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View Full Version : Pipe Mud - the Miracle Salvage Compound



Mister Moo
04-23-2015, 01:13 PM
Pipe Mud is the real deal even though it's way more dry than mud and not made from pipe. Pipe Mud is kind of like universal plastic wood or spackling for use inside a pipe chamber. Done right it cures to rock-like (if slightly brittle) hardness. It's kinda like limestone. I've never had a mud job fail but, look at it this way - by the time you need mud for a burnout the pipe is probably near toast anyhow. Best case is, you save the pipe. Worst case, maybe the pipe is too far gone for anything but it's free to try. Next to worst case? None. It work like a charm or the pipe is wasted.

Where to use it: in a clay, meer, briar or cob, inside a pipe chamber that has been reamed and cleaned of non-native crud and cake. Get out loose char, if any, and wipe out the bowl with a damp paper towel. Not an all weekend task or for the OCD in you, pipe prep needs about two minutes. Pipe mud can be applied to cracks, fissures, flaws, pits or burnout holes and in most cases it stops the defect from causing any more mischief. It is also ideal for elevating the heel of the chamber in pipes with a high-entry airway. For me this is almost every cob (which I usually gut sooner or later anyhow) and salvation for high airway briars that, as a result, are chronic gurglers.

When to use it: as soon as you see a flaw in the chamber.

How much to use: if you get too liberal with an application on chamber walls you are going to reduce the chamber diameter. In most cases, you don't need much. One cigars-worth of powdered ash in plenty for whatever might be wrong with any one or two pipes. Me, personally, I smoke cobs outdoors and routinely start a burnout sooner or later so when I see a bad spot on in a cob chamber I scrape the heck out of the whole thing and mud it all around - it is better than a new pipe. This is usually when I mud the heel to get it even with the airway, too.

How to apply: rub it firmly into the flaw, heel or entire chamber with you finger or, if necessary, with a pipe tool, nail head or whatever fits into the area where you need to spread and pack. I almost always get by with a Czech pipetool tamper and poker and a little finger. Don't worry about perfection yet, just mash in the least amount you think is needed. After the mud dries and is smoked a few times you can sand it out as needed.

Where to make/apply: in a not-windy place where fine art, white clothing, and the wife's linens, clothing or fabrics are at least a mile away.

How to make: smoke one of your favorite cigars and save the ash or risk being labeled creepy by snitching a handful of ashes at a cigar store. Cigar store guys all look just when you think they won't. Break the ash to finest possible powder in a small, dry container of some sort. A one-liter Coke bottle cap is a tad to small and a 1/4C measuring cup is way too big. Maybe make it on piece of aluminum foil - whatever. With the pipe prepared, add water to the ash in single drops, one at a time, and mix with the pipe tool thingie or a toothpick; continue slowly until the stuff is still quite dry, like Play Dough maybe, and see if it'll ball up between two fingers. If it's still dry but will ball up it's done and ready to apply. If it gets wet (like, "mud" wet) it's useless - it'll not become hard. Best to keep half the ash aside as you can always add some to the mix if you over-wet it. Some folks swear by pipe ash, others recommend cig ash or ground up fish-filter activated charcoal; some like to mix it with honey (I tried honey once and I am already clumsy- what a freaking mess that was) and another stands by wetting with Grape jelly, Welches or generic. Whatever. All I know for sure is cigar ash plus tiny amounts of water or spit are simple. No trips to the pet store. No trips to grocery store. No messing up the pantry.

How to cure and finish: do not try to fix rough spots of bad shaping. Let the mud dry thoroughly - 24 hours at least - then smoke a light load, remove the ash carefully and smoke another. Probably ribbon cut is better than flake right off the bat so the fresh mud isn't abused. I smoke a few easy bowls and call it done. After it is smoked hard a couple of times you can gently file- or sand out rough spots and irregular shaping if necessary. Thereafter, smoke it as ard as you dare.

The official recipe and procedure is recorded elsewhere by fred/seattlepipeclub who claims to have invented pipe mud. I am sure he did and it has served me well through many pipe traumas. Thank you, Fred, and I hope you find my paraphrase of the concoction acceptable.

Branzig
04-23-2015, 08:21 PM
I have repaired many estates using the ol' pipe mud. Great stuff.

The only hard part is smoking the cigar to make it. That's kind of a chore. :p

Demuths1770
04-24-2015, 09:03 AM
I have repaired many estates using the ol' pipe mud. Great stuff.

The only hard part is smoking the cigar to make it. That's kind of a chore. :p

yeah it really sucks having to smoke a cigar or two to get some ash lol

BryGuySC
04-24-2015, 09:33 AM
I read somewhere that hardwood ash also works great, possibly curing even harder than cigar ash.

Branzig
04-24-2015, 10:36 AM
yeah it really sucks having to smoke a cigar or two to get some ash lol

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it :stogie:


I read somewhere that hardwood ash also works great, possibly curing even harder than cigar ash.

I am guessing you read it at Pipesmagazine. There is a guy over there that posted a huge expose regarding using ash from his fireplace. A lot of people claim it is way harder and stronger than using tobacco ash. I have never done it myself...

I have used roofing cement to great effect though...

BryGuySC
04-24-2015, 11:35 AM
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it :stogie:

I am guessing you read it at Pipesmagazine. There is a guy over there that posted a huge expose regarding using ash from his fireplace. A lot of people claim it is way harder and stronger than using tobacco ash. I have never done it myself...

Yep, I think that was it. I have yet to try any kind of pipe mud yet. I want to whip up some to try to shape the bottom of my cobs.

Ropey
04-25-2015, 02:40 AM
Does the cigar ash add the taste of cigar to the pipe smoke?

Branzig
04-25-2015, 02:46 AM
Does the cigar ash add the taste of cigar to the pipe smoke?
Negative Captain.

Alligator Gar
04-25-2015, 11:57 AM
Experiments shall commence forthwith.

http://i.imgur.com/1UMYzjU.png

Emperor Zurg
04-25-2015, 06:14 PM
Experiments shall commence forthwith.


That's not a job for mud. That's a job for some Titebond, exterior wood glue.
... or a job for a Milkbone... depending on what you're taking a picture of...

Mister Moo
04-26-2015, 02:58 PM
Experiments shall commence forthwith.

http://i.imgur.com/1UMYzjU.pngConcur with E'Zurg - not mud on the exterior; Elmer's Glue, Elmer's Wood Glue, Titebond, etc.

Mister Moo
04-26-2015, 03:01 PM
Does the cigar ash add the taste of cigar to the pipe smoke?

Not near as much as the intruding pine shank awaiting burnout in a new cob. :D I notice a hint of cigar sometimes; never lasts more than a smoke oor two at the most.

Alligator Gar
04-26-2015, 04:46 PM
Concur with E'Zurg - not mud on the exterior; Elmer's Glue, Elmer's Wood Glue, Titebond, etc.

Too late. I'm a man of action.

http://i.imgur.com/jaUd0PL.png

Mister Moo
04-26-2015, 06:59 PM
Too late. I'm a man of action.
Damn it, Jim! I'm a pipe repairman, not a doctor.

And a man of action. Bravo. I have assumed pipe mud hardened from curing under pretty high heat so my feeling is that gasket will crumble, probably sooner than later. Happy to be wrong, please keep us posted on what happens. Also, if that is water/moisture around the leftover stuff and the patch on the pipe I'd say the stuff was way too wet. When I did mud too wet it always crumbled.

Branzig
04-26-2015, 07:01 PM
I'd just break that ash right on up, and put some wood glue there instead.

That's just me though. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Alligator Gar
04-26-2015, 07:09 PM
Damn it, Jim! I'm a pipe repairman, not a doctor.

And a man of action. Bravo. I have assumed pipe mud hardened from curing under pretty high heat so my feeling is that gasket will crumble, probably sooner than later. Happy to be wrong, please keep us posted on what happens. Also, if that is water/moisture around the leftover stuff and the patch on the pipe I'd say the stuff was way too wet. When I did mud too wet it always crumbled.

Oh, ye of little faith.

Mister Moo
04-26-2015, 08:01 PM
A'Gar - I am an eternal optimist and i really hope it performs brilliantly! Please keep us posted.

Branzig - Jus' sayin' I wouldn't be smokin' that cob up over Mrs. Moo's white tablecloth is all I'm sayin'.

Emperor Zurg
04-27-2015, 08:14 AM
Good lord, that is ugly

Alligator Gar
04-27-2015, 08:02 PM
Good lord, that is ugly

LOL, it's hideous, isn't it? I'm thinking about spray painting the whole thing blue, just to dress it up a little.:p

Branzig
04-27-2015, 08:06 PM
Good lord, that is ugly

You're subtlety never ceases to amaze me :lol: :lol: :lol:


LOL, it's hideous, isn't it? I'm thinking about spray painting the whole thing blue, just to dress it up a little.:p

Careful painting pipes. It chokes off their natural ability to breath. They won't dry out like they should and can smoke hotter.

Alligator Gar
04-27-2015, 08:17 PM
You're subtlety never ceases to amaze me :lol: :lol: :lol:



Careful painting pipes. It chokes off their natural ability to breath. They won't dry out like they should and can smoke hotter.

I guess I can't blame you for thinking I'm capable of painting a pipe blue. I mean, yes, technically I smeared pipe mud on the outside of a pipe, but painting a pipe blue?

On second thought, you were right to say something. You never know what a noob's gonna come up with next...

Branzig
04-27-2015, 08:20 PM
I guess I can't blame you for thinking I'm capable of painting a pipe blue. I mean, yes, technically I smeared pipe mud on the outside of a pipe, but painting a pipe blue?

On second thought, you were right to say something. You never know what a noob's gonna come up with next...

I never questioned your physical ability to paint a pipe. I am sure you can spray paint a pipe :lol:

I was speaking on the actual technicalities of it. It can ruin your pipes I am saying.

Alligator Gar
04-27-2015, 08:35 PM
I never questioned your physical ability to paint a pipe. I am sure you can spray paint a pipe :lol:

I was speaking on the actual technicalities of it. It can ruin your pipes I am saying.

OK, I've given up on my dreams of painted pipes. I think I am going to smear pipe mud all around the outside of a cob and invent the cob lined mud pipe. Hang on while I call my patent attorney.

Emperor Zurg
04-27-2015, 08:42 PM
OK, I've given up on my dreams of painted pipes. I think I am going to smear pipe mud all around the outside of a cob and invent the cob lined mud pipe. Hang on while I call my patent attorney.

Awesome! Now you're talking!

Ropey
04-28-2015, 03:09 AM
How about an entire pipe made of pipe mud. The really poor man's meerschaum.

Mister Moo
04-28-2015, 06:27 AM
OK, I've given up on my dreams of painted pipes. I think I am going to smear pipe mud all around the outside of a cob and invent the cob lined mud pipe. Hang on while I call my patent attorney.

Thank's pretty funny. LOL

Demuths1770
04-28-2015, 12:08 PM
this reminds me i need to save the ashes from my next few sticks. i need some pipe mud!

Mister Moo
04-28-2015, 12:19 PM
this reminds me i need to save the ashes from my next few sticks. i need some pipe mud!Nice. I have always said, "If you got no pipe mud you got nothing." And I am a man who likes to talk to people who like to talk and who especially like to talk about pipe mud.

Madbricky
04-28-2015, 10:36 PM
I fix that common problem with cobs using super glue gel mixed with some dust from a sacrificial cob. 2284
I also being very well versed in the lore of fixing places of fire use Water Glass (Sodium Silicate) and food grade charcoal to make my coatings and pipe mud. The Germans invented it a century ago to line pipes negating break in and find it takes care of cobs that want to burn out. Dries very hard, odorless and safe. 2285

Mister Moo
04-29-2015, 06:22 AM
...use Water Glass (Sodium Silicate) and food grade charcoal to make my coatings and pipe mud. The Germans invented it a century ago to line pipes negating break in and find it takes care of cobs that want to burn out. Dries very hard, odorless and safe.
What is water glass and where do you get small amounts? Can you describe the mixture method and the consistency of the glass mud when it's applied? How long should it rest on the pipe before smoking?

Madbricky
04-30-2015, 08:54 AM
What is water glass and where do you get small amounts? Can you describe the mixture method and the consistency of the glass mud when it's applied? How long should it rest on the pipe before smoking?

I get the Sodium Silicate from Ebay in 16oz bottles. In the picture you can see the liquid on a styrafoam plate with just a small bit of Charcoal for this liner job. Mix with a disposable knife or spoon slowly to keep powder from flying until it's like toothpaste for burnout spots and like pastel paint for liner work. I swab the coating on with a folded pipe cleaner for relining into an even coat. It sets up fast in thin form and you can layer on spots until your fix is even. I will smoke it the same day as long as it feels smooth and hard. Point of reference, Sodium Silicate is vapor permeable, meaning it will breathe moisture like the original surface. If you mix it like putty or toothpaste it will want to sag and run. I use a cheap plastic pen like a rolling pin to keep it flat and even as it dries over an hour or two.