OK here's the deal.
Awhile back I bought a Pete 120. I smoked it maybe a half dozen times and noticed it smoked pretty we with a variety of blends and moisture levels. And it was always difficult to get a pipe cleaner through. Always stuck at theshank. But I chalked it up to the P Lip and figured the cleaner was getting kinked. If twisted and wiggled a ultra think Falcon would go through.
Then I happened to hold it up against a light and sawy a small gap at the top between the shank and stem. I pushed and fiddled and twisted but the gap didn't go away. It looks as if either the tenon or motise was slightly crooked.
So, I let Rich at 4 Noggins know and he contacted Peterson who said I should return the pipe to Rich. Then we'd see what our options were.
When Rich got it he tried a pipe cleaner and agreed it wasn't right. We talked and he let me choose another pipe. I picked an Aran 01 bent Dublin, same cost as the other one.
Well I got it today and gave it a good once over. Not good.
The shank airway is not close to centered. It's at about 12:00 in the mortise at the very upper edge.
I do note that mortise is longer than the tenon by a fair measure. So I guess whether the airways line up is sort of a moot point. But this isn't a military mount pipe. it's supposed to be a tenon that fits properly in the mortise agaisnt a centered shank airway.
I also see a similar small gap at the top of the stem when I hold it to the light.
So after all that....here's what I need you to tell me
Am I wrong?
Maybe this is the way they drill these Petersons. And maybe I'm being way too picky oin the stem fit? I will say I'm looking at my Stanwell 19 right now and it is drilled and fitted perfectly. I don't' know how a pipe constructed like this could not smoke wet.
But I don't want to be expecting something from a $70 Peterson that I shouldn't. It is a low end for Peterson (Aran) but it's my belief that indicates cosmetics (grain/finish etc) not quality of drilling and fitting. True?
Or maybe the things I'm noticing are just the way they do it. Maybe they do leave the mortise much longer than the tenon and maybe then it doesn't matter if the airway is at the top. Could be it has to be this way to drill it??? It is a pretty steep shank
Rich was very clear that if this one is not satisfactory we'll work something else out. But I don't want to complain about something that is just the way it is.
Experience?
Insight?
Advice?
