Kaywoodie Stinger Removal

baronsamedi · May 25, 2011

I just smoked my Kaywoodie today. I had to spend some time cleaning it and letting it rest before smoking, which I was able to do successfully thanks to reading this forum and the tutorial vids (THANKS!). It had an excellent smoke, but the stinger makes cleaning a bit of a pain and you can't run a cleaner down into the bowl if you get a gurgle.
I think it was unclearthur who said he removes his stingers. What would be the best way to do that? I'm thinking a cutoff on my dremel would work, but I don't want to screw up an awesome pipe.

bytor · May 25, 2011

Take a look at this thread:

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/kaywoodie-drinkless-pipes
I posted sorta decent picture of a couple Kaywoodie stems that I removed the stinger using a dremel. No real difficulty in removing the stinger...just be sure you don't remove the threads.

bubbadreier · May 25, 2011

It should just pull out! It might take a little work but I don't think it is a permanant stinger!

bytor · May 25, 2011

If it is a Kaywoodie with a thread-in stem, don't try to pull it out.
The threads are the only way to attach the stem to the shank. Pulling out the stinger would be equivalent to cutting the tenon off a push-in stem.

portascat · May 25, 2011

I have two "stinger pipes". A Kaywoodie and a Sir Hubert. And I have a couple Grabow and a cob. These are my regular smokers (I don't have a huge or high end collection, as you see).
I actually rehabbed the Kaywoodie into a decent smoker, fixing the stinger position and the carburetor.
In any case, the stinger pipes do smoke a bit different, and cleaning them is a bit more labor intensive, but not hugely so. The biggest difference, to me, is making sure you use the very thin diameter cleaners and pushing slowly with the cleaner so that it can "make the bend" in the stinger. Once a bit pokes out, you can pull it through.
It is possible that the thin tube on the stinger makes cleaning a bit easier, as it comes out very clean after two pulls, like someone noted.
To me, and just me, I wouldn't circumcise the thing. It smokes a little different, but it is just part of the personality of the pipe. Maybe it will suit a particular blend, or a smoking style, that other pipes won't, or won't as well.

python · May 25, 2011

Kaywoodie stingers are permanently fixed into the stem. To remove the stinger part, it must be cut off while leaving the threaded part of the metal so that it will still screw into the shank.
It will drop the value of the pipe by doing so. The older Kaywoodie pipes are much more collectable than the newer ones. If it is a very old pipe, you may not want to do it.

romeowood · May 25, 2011

I'll side with keeping it as well, mainly for the collectibility and aesthetic integrity of the pipe, but also for the exercise of learning how to adjust your smoking. I have a few stinger pipes, Kaywoodies amongst them, and although they're far from my favorites, I find that in those times that the mood to smoke one *extra* slowly, with a very dry blend or just for the challenge of keeping a bowl dry, that it's well worth the effort. Unfortunately I have yet to meet a stinger that does what it was intended to do.

unclearthur · May 25, 2011

I buy mine to smoke and resale is of no interest to me so I hack those beasts off .

papipeguy · May 25, 2011

I'm with Arthur on this one. Same with filtered pipes. I get rid of the filters and attachments. When I smoke I want the Full Monty.

jwp159 · May 25, 2011

I to remove stingers when a pipe goes into my collection. If I get the pipe for resale, which I have to do some to finance my PAD and TAD. I leave them on because it does affect the value on the collector market but I can't stand them for my personal use.

bubbadreier · May 25, 2011

Alright so all Kaywoodies have permanent stingers? I only have had one Kaywoodie and the stinger pulled right out!?! I had a dud haha

python · May 25, 2011

Bubba, that's strange. I have never seen a Kaywoodie with a removable stinger. What model pipe was it?

pstlpkr · May 25, 2011

Stingers? We doh-need no stinking stingers...

bubbadreier · May 26, 2011

It was a billiard pipe that smoked horridly! haha! I am not certain what it was though

baronsamedi · May 26, 2011

Thanks everyone. I got it off Fleabay for $15 and I don't plan to sell it. Still, for now I think I'll snag some smaller diameter cleaners and keep it as is. It really smoked well. I don't plan to sell it, so if it becomes cumbersome, I'll go Uncle Arthur's way.

baronsamedi · Jun 2, 2011

I got some narrower pipe cleaners and they seem to thread through the stinger pretty well. No need to remove it, as far as I can see. It's now my carryin' around pipe, since it has a small profile and a shallow bowl, I can smoke it on the go. I don't have an hour to kill on breaks at work, so I can pack the kaywoodie to about half and have a nice smoke on my last break. I keep it with a tamper (a nail with a large head), a lighter, a couple o cleaners and some Captain Black in the pouch when I'm out and about.

collindow · Jun 2, 2011

I wish I had noticed this thread before, I would have lobbied hard to keep the stinger. Of course, you're keeping it now, which pleases me. I feel it to be a crime to chop up a fine Kaywoodie, akin, in my mind, to castrating your son because you wanted a girl.

I'm glad you like the Kaywoodie. They're awesome pipes, and I pretty much smoke only them.

marmal4de · Jun 2, 2011

I leave my stingers intact, I don't mind the gurgle, and I love that they're very forgiving.

jasongone · Jun 2, 2011

i personally hate stingers and they get promptly removed. but then again an estate pipe in my possession isn't even guaranteed to keep it's skin.

baronsamedi · Jun 7, 2011

I agree with you Collin. I felt that it had such a great smoke that screwing with the design was a bad idea. In the end I adapted and decided to work with it and not against it. Usually the best decision and another lesson learned on my journey. This thing lasted 55 years only to have me hacking away at it? Not this time around.

Kaywoodie Stinger Removal

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