. | |||
Clean your pipes after every smoke, using pipe spirits of some sort. | |||
Don’t worry if you have a few relights. | |||
Using the advice offered here, your Missouri Meerschaum cob, no matter which model, should give you many years of service and satisfying smoking pleasure. In the past, I’ve had cobs last me as long as 22 years, and know folks who report over 30 years of use from a cob. With this kind of record, and the affordable cost, I don’t understand why some people will read this, and still buy either used cobs on eBay, or off-brands, which never match the quality of Missouri Meerschaum. | Using the advice offered here, your Missouri Meerschaum cob, no matter which model, should give you many years of service and satisfying smoking pleasure. In the past, I’ve had cobs last me as long as 22 years, and know folks who report over 30 years of use from a cob. With this kind of record, and the affordable cost, I don’t understand why some people will read this, and still buy either used cobs on eBay, or off-brands, which never match the quality of Missouri Meerschaum. | ||