Bent Pipe Airway Question

[gregjl]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

Hello All, This may be a newbie question but, are all bent pipes drilled out with that extra drilled out area in the stem to collect moisture the way the Peterson is? Or are some designed like a straw? ( no extra drilled out space). It makes sense and works well but it might be proprietary for whatever reason. Just looking to maybe expand my horizons a little. I own three Pete's and I like them but you know.

Thanks

 

[Chasing Embers]

Unless it's a System pipe or made for a filter it's a straight drill. Some full bents will even pass a pipe cleaner.

 

[BROBS]

Unless it's a System pipe or made for a filter it's a straight drill.

Not true.

 

[anotherbob]

the correct answer is probably. As in it depends on the pipe. I've mostly smoked bents over the years and most have the same kind of hole in stem matches hole in plastic bit you'd expect to find in a straight stemmed pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Not true.

I was referring to the straw portion of the OP. Try reading that first Brian.

 

[anotherbob]

I was referring to the straw portion of the OP. Try reading that first Brian.

I think this looks like one of those famous internet break down in communications. Technology is great when it works.

 

[BROBS]

I was referring to the straw portion of the OP. Try reading that first Brian.

Ha! Sorry. I see now what you mean I thought you meant a straight drill as in the tenon hole lining up to the draft hole.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think this looks like one of those famous internet break down in communications. Technology is great when it works.

Text without vocal inflection has it's drawbacks too.☹

 

[sasquatch]

This arrangement is worse than a more carefully done one, like so: And the reason is, the airway in the second pipe meets the stem in the middle (where the hole is bound to be) so the smoke can just come up and out with no problems. The first pipe is a lot more like what you'll see on a LOT of bent pipes, and that's kind of why bents have a reputation for gurgling and general fussiness. It's certainly not true of the best ones, but there are a lot of crummy ones around. So the first pipe would have to have SOME kind of dead space - if the tenon reached the bottom of the mortise, literally no air could come through. What you find in any given pipe.... well, depends on the shape, the brand, filters or system type... there's no single rule for sure.

 

[howellhandmade]

Hi, Sasquatch. Only problem with your second illustration is the size of the tenon, which leaves practically no briar around it. Which could be solved with a thicker shank, but that’s a different shape. No doubt, anything over a 1/4 bent is going to involve compromise. There is such a thing as a curved draft hole, known as a “drifted shank.” Viprati does some amazing ones. I’d love to be able to do it, but again it is a compromise — with conventional drilling, a draft hole that becomes restricted over time can easily be reopened with a drill. Curved hole, not so much. Also, the curved hole is “nibbled” and not a smooth airway surface. Again, a compromise. I think it is possible to make a bent pipe that does not suffer from gurgles and that performs as well as a straight pipe, but there are limits.

I have a bent Peterson that I re-stemmed and opened up that smokes great, so the “well system” is not an impediment to a good smoke, in my opinion. Cleaning is another matter. Again, compromise.

 

[F4RM3R]

I have a couple pipes with the drilled out spot to collect moisture. They aren't Peterson's. One is an Everest and the other a no name Italian one. I took the stinger out of the Everest and it smokes great. If I blow back through the pipe every so often the moisture just gets pushed back in that hole an it's a dry smoke with no gurgle. It's a little annoying to clean, having to take off the stem and put a pipe cleaner in the hole but it actually performs quite well.

 

[olkofri]

Brigham's bents' drilling:



Needless to say, these won't pass a cleaner (big deal).

Brigham's straights will pass a cleaner, but you'll have to twist it as they are not drilled dead centre (this is by design, and not 'poor' drilling).

 

[Casual]

Brigham's bents' drilling:

View attachment 38355

Needless to say, these won't pass a cleaner (big deal).

Brigham's straights will pass a cleaner, but you'll have to twist it as they are not drilled dead centre (this is by design, and not 'poor' drilling).

How do they drill that little connector hole?

 

[mso489]

Seeing the drilling on bent pipes makes me insecure. Ha. I've always glibly assumed the airway went right down the center of the briar whatever the pipe's configuration, and that only the system pipes had a moisture trap or any other complication. I think I will sustain my fantasy. Imagining all those tunnels snaking around through the briar like a subway line puts me off.

 

[olkofri]

How do they drill that little connector hole?

Trade secrets?

Do remember that my illustration is not to scale, and even exaggerated in some points.