In Need of Reaming Advice

[Scotty Piper]

This is the first pipe I have ever owned, it's the pipe I learned how to smoke a pipe. The cake is getting a little more developed than I like, and I now need to learn how to ream. It's hard to get any details, though. My first instinct is to go for one of those adjustable stainless steel one for $5U. Any tips from folks who have done this before?

 

[The Benedictine]

Stick in reamer, twist until you remove enough cake you want

 

[anotherbob]

Pretty much I love my reamer. It's one of those t shaped handles with four different sized attachments. Works as advertised just don't rush it and it's easy as can be. And it doesn't have to be perfect just don't try to get it all and make sure it's close to even (looks even enough).

 

[forloveoffreedom]

As Bob said, this is a great one.

 

[OzPiper]

Pretty much I love my reamer. It's one of those t shaped handles with four different sized attachments. Works as advertised just don't rush it and it's easy as can be. And it doesn't have to be perfect just don't try to get it all and make sure it's close to even (looks even enough).

The original is called Pipnet

I have a few reamers, but my Pipnet is the only one I use

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

Good advice here.

That Decatur one looks good but I still don’t have a set like that. I have a senior reamer that I used last week on a couple of my most used briar pipes. It’s amazing how much cake builds up and it’s very satisfying to ream a pipe.

I also use the screw built into the senior reamer to clean out the airway. I’ve noticed that the ones that gunk up the airway the most are Latakia blends.

I usually scrape away some cake from time to time by hand using a pipe knife before it builds up too much. On my meerschaums I only use the pipe knife to remove cake.

 

[Scrapyard Ape]

I'm one of those buffoons that insist on doing things the hard way, so I got one of those modified oyster knife reamers from SP. So far I've been good at removing excess cake without gouging into the wood, but there's always that possibility lurking in the background.

 

[didimauw]

As Bob said, this is a great one.

That's the one I have too! Works great.

 

[forloveoffreedom]

I have used rounded knife, a fancy Sheffield (sp?) but over time I realized my chamber wasn’t round anymore. Am I strange in these new times, liking some cake? Not too much but just enough makes my pipes sing.

 

[Waning Embers]

Sandpaper

 

[sablebrush52]

I use a Pipnet on cylindrical chambers or a Buttner for conical chambers as a start. Then I use sandpaper wrapped around a Pilot marking pen to do the final bit.

To keep the cake from building back up, wipe the chamber with a wad of paper toweling or a couple of pipe cleaners doubled over after a smoke.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

This one works well for me. I use it regularly to keep the thickness thin like I prefer it.

 

[anotherbob]

The original is called Pipnet

I have a few reamers, but my Pipnet is the only one I use

I think what I have is a something castle. It works great and the only time I use something else is my super tiny little pipe that's got a small diameter and the reamer doesn't fit. I just careful use a tiny pocket knife.
The main thing with reaming is just don't race to the finish and pay a bit of attention. I kind of feel like I was dealt a disservice by how many people made it sound way more advanced then it really is.
Every single problem I've heard of comes from people rushing it or trying to get to bare wood.

 

[anotherbob]

I have used rounded knife, a fancy Sheffield (sp?) but over time I realized my chamber wasn’t round anymore. Am I strange in these new times, liking some cake? Not too much but just enough makes my pipes sing.

I like a little cake too. So yeah probably a weirdo if you're on the same page as me.

 

[skydog]

I'm one of those buffoons that insist on doing things the hard way, so I got one of those modified oyster knife reamers from SP. So far I've been good at removing excess cake without gouging into the wood, but there's always that possibility lurking in the background. View attachment 410439

I've restored more estates with over-reamed bowls than I have with gouges from a knife. I always prefer a knife when removing cake and only pull out the reamer as a last resort for the super stubborn cake.

I don't understand folks that take the pipe back to bare wood either. I usually don't scrape the cake off until it's far too thick, and then only take it back to a dime's thickness or so as long as it's not flaking off further. Hard to see in the original picture but I don't think I'd touch that cake for a good while longer.

 

[Scotty Piper]

I like a little cake too. So yeah probably a weirdo if you're on the same page as me.

My friend, I love me some cake

 

[OzPiper]

I think what I have is a something castle. It works great and the only time I use something else is my super tiny little pipe that's got a small diameter and the reamer doesn't fit. I just careful use a tiny pocket knife.
The main thing with reaming is just don't race to the finish and pay a bit of attention. I kind of feel like I was dealt a disservice by how many people made it sound way more advanced then it really is.
Every single problem I've heard of comes from people rushing it or trying to get to bare wood.

Early on I used a pocket knife.
The rims of those pipes still bear the scars.

Sand paper wrapped around a Sharpie marker is a good option to a Pipnet.

I've stopped trying to get back to bare wood.
I aim to leave a millimetre or so of hard cake.

 

[Sig]

I like thin hard cake.
I have always used the spey blade on a Stockman pocket knife. I have a Buck 323 and an old Craftsman.
The spey blade is perfectly shaped for all bowl shapes.
Just take it easy, no problem.
Been doing it for many years.
The spey blade is to the right on the Buck (top), and the left on the Craftsman (bottom).

 

[anotherbob]

My friend, I love me some cake

cake is good in almost all forms.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I use a Spey blade jackknife (like @Sig posted) and a senior style (like @hoosierpipeguy posted).

I’ll get a pipenet set someday, as they look to do the bottom of the chamber better-probably why they are used by so many that are into restoring estates.
The oyster knife Fitsall (sp?) has been in my wishlist as long as I’ve had an SPcom account, but since I know my limits flat blading a Spey blade it always loses to a tin of tobacco for the same money.

The Senior style is vey handy for a few reasons:
-it reams well within in range of size
-the drill bit in handle is my preferred draft size for stummels
-it can be used to hold a stummel in a vise (tighten cutters inside chamber and clamp tool in vise)