Cake or GOO

[foxtrot7]

Ok so I am a the point with a couple of my pipes where it looks like I might have cake...but it also loks like I wasn't very thorough with my cleaning. I have read some people suggest to run a pipe cleaner around the bowl after done smoking.

I run the pipe cleaner around and it pulls up this goopy black tar. Do I want to clean this out or am I essentialy cleaning out my cake? I am not pleased with the smell of my pipes and was also wondeering if the cake will have any smell to it (smell of targoop) It is hard to explain.

Thanks ahead of time
Steve

[Infin1ty]

Ok so I am a the point with a couple of my pipes where it looks like I might have cake...but it also loks like I wasn't very thorough with my cleaning. I have read some people suggest to run a pipe cleaner around the bowl after done smoking.

I run the pipe cleaner around and it pulls up this goopy black tar. Do I want to clean this out or am I essentialy cleaning out my cake? I am not pleased with the smell of my pipes and was also wondeering if the cake will have any smell to it (smell of targoop) It is hard to explain.

Thanks ahead of time
Steve

Your pipes are going to stink, just a fact of smoking unfortuantly. As for the first question.. not to sure about whether thats cake or not.

[foxtrot7]

It is soft to the touch, a wee bit most, and comes off realy easy.

[ssutton219]

I am still very new at this but have done alot of reading and do not think your goo is cake....as for the smell yes your pipe can sour but there are ways to prevent it and address it..



Cleaning

If your pipe smokes sour or gurgles, if there's a lot of goo inside the stem, or if the cake is very thick, if your pipe smells bad or tastes spoiled, it may be because you havent been cleaning it regularly. As a rule, you should run a pipe cleaner through the stem and shank every time you smoke the pipe. A thourough cleaning will have to be done every 5-10 smokes. First, use the knife blade of the pipe tool to scrape the cake to the proper thickness. Make sure all the bits of tobacco are out of the bowl as this can lead to hot spots that will cause a burn out. Then use the reamer to get any heavy goo out of the wood part of the air hole of the stummel (the wood part of the pipe). Remember that because a pipe is a filter, it should be smoked only once a day. If you smoke three times a day you need three pipes. If you smoke it more than this, the moisture can build and spoil resulting bad aroma and flavor. If the pipe still smells bad, take some whiskey (around only for medicinal purposes of course) that is at least 80 proof and pour it into the bowl. Let it set for 10 minutes or so, dump out the liquid, and swab out with a paper towel. Then let it sit for 24 hours and it should taste better!


copied from the pipe FAQ Sticky



Good Luck


Shawn

[Arizona]

Foxtrot,

How many pipes do you have? how often do you smoke them?

If you have only a couple pipes and they get smoked regularly and don't get more than a day or two rest then that might explain the softness of the cake. If the pipe is allowed to rest a few days you'd find that the cake gets hard and firm. If the pipe is smoked daily or almost daily then that's probably why it's not getting hard and is staying soft and tacky.

Some tobaccos are "wetter" than others, so this could be a factor too.

[foxtrot7]

I have been avaraging 3 days in between a bowl. Should I let the pipe rest before cleaning out the bowl? I do not wan't the bad crap to build up but do not want to be cleaning my cake out either.

[Mad Hatter]

Are you shaking up your ash to coat the walls after you're done smoking?

[foxtrot7]

Are you shaking up your ash to coat the walls after you're done smoking?

Yus but probably does nothing because when I rub the walls with a pipe cleaner it comes off with the goop.

[Arizona]

Foxtrot,

I don't clean the inside of the bowl, especially right after a smoke. What I do after a smoke is run a couple pipe cleaners thru it and then set it in the rack and leave it til it comes back up in the rotation - that's usually a week or so.

Now... the next time I pick up that pipe what I do is examine the bowl and see how it looks, watching for loose flakes or perhaps some bit of ash or whatever. I'll blow into the bowl to get this out or GENTLY use a scraper to knock it off and then blow it out. Then I fill the pipe and smoke it.

That's all there is to it for general maintenance.

[The Pirate]

Steve,
If you are smoking a lot of burley, you may be developing cake.
Burley cakes the fastest of all tobaccos but it is very soft. When we get together we will compare the cake in your pipes to mine.
Ken

[Mad Hatter]

Yus but probably does nothing because when I rub the walls with a pipe cleaner it comes off with the goop.

Clean it after its cooled down. Anyway, I'm sure Ken will hook you up.

Since we're on the subject anyway, Ken, I use maple syrup to start my cake...... works ok, but once doesn't seem to be enough and cake afterwards is slow coming. Last week I decided to try something new and after the smoke with the syrup on the walls, I powdered it with corn starch, cooled it, then smoked it a couple more times through the day. It gave me a very nice cake, firm and even once I'd done a "finger ream" after it cooled. Do you see any possible problems with this?

[The Pirate]

Joe, I have never used anything to 'break in' or start cake, but many people do. Honey being the most common 'additive' to the inside of the bowl. I don't think it will hurt anything providing it did not impregnate the brial and leave a permanent flavor. Let me know how it works for you. I am also anxious to see Steve's 'goo' and try to discover what it really is.
Ken

[Secret Pipe Santa]

Ho-Ho-Ho!! I never use anything to smear inside my bowls, either. I just smoke my pipes as normal, they will eventually build up a good cake.

Here is some "GOO", or is it "POO"? Either way, this is what those Secret Pipe Santas will be getting if they don't get on the stick and send their kids a present before Christmas.
http://www.givemetheinfo.com/Christmas-prank-gifts/YuleDoo_web.jpg

[Mister Moo]

The goo question beckons back a year ago to a "How much is enuff (http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=48255&highlight=swampy)" thread - some wisdom of the ages there.

I think your "goo" is my "swampy". I hate the goo and avoid it by dodging soggy tobak, keeping the pipe swabbed out and limiting daily smokes with any one pipe to a number that prevents goo accumulation. I say you can see goo coming one bowl ahead of the mess if you're tuned in. Be the pipe.

Merry Christmas.

Eschew Goo in 2008.

[Mad Hatter]

Joe, I have never used anything to 'break in' or start cake, but many people do. Honey being the most common 'additive' to the inside of the bowl. I don't think it will hurt anything providing it did not impregnate the brial and leave a permanent flavor. Let me know how it works for you. I am also anxious to see Steve's 'goo' and try to discover what it really is.
Ken

I'm interested to know what the goo is too, Ken. Sounds like not enough rest time. I had a couple this year that had like dime-thick tar on the walls until I gave them a break. As for my cake, so far so good no out of place flavor at the moment. All is crisp and very flavorful. I never worried about cake much either until I got serious about smoking things other than SG flakes and various latakia blends. Drying only made it dull and flat but otherwise I wound up with a bowl full of char. After I got some quick cake down and had a bowl or two I started to see why everyone loves those VAs and VA/pers.

[DubintheDam]

Sounds to me you have some cake and a little goo also, cake should really be a dry greyish black coating, when it is wet and dark black it is more likely oils and tars. My tip is gently cleaning the inside of the bowl with Q-tips dipped in alcohol, I use 100 proof sweet Rum, I wipe with a wet Q-tip and then dry wipe with the other end, sometimes I repeat this process 2-3 times.

I only do this every 10 smokes or so, and never until the pipe has been smoked until at least 20 times from new, it is only done after the pipe has built -up some cake. You can also use pipe cleaners, folded and dipped in Rum, whiskey, Vodka or Everclear, but I find you get too much cotton stuck on the side of the bowl from pipe cleaners.

I swear by this Q-tips method, I think its less hassle and intensive than filling the bowl with alcohol or the salt\alco treatment. I also use the Q-tips to clean the inside of the shank. Main thing to remember is wipe wet, and then dry, and repeat if there is a heavy goo.

[foxtrot7]

I think I was overcleaning my pipe...I let the pipe in question sit for 7 days and the GOO dried to a fairly thin but solid wall of cake that didnt rub off with a pipe cleaner :D

I also need to point out I am a very wet smoker. I used to play bass trombone and tuba so I slobber alot. I am worse than a St Bernard.

[Mister Moo]

... I also need to point out I am a very wet smoker. I used to play bass trombone and tuba so I slobber alot. I am worse than a St Bernard.Droolers happen. Ever consider a water pipe?


:D

[foxtrot7]

Droolers happen. Ever consider a water pipe?


:D

I have thought about it a couple times ... I just cannot get that 70s hippy pot smoker stigma out of my head.