Pipe Mud - The Photo Essay

[Mister Moo]

1. Gather your pipe and tools. I like having at hand a tamper, scraper/reamer, a couple of pipcleaners, a toothpick and a small throw-away lid.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kb20fxvo5y5q3mz/IMG_20150517_132730_359-1.jpg?dl=1

2. Mash some cigar ash to dust.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2buzs84bahqchu/IMG_20150517_130408_844.jpg?dl=1

3. Add a crazy-small amount of liquid. I usually use water or spit; this time I tried iced tea - not but a few drops per 1/2 a spent churchill.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nardkwfpac5ixkp/IMG_20150517_130509_787.jpg?dl=1

4. Mix it up good. Not mud, really, but quite dry - just moist enough that you can squeeze it between your fingers and it hold together. Below, a little pancake of the stuff holds up its' end of a toothpick.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pnbff0ckr136tdt/IMG_20150517_130909_766.jpg?dl=1

5. Scour out the inside of the pipe, protect the airway from plugging with a pipecleaner and mash the stuff into flaws, cracks or near-burnouts. Let sit 24-hours. Smoke. Scrape gently the first round or two.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mrbj6kv1ld5e52z/IMG_20150517_131500_371.jpg?dl=1

[Horsefeathers]

Very interesting. Would you recommend this just for repairs or would this work for speeding along the process of building a cake in a new pipe?

[Emperor Zurg]

Dammit, I don't have one of those little bird toothpick dispensers. I'll never be able to make proper mud till I get one.

I've done this mud thing but I used a few drops of 40 proof rum for liquid figuring there was sufficient water, the alcohol would flash off quickly and the molasses in the rum would help glue things together. Don't know if it was any better than spit or water but it seems to be holding up. First time I got a little carried away with the rum (and I put too much in the cigar ash too) so mine was a little more liquid than the photo so I applied layers, letting it dry somewhat between applications. Next time I did it I used what didn't look like nearly enough liquid but the subsequent mixing seemed to bring up the liquid similar to the way cream rises on concrete when you work it with a trowel.

I also found that when it's mostly dry you can 'sand' it by rubbing it with your finger. Just rub vertically on the walls and twist back and forth to 'sand' the heel. You need to trim your fingernails back first tho...

[Mister Moo]

Very interesting. Would you recommend this just for repairs or would this work for speeding along the process of building a cake in a new pipe?Not sure it's a great idea to make fake cake. I can think of a couple of reasons why not to try this - I'd just let a new pipe (or recently reamed pipe) develop cake the old fashioned way.

It is ideal, however to:

1. repair the chamber on a cob that is starting to gut - it happens a lot, especially with new cobs that are smoked outdoors;
2. adjust the floor of a pipes' chamber upward to correct for a high-entry airway - a little mud will normally stop dottle and gurgle problems; and
3. fill internal flaws like holes, pits, early signs of burn-out or small cracks and fissures.

Done right it is a free repair and will normally cure very hard, permanent like. If you use too much moisture the mud will tend to crumble rather quickly.

Hope this helps.

[Mister Moo]

Dammit, I don't have one of those little bird toothpick dispensers...

...First time I got a little carried away with the rum (and I put too much in the cigar ash too) so mine was a little more liquid than the photo so I applied layers, letting it dry somewhat between applications. Next time I did it I used what didn't look like nearly enough liquid but the subsequent mixing seemed to bring up the liquid similar to the way cream rises on concrete when you work it with a trowel.

I also found that when it's mostly dry you can 'sand' it by rubbing it with your finger...

The penguin toothpick dispenser is not required but is always popular with children (such as myself). Try an asian specialty store or asian grocery and quit your bellyaching.

I'd say I used five or six drops of sweet tea on half a churchillls worth of ash; the tendency is to try too much water but it only needs enough to barely clump. Seems like the times I made it too wet it crumbled sooner or later. Made right it cures very hard and, after a few smokes, can be corrected to size with sandpaper if necessary.

It's probably the toothpick dispenser that is holding you back from perfect mud. If traditional penguin or duck doesn't suit, try:

Lucky Cat http://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-Plastic-Automatic-Toothpick-Holder/dp/B00AUCCYS4/ref=zg_bs_16439921_99

or

Weight Lifter http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Lifter-Toothpick-Holder-Colors/dp/B00GVHFHXG/ref=zg_bs_16439921_54

[Branzig]

Weight Lifter http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Lifter-Toothpick-Holder-Colors/dp/B00GVHFHXG/ref=zg_bs_16439921_54

Excellent how to. The pics will help a lot of people out!

I think I may have to pull the trigger on that weight lifter.... :lol:

[Horsefeathers]

Not sure it's a great idea to make fake cake. I can think of a couple of reasons why not to try this - I'd just let a new pipe (or recently reamed pipe) develop cake the old fashioned way.

It is ideal, however to:

1. repair the chamber on a cob that is starting to gut - it happens a lot, especially with new cobs that are smoked outdoors;
2. adjust the floor of a pipes' chamber upward to correct for a high-entry airway - a little mud will normally stop dottle and gurgle problems; and
3. fill internal flaws like holes, pits, early signs of burn-out or small cracks and fissures.

Done right it is a free repair and will normally cure very hard, permanent like. If you use too much moisture the mud will tend to crumble rather quickly.

Hope this helps.

I see. Thanks for the info!

[UncleFesterESQ]

Emperor Zurg, go with weightlifter. Lucky Cat's a bit too Hello Kitty for decent hard working Americans such as ourselves.

[Emperor Zurg]

...go with weightlifter. Lucky Cat's a bit too Hello Kitty for decent hard working Americans such as ourselves.

True, but a 'Little Pussy' in one hand and a pipe in t'other doesn't sound like a bad combination for some reason...

[UncleFesterESQ]

True, but a 'Little Pussy' in one hand and a pipe in t'other doesn't sound like a bad combination for some reason...

True, but when all you have to offer the "Little Pussy" is a toothpick...

[UncleFesterESQ]

Look what I found on ebay Emperor Zurg:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F7DT6A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p79_d1_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1RHN2VB3FPKRZXF4AJWR&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

Now you can be like Mr. Moo... and quite frankly, who doesn't want to be like Mr. Moo? The guy's facial hair and scowl are legendary.

END THREAD HI-JACK... dammit, now I'm probably going to pick up a pipe habit. This hobby is killing my finances.

[GWBowman]

I was thinking of doing this to raise the bottom of a few pipes to the airway. I'm curious about cleaning. Will doing a salt/alcohol treatment or using a pipe retort ruin the pipe mud?

[NeverBend]

I was thinking of doing this to raise the bottom of a few pipes to the airway. I'm curious about cleaning. Will doing a salt/alcohol treatment or using a pipe retort ruin the pipe mud?

Good question George.

I doubt that the salt bath would affect the mud but the retort can affect it. I've had estates where mud plugs came loose during a retort.

I'd do either, salt or retort, before the application of any pipe mud. You want the area to be worked to be clean and the mud will adhere better.

When you're lifting the bottom level of a pipe with mud use care that you don't block the draught hole or create a groove that will defeat the purpose.

[GWBowman]

Good question George.

I doubt that the salt bath would affect the mud but the retort can affect it. I've had estates where mud plugs came loose during a retort.

I'd do either, salt or retort, before the application of any pipe mud. You want the area to be worked to be clean and the mud will adhere better.

When you're lifting the bottom level of a pipe with mud use care that you don't block the draught hole or create a groove that will defeat the purpose.

Thanks Pete.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to NeverBend again."