Aluminum Pipes: good, bad, same, different?

[loneredtree]

Yes, they are terrible POS. You can send to me and I will give them a proper burial. :rofl:

 

[tuold]

The biggest problem I've had with my metal pipes is in regard to weight and balance. I prefer the ones that are a least a little bent. With the straight ones, I've got to hold them between my teeth a little more loosely so it hangs down a little. But then if I inadvertently clench to keep the pipe from slipping it tends to flip up and fling ash and embers into my face like a catapult!

 

[pappymac]

I can do a good cleaning on my Kirsten in about 20 seconds. Send me yours if you don't want them.

 

[stvalentine]

Hahaha, it is not that I don´t want my Kirstens... :nana: I am thinking about modifying them with a special stem that can be bought from a frenchman who specializes on aluminum pipes. It doesn´t have that "dead end" stinger that is so hard to clean. :roll:

 

[ukbob]

Falcons easy to clean and maintain and they smoke great.
What more could you want from a pipe.

 

[ukbob]

Falcons easy to clean and maintain and they smoke great.
What more could you want from a pipe.

 

[pappymac]

stvalentine - I thought about cutting the stinger on mine briefly. Then I read a tip about using the stinger to push a soft cloth or paper towel through the body after smoking. It works. I just wipe the stinger itself down with a cotton ball dipped with bourbon or rum

 

[stvalentine]

I would really prefer a stinger with an open end so you can push a pipe cleaner through. I wasn´t even able to do this with the bent stem. Maybe the mod stem will provide me with this....

 

[loneredtree]

Valentine: You might try a skinny pipe cleaner. I can push through one after I remove the stem for cleaning. Mine are the 1/4 bent. Not sure about the full bent. After use, I use the stinger to push through a piece of tissue, wipe the valve with tissue and use the stinger to push the tissue into the valve, run pipe cleaner through the stem and stinger, use the cleaner on the bowl and draft and done. It does not take long.
They do give a smoke like a Meerschaum. Very cool and dry.
LRT

 

[wlrountree]

I plan to acquire a Kirsten this year. Thought about it for a long time and finally made my mind up to do it. Just missed one earlier this year, and I think it fueled my fire for it. As for others, I love my Vikings and the one Falcon that I have. Prefer the bent variety and they seem to smoke most blends very well. Seem to smoke aros very well as the metal pulls the excess moisture out where you can wipe it out. But then again, I like Kaywoodies for the same reason.

 

[jabo]

Got ta get a falcon & a Kirsten. Cleaning em should be fun. Like cleaning my guns ! ;-)