Right now I have two cobs that just sit on the counter in my (finished and lived in) basement when not in use. I leave the stems off them after I finish cleaning them with pipe cleaners after every smoke; I figure it's good to let them dry out that way. They don't stink up the entire basement but definitely the entire room they're in smells like a wet ashtray. There are no ashes or ashtrays anywhere in the house as I do all my smoking outside -- much to the chagrin of my new neighbours (this definitely deserves it's own dedicated thread.... soon, I need to sit on it for awhile). The smell inside is creating friction, as I'm sure you can imagine. Any ideas for what to do with them when not in use? I thought about something simple, quick and cheap, like a ziplock bag, but I don't think sealing a pipe away in a confined space where it can't breathe is a good idea. But this all just what I think is common sense. I mean, do pipes really even need to "breathe" or dry out in between uses? I'm not sure I want to invest in a glass front display cabinet, either. I'd like to solve this without spending much money, if possible.
How to store my pipes?
- Thread starter KarlMaldensNose
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I keep mine in a drawer when I finish with them. A leather pipe pouch works pretty good also for having the smell of my walking around pipe under wraps in public. They do need to breath and air off between uses. Liquid builds up inside the pipe when you are smoking. I leave my cob outside most of the time in an area it won't get rained on. It's cheap and easily replaced if someone walks away with it one night.
My briars rest in a stand on the entertainment center next to the front door, waiting for me to grab one on the way out the door in the morning.
I have two cobs with Forever Stems that "live" in the glove box in the car for the days that I forget to grab a briar in the morning, or when I don't plan to smoke but change my mind.
I have two cobs with Forever Stems that "live" in the glove box in the car for the days that I forget to grab a briar in the morning, or when I don't plan to smoke but change my mind.
James has suggested using a wine cork to cap the pipe between smokes, though this was suggested for saving partially smoked bowls, I don't see why it wouldn't work for containing the smell of your pipes. I don't like storing pipes with the stem removed, I worry the ambient humidity, or lack thereof, will cause the shank to expand or contract.
Not too worried about humidity (and our dryness is just as damaging as high humidity), but the cork suggestion was to contain the smell while in the office as well as to save the remainder of the bowl.
Normal storage, you want that bowl open so it can dry out. You won't get enough air circulating through just the stem to keep the pipe dry even on a 5 day rotation.
Obviously you didn't read my post, it wasn't directed at you or sunny SoCal. I'm suggesting a way to help the OP keep from stinking up his basement and preserve the integrity of his pipes while doing so.
I did read it... and in the OP's location, he needs to be more concerned about mosquitoes carrying his pipes away
My comment stands... On a properly cared for and waxed briar, atmospheric humidity is not going to be a problem in general (you're drawing steam through the pipe with each draw), and I do agree about not storing the pipe with the stem removed... I don't see any point in doing that. Plug it back in after cleaning (and only remove when cool). But also, due to the humidity from smoking, I would not store the pipe with a cork inserted.
Based on your vast years of pipe smoking, I will digress. To the OP, I suggest you do some more research on your own.I did read it... and in the OP's location, he needs to be more concerned about mosquitoes carrying his pipes away
My comment stands... On a properly cared for and waxed briar, atmospheric humidity is not going to be a problem in general (you're drawing steam through the pipe with each draw), and I do agree about not storing the pipe with the stem removed... I don't see any point in doing that. Plug it back in after cleaning (and only remove when cool). But also, due to the humidity from smoking, I would not store the pipe with a cork inserted.
Just put it under your wife or girlfriends pillow. Then after you get thrown out you can leave it out in the open of the motel room you move into.
I keep mine in a open tote that is my stash of tobaccos, accessories, and pipes. Oddly enough as it sounds my girlfriend is terrific in woodworking and enjoys it. She made me a beautiful shel that holds my razors and brushes and I've requested she come up with a new project to display my pipes. As long as the pipes aren't stored in locked containers and allowed to breath several days between it's dedicated day of use, you'll be in great shape with pipes that last a lifetime.
I've only got a couple so I keep them in an empty Montecristo cigar box. I don't notice any smell eminating from the box, and my wife has never said anything. If there was even the faintest whiff of a smoky smell she would say something, so I guess it works.
If you store your pipes sans stems, the shank may shrink or expand while the stem stays the same. Then when you go to reinsert the stem you are bummed.
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I did read it... and in the OP's location, he needs to be more concerned about mosquitoes carrying his pipes away
You're actually not too far off on that one. The mosquitoes are not just stereotypes up here in the Great White North.
Again, you're actually not too far off on that one. Intolerant girlfriends are not just stereotypes in the realm of tobacco smokers.
Hey, no problem, I can do some legwork, but isn't that in part what these forums are for?
I don't know about cobs, but briar pipes certainly do need to breathe and dry out between uses. This is best done in a pipe rack with the bowl down.
My experience for the last decade is to keep a rack of four pipes inside non-smoking offices. Except for getting jumped by one anti-smoking nazi in the elevator, nobody has ever complained about pipe stench. Not even in my cube has it ever come up as an issue.
Have you considered installing additional ventilation or air filters in the smoking room?
My experience for the last decade is to keep a rack of four pipes inside non-smoking offices. Except for getting jumped by one anti-smoking nazi in the elevator, nobody has ever complained about pipe stench. Not even in my cube has it ever come up as an issue.
Have you considered installing additional ventilation or air filters in the smoking room?
A couple of suggestions. A small cabinet to store pipes and tobacco along with a bowl of baking soda will help contain the odor. A nice air-cleaner or deodorizer in the room will make up the difference. Pipes do need to have airflow to dry so a sealed container is right out.
I store mine in a rack in the open on a corner shelf in the family room and don't really notice any smell of any sort really coming from them after I'm done. I am fortunate however that I am able to smoke in my house wherever I see fit, mind you I try to curtail it when the kids are present. I do get good airflow through that room so that may be why I don't notice any lingering odors. Like James suggested, maybe put an air cleaner, or heck even just a small fan to circulate the air may help.
As for storing with the stems out, seems a bit overkill imo, i just leave them in and run a pipe cleaner or two through them. Sometimes I'll leave the cleaner in them while stored.
As for storing with the stems out, seems a bit overkill imo, i just leave them in and run a pipe cleaner or two through them. Sometimes I'll leave the cleaner in them while stored.
The other thing I wanted to mention was about taking the stems out after smoking. Don't get in the habit of doing that with briar pipes. You never want to remove the stem while the pipe is warm or it can crack the neck of the pipe. I just had one fixed after having done that.
Something seems kinda funky. A pipe should really not have too much smell once the tobacco is removed and it is shaken out and the inside wiped down. A bit of a smell, sure, but not enough to stink a room or a whole apartment.
I concur. I smoked a bowl about an hour ago, and my pipe is two feet away from me on my desk. No smell, until I stick my schnoz in the bowl.
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