I have two Brighams that have had draw problems since I bought them new a few months ago. I came across this thread today and after reading it decided to have a look at mine.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/first-brigham#post-512156
Both air holes were drilled incorrectly. The draw on both pipes was so bad they would hardly pull any air at all when I tried to suck on the stem. They smoked terrible.
I got my little narrow beam flashlight and started looking. I realized that the top end of the tenon that seats the rock maple filter, that is the top plastic or ebonite part of the tenon was totally blocking the mis-drilled air holes.
If you look at the picture you will see what I mean.
I trimmed the tenon and the Rock Maple Filters. After trimming the tenon I de-burred it using an RCBS de-burring tool but a knife will work just as well.
To re-set the metal cap on the filter so it will seat correctly in the tenon, carefully heat up the trimmed end of the tenon, and gently insert the chuck end of a 3/16" drill bit and hold it there for a short time to allow the plastic to deform and splay out, in order to fit the metal filter cap. If you look at your Brigham pipe and remove the filter, you will notice that the tenon top end is cased out to a depth of the bottom ring on the filter metal cap. Sort of like using a carbide expansion die on a 9mm casing to prep it for seating the bullet.
You don't have to do this step if you don't want to. Just snip the filter with or without the filter cap and it will work perfect.
This completely fixed the draw problem by unblocking the air hole.
It now draws as good as my Savinellis or my cobs with or without the filter.
I also re-drilled the air hole in the Chinook because it was the worse.
They both smoke awesome now!
I hope this might help someone who is having the same issue in their Brigham.
Chris in Red Deer, Alberta
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/first-brigham#post-512156
Both air holes were drilled incorrectly. The draw on both pipes was so bad they would hardly pull any air at all when I tried to suck on the stem. They smoked terrible.
I got my little narrow beam flashlight and started looking. I realized that the top end of the tenon that seats the rock maple filter, that is the top plastic or ebonite part of the tenon was totally blocking the mis-drilled air holes.
If you look at the picture you will see what I mean.
I trimmed the tenon and the Rock Maple Filters. After trimming the tenon I de-burred it using an RCBS de-burring tool but a knife will work just as well.
To re-set the metal cap on the filter so it will seat correctly in the tenon, carefully heat up the trimmed end of the tenon, and gently insert the chuck end of a 3/16" drill bit and hold it there for a short time to allow the plastic to deform and splay out, in order to fit the metal filter cap. If you look at your Brigham pipe and remove the filter, you will notice that the tenon top end is cased out to a depth of the bottom ring on the filter metal cap. Sort of like using a carbide expansion die on a 9mm casing to prep it for seating the bullet.
You don't have to do this step if you don't want to. Just snip the filter with or without the filter cap and it will work perfect.
This completely fixed the draw problem by unblocking the air hole.
It now draws as good as my Savinellis or my cobs with or without the filter.
I also re-drilled the air hole in the Chinook because it was the worse.
They both smoke awesome now!
I hope this might help someone who is having the same issue in their Brigham.
Chris in Red Deer, Alberta
