[Sr Mike]

I would give them a call and find out if that is know to happen with a Johs. From what I am reading, too much wax may have been applied causing the tackiness when the pipe heated up. I have experienced this first hand. When the wax warmed up it may have carried the stain off of the briar. It also depends on the stain he is using, most makers use an alcohol stain the penetrates the grain keeping it from lifting off of the briar when the wax heats up. It is possible the excess stain was not removed before the wax was applied. There are a lot of variables that may have caused this problem.

Of course if you like the look more with less stain, then it worked out even better for you.