Polishing Stem Airway

[jhowell]

I had a pipe that had a good draw but the stem would not reliably pass a pipe cleaner. On close examination it appeared the airway had been drilled from both ends of the stem. Where the two holes met there was not a smooth transition and this was where the pipe cleaner was sticking. I decided that I might be able to polish this transition point. I went to the auto supply and purchased some valve grinding compound. I coated a pipe cleaner with the valve grinding compound and worked it back and forth through the stem. Abracadabra - the stem now effortlessly passes a pipe cleaner...
I hope this helps someone else. -jeff

 

[craig61a]

I do that when I do a refurb. I clean out as much of the tar as possible with alcohol and pipe cleaners, then dip the pipe cleaner in rottenstone, chuck it in a drill and work it in and out.

 

[jhowell]

I do that when I do a refurb. I clean out as much of the tar as possible with alcohol and pipe cleaners, then dip the pipe cleaner in rottenstone, chuck it in a drill and work it in and out.

Love the drill idea...

 

[Chasing Embers]

I use Comet cleanser on a bristled churchwarden pipe cleaner.

 

[trouttimes]

What is rottenstone? I've never heard of this.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What is rottenstone? I've never heard of this.

Tripoli

 

[craiginthecorn]

Be careful with a pipe cleaner in a drill. I've done that cleaning up estate pipes and it can sometimes hang up in the airway, causing the pipe cleaner wire to twist on itself. I've never done any damage, but I think it is possible.