Should I use olive oil to coat my pipe bowl and stem?
I recommend against using olive oil. But as with many things, there is some difference of opinion about using olive oil on pipes. Some report they have coated their bowls and stems for years with no problems at all. But manufacturers of wood products strongly advise against using anything containing fats (particularly animal fats) on wood since the fats can have numerous adverse effects, including detiorating the wood itself over time.Beyond that general comment, there are several specific reasons I prefer not to use olive oil on my pipes:
- Olive oil (or any vegetable oil) can turn rancid or mold over time. This will produce a nasty smell and a foul taste.
- Even if it doesn't go sour, olive oil can impart a subtle taste to a smoke when applied to the stem. This isn't a problem if you like the flavor, but many prefer to avoid any changes to the taste of the tobacco.
- Olive oil can burn if applied heavily enough. The chances of this occurring are quite rare, but it is something worth noting.
- If used on virgin briar (i.e., briar without stain or wax), olive oil will cause the wood to become very dark as the pipe is smoked. Obviously a dark colored pipe is nothing bad, but some may not be aware of this effect.
Instead of coating your pipe with olive oil, it is best to use carnauba wax, which protects and adds a nice shine to the pipe. The difficulty with carnauba wax is that it requires a buffing wheel for proper application. But do not despair. Many tobacconists offer free or low cost buffing services. If you don't have a buffing wheel or a local tobacconist that offers this service, there are several products available you can use. Below are a few examples of excellent products to help you maintain your pipes. These are available online from a variety of sources; just do a Google search for the product name.
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