A Little Disappointed in Recent Brulor Purchase

[lithicus]

I didn't see a good/bad/ugly section or anything related to tobacco pipe reviews/feedback. If this is inappropriate for this section of the forums, my deepest apologies. I don't mind moving or deleting this post if that is the case.


I recently purchased a Brulor smooth straight billiard. It was my first horn stem and one I was pretty excited to get as the idea of vintage briar appealed to me. And, it was at a very affordable price. Unfortunately, the draft hole in the shank is large. Like... massive. It seems to be roughly the size of a pencil. So, I peg it around 7mm or a hair over 1/4". Larger than the draft hole on my corn cobs even.

I checked and can fairly easily fit 7 of the Long's brand pipe cleaners bunched up together down the draft hole and into the chamber. I reached out to smokingpipes and sent them these pictures, but they said it appears all Brulor pipes have large draft holes like this. So, exchanging it for another would be pointless. I think I'm going to have to send it back for a refund.

I don't see how tobacco wouldn't get sucked up into this draft hole. And, it would be a pain to clean. I'm sure some tighter packing, especially near the bottom, might prohibit this. But, I'm not sure I want to bother. I'd likely end up rarely if ever smoking this pipe preferring my briars with better drilling. This Brulor also has a stinger. And, unlike my older Kaywoodie, it cannot be disassembled hot. Even if I cut the stinger off, the draft hole in the stem is actually normal sized. So, I obviously couldn't fit 7 bunched up pipe cleaners down the stem. I'd have to wait for the pipe to completely cool before disassembling to clean the shank in any meaningful way. Most of my briars are drilled well enough from chamber to button that I can run a pipe cleaner down it after smoking for a fairly good cleaning. I don't normally remove the stem to clean the shank after every smoke. I do that with deep cleans once every few months.

Not sure why I'm posting this other than to raise awareness or see what others think of their Brulor pipes. Are the draft holes truly always this large? Did I just get a bad one, or maybe this batch has unusually large draft holes?

 

[Waning Embers]

I checked and can fairly easily fit 7 of the Long's brand pipe cleaners bunched up together down the draft hole in this shank.

A pity I'm no longer in the market. If the chambers were around 1" × 2" that would be my perfect pipe.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

That pipe should draw great. Use a water flush to clean it and those really fluffy pipe cleaners. Smoke Flake instead of fine ribbon cut. I see this as a great opportunity for you.

If none of that works, find a skilled pipe technician that will insert a 7 mm metal sleeve that is 1 mm thick in that hole. Problem solved.

You're welcome.

 

[das3353]

I have a Brulor drilled like that. It smokes just fine. I hot water flush all of my pipes, and for the Brulor, I just use a q-tip to clean the draft hole and mortise instead of a pipe cleaner.

 

[mortonbriar]

It should smoke real nice, as suggested above. But if you are concerned about inhaling bits of shag cut ribbon etc then you could always use one of those meerschaum filters that you drop into the bottom of the pipe.

 

[lithicus]

A pity I'm no longer in the market. If the chambers were around 1" × 2" that would be my perfect pipe.

I know it shouldn't matter, but for some reason I feel like I could find things more acceptable if the chamber was larger myself. My old 1930's Drinkless Kaywoodie (straight smooth billiard) has the largest draft hole of all my briars, but it is a little more substantial in size. I fold a pipe cleaner over twice (essentially the width of 4 pipe cleaners) and it's a pretty tight fit. I can also disassemble it hot. So, cleanup is quick and easy. This would be my only other pipe with a stinger.

I have a Brulor drilled like that. It smokes just fine. I hot water flush all of my pipes, and for the Brulor, I just use a q-tip to clean the draft hole and mortise instead of a pipe cleaner.

I should've thought of using a qtip... I do that with the moisture well in my Peterson system pipe. And while I've never done a hot water flush, I'm not opposed to it like some. I'm glad Brulor's at least seem to be consistent in their drilling? And, happy to hear yours smokes fine.

That pipe should draw great. Use a water flush to clean it and those really fluffy pipe cleaners. Smoke Flake instead of fine ribbon cut. I see this as a great opportunity for you.

If none of that works, find a skilled pipe technician that will insert a 7 mm metal sleeve that is 1 mm thick in that hole. Problem solved.

You're welcome.

I do tend to prefer flake, but normally rub it out pretty well and lately have been doing essentially a pure gravity feed. I could see a fold and stuff working better, but I have not given that method any serious attempts. Perhaps, you are correct about this being a great opportunity. Hmm...

I did also do some research about large draft holes in shanks and came across respected technicians recommending the metal sleeve you suggest. All good suggestions and I'll have to continue to give this a little more thought. I have until mid December to make a decision.

 

[lithicus]

It should smoke real nice, as suggested above. But if you are concerned about inhaling bits of shag cut ribbon etc then you could always use one of those meerschaum filters that you drop into the bottom of the pipe.

I must admit I'm quite surprised at the acceptance of a draft hole this large. I've heard of some opening their pipes up to 5/32nds, or that being fairly standard / ideal. I figured >1/4" would be out of the norm and bordering on unacceptable. Is there such a thing as a draft hole that is too large??

And while I've never had a pipe before whose drilling really bugged me, I know some of the engineers claim turbulence causes moisture and an abrupt transition is far from ideal. As someone with an engineer mind, I can reason with this.

Luckily (??), this pipe has a stinger. So, the draw won't be wide open. And, I won't get bits in my mouth. I was more concerned about cleaning the damn thing lol The suggestions above include hot water rinses and qtips, which I'm not opposed to. It is just extra steps that may prevent me from reaching for that pipe when I have others waiting to be smoked right next to it.

It's kind of like someone once told me when I was looking into my first canoe years ago. I was going to get one of the cheap plastic ones that's 80-90lbs for $250-300. I could get that on top of my SUV and strap it down. But, many told me to spend a little more ($500) to get Royalex at 65lbs. Shaving off nearly 1/3 of the weight makes a big difference. And if car topping the canoe is too much a hassle, you'll never get out on the water. I did end up spending more, getting an 16' Old Town Penobscot, and am certainly happy for it.

 

[mortonbriar]

I always chop off/take out stingers personally, the more draw the better...but I am not saying that from an engineering perspective, just a smoking perspective. I could quite well be scientifically wrong, but that has not hindered my enjoyment so far!

 

[VDL_Piper]

I think that pipe will be a great smoker because you don’t have to draw at all and would allow sipping the smoke with ease. My Castello’s pass a bent standard pipe cleaner through the shank.

 

[Sea Lord]

I encountered something similar, but with a brand new Castello. It was evident it had been bored twice; it kind of looked like the infinity symbol, in the tobacco chamber. I returned the pipe and never bought a Castello again.

 

[Waning Embers]

I know some of the engineers claim turbulence causes moisture

Burning things alone causes moisture. Smoking technique can mitigate it more than gimmicky engineering or additions of stingers or other unnecessary implements. In its simplest form a pipe is little more than a straw.

 

[HeadMisfit]

I just got a bbb that has a 3mm airway. Pretty sure the pipes are meant to be used with a stinger. But because these weren't given a stinger at final drilling in the 1950s, you gotta get your own.

 

[Waning Embers]

I just got a bbb that has a 3mm airway. Pretty sure the pipes are meant to be used with a stinger. But because these weren't given a stinger at final drilling in the 1950s, you gotta get your own.

5-6mm was always my go to for commissions. The pipes nearly smoked themselves with little effort.

 

[HeadMisfit]

5-6mm was always my go to for commissions. The pipes nearly smoked themselves with little effort.

My bbb smokes sort of fast, but I can't figure how to pack it

 

[PiperdownCan]

I’ve learned a lot from this discussion, would’ve figured it was an error like you did as well.

 

[Waning Embers]

My bbb smokes sort of fast, but I can't figure how to pack it

Wisps instead of clouds.

 

[lithicus]

Wisps instead of clouds.

A day or two ago, I was watching a video of someone new I found on youtube who sat down for 45mins and showed how he smoked a pipe. Wisps... And my mind came back to this comment.

I can't tell you how many times I've read suggestions like yours. A few times probably even from yourself. I've even said of my own accord, "Smoke slower. Then slower then that. Now, if you smoke a little bit slower, you just might be sipping." I took it to an extreme today, or what seemed extreme to me, and I'm getting even more flavor and even drier and cooler smokes than ever before. One bowl out of a normal Group 3 size pipe that I always enjoyed. But also just tried with a big Group 5 Dublin shape Dunhill that never smoked very well for me. Both smoked like a dream all the way to the bottom.

I think I'm finally, after nearly 2 years, starting to understand how to sip without having to relight constantly. I know you've given this advice over and over and over again. But thank you lol I apparently needed to hear it one more time

 

[anotherbob]

A day or two ago, I was watching a video of someone new I found on youtube who sat down for 45mins and showed how he smoked a pipe. Wisps... And my mind came back to this comment.

I can't tell you how many times I've read suggestions like yours. A few times probably even from yourself. I've even said of my own accord, "Smoke slower. Then slower then that. Now, if you smoke a little bit slower, you just might be sipping." I took it to an extreme today, or what seemed extreme to me, and I'm getting even more flavor and even drier and cooler smokes than ever before. One bowl out of a normal Group 3 size pipe that I always enjoyed. But also just tried with a big Group 5 Dublin shape Dunhill that never smoked very well for me. Both smoked like a dream all the way to the bottom.

I think I'm finally, after nearly 2 years, starting to understand how to sip without having to relight constantly. I know you've given this advice over and over and over again. But thank you lol I apparently needed to hear it one more time

it's counterintuitive that's all.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I just got a bbb that has a 3mm airway. Pretty sure the pipes are meant to be used with a stinger. But because these weren't given a stinger at final drilling in the 1950s, you gotta get your own.

many older BBBäs and Orliks were drilled that way, moreover, still today majority of new White Spot Dunhill's pipes are equipped with removable aluminium metal tubes

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

I didn't see a good/bad/ugly section or anything related to tobacco pipe reviews/feedback. If this is inappropriate for this section of the forums, my deepest apologies. I don't mind moving or deleting this post if that is the case.


I recently purchased a Brulor smooth straight billiard. It was my first horn stem and one I was pretty excited to get as the idea of vintage briar appealed to me. And, it was at a very affordable price. Unfortunately, the draft hole in the shank is large. Like... massive. It seems to be roughly the size of a pencil. So, I peg it around 7mm or a hair over 1/4". Larger than the draft hole on my corn cobs even.

I checked and can fairly easily fit 7 of the Long's brand pipe cleaners bunched up together down the draft hole and into the chamber. I reached out to smokingpipes and sent them these pictures, but they said it appears all Brulor pipes have large draft holes like this. So, exchanging it for another would be pointless. I think I'm going to have to send it back for a refund.

I don't see how tobacco wouldn't get sucked up into this draft hole. And, it would be a pain to clean. I'm sure some tighter packing, especially near the bottom, might prohibit this. But, I'm not sure I want to bother. I'd likely end up rarely if ever smoking this pipe preferring my briars with better drilling. This Brulor also has a stinger. And, unlike my older Kaywoodie, it cannot be disassembled hot. Even if I cut the stinger off, the draft hole in the stem is actually normal sized. So, I obviously couldn't fit 7 bunched up pipe cleaners down the stem. I'd have to wait for the pipe to completely cool before disassembling to clean the shank in any meaningful way. Most of my briars are drilled well enough from chamber to button that I can run a pipe cleaner down it after smoking for a fairly good cleaning. I don't normally remove the stem to clean the shank after every smoke. I do that with deep cleans once every few months.

Not sure why I'm posting this other than to raise awareness or see what others think of their Brulor pipes. Are the draft holes truly always this large? Did I just get a bad one, or maybe this batch has unusually large draft holes?

Looks perfect for smoking cube cut tobacco.