Blocked Kaywoodie Stem

[OzPiper]

I had a similar problem with an old Britwood with a bone tenon - an extremely tight draw but no problems passing pipe cleaners.

Patience and a straightened paper clip pushed out a half inch long wad of cleaner fluff.

No problems since, especially since I switched from BJ Long cleaners to another brand

 

[milk]

That’s a great looking pipe, it’s gotta be fixable. I’d hate to see it chopped.
I usually open up my stinger holes, sometimes with a triangular file on edge, or like this one, a drill bit in a tap handle and cleaned up with a small round file and patience.
View attachment 313402

I never thought of that. Thanks. That’s something!

 

[Sigmund]

I dont know about that make of pipe but most (not all) stingers can be removed. Warm up the metal part with a lighter and see if it unscrews or pulls out. Be firm but gentle a pair of pliers and some cloth if you want to protect it. If it comes out fix the blockage, clean the stinger with alcohol and if you want to use it again reinsert it.

 

[milk]

That’s a great looking pipe, it’s gotta be fixable. I’d hate to see it chopped.
I usually open up my stinger holes, sometimes with a triangular file on edge, or like this one, a drill bit in a tap handle and cleaned up with a small round file and patience.
View attachment 313402

I’m filing it with a set of small files. I’m not doing it quite as cleanly with what I have but it’s a heck of a lot better than cutting the stinger. Great! Thanks a million!

 

[ssjones]

I’m filing it with a set of small files. I’m not doing it quite as cleanly with what I have but it’s a heck of a lot better than cutting the stinger. Great! Thanks a million!

That seems like a good step, hope it works for you! I'm going to try it on one my recent additions.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I dont know about that make of pipe but most (not all) stingers can be removed. Warm up the metal part with a lighter and see if it unscrews or pulls out. Be firm but gentle a pair of pliers and some cloth if you want to protect it. If it comes out fix the blockage, clean the stinger with alcohol and if you want to use it again reinsert it.

Kaywoodies are one piece stinger/tenon screw unlike Lee’s etc the “stingers” of which are slip/press fit into the tenon screw fixture.

I’ve got a couple clipped KW’s, some good, some poorly clipped and they seem to attract moisture at the clipped end. I’m toying with squaring them up and chamfering the opening. Time will tell…

 

[milk]

Kaywoodies are one piece stinger/tenon screw unlike Lee’s etc the “stingers” of which are slip/press fit into the tenon screw fixture.

I’ve got a couple clipped KW’s, some good, some poorly clipped and they seem to attract moisture at the clipped end. I’m toying with squaring them up and chamfering the opening. Time will tell…
View attachment 313427

Honestly, I traded away a Lees and I’m kind of regretting it. I liked it. Well, the stem had a repair anyway. Maybe I’ll find a better one. This Kaywoodie is no good. I’m almost convinced it came out of the factory this way and survived in this condition because of its poor smoking quality.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Honestly, I traded away a Lees and I’m kind of regretting it. I liked it. Well, the stem had a repair anyway. Maybe I’ll find a better one. This Kaywoodie is no good. I’m almost convinced it came out of the factory this way and survived in this condition because of its poor smoking quality.

That’s a shame.

 

[ssjones]

I used a small, Dremel cone file to open up my draft hole a bit. Smokes pretty good, definitely a plus.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I used a small, Dremel cone file to open up my draft hole a bit. Smokes pretty good, definitely a plus.

View attachment 313449

Looks good!

 

[ssjones]

Looks good!

And smoked quite nicely! A great pipe choice on Memorial Day, to honor fallen US soldiers, seemed fitting.

 

[crashthegrey]

I thought I'd turn back to a Kaywoodie expert. I ran a wire through this pipe. It goes through well. Pipe cleaners go through but the draw is tighter than my other 4-hole-stinger Kaywoodie. It's that slight bit tighter draw that makes all the difference when the pipe is full of tobacco. I'm going to try the wire brush when I get it but I'm feeling like it's not going to make a difference. I hate to cut the stinger. I'm wondering though, will cutting the stinger even fix the problem? Is it certain to open up the draw? I don't have good equipment. Will metal cable cutters sold on amazon work for cutting the stinger? I really hate to cut the stinger. I notice that this stinger is smaller than my thorn's.

Cutting the stinger guarantees little. I would ream the shank or trade it to someone who will appreciate the collectability.

 

[milk]

Cutting the stinger guarantees little. I would ream the shank or trade it to someone who will appreciate the collectability.

Thanks. I will pass this pipe along to someone else I think. I can’t bring myself to cut it. It’s a beautiful pipe. Someone can do something with it. I’m not quite sure what the deal is with it but I’m sure someone can figure it out. Thanks.

 

[milk]

I will be sending this pipe back BTW. I will have spent a lot on shipping this back and forth to Japan. It’s kind of a wash. Oh well.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I will be sending this pipe back BTW. I will have spent a lot on shipping this back and forth to Japan. It’s kind of a wash. Oh well.

Sounds like you’ve got to eat the return shipping, that’s a bummer.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Have you tried drawing on the stummel and stem separately to confirm where the blockage is?

 

[bent1]

Could you post a picture of the stinger?

 

[bent1]

I’ve have a way to open tight draw, 4-hole stinger KW’s. I take a dremel tool with a spherical bit & slightly enlarge the main hole atop the stinger body. Then I slightly oversize the 4 holes with a drill bit. Finally, I’ll funnel the button end of the stem. Finally, I’ll use an automotive polishing compound & a pipe cleaner to smooth out burrs. This has worked well for me.

There are numerous sized stinger bodies, making it tough to give drill bit measurements.

 

[milk]

I’ve have a way to open tight draw, 4-hole stinger KW’s. I take a dremel tool with a spherical bit & slightly enlarge the main hole atop the stinger body. Then I slightly oversize the 4 holes with a drill bit. Finally, I’ll funnel the button end of the stem. Finally, I’ll use an automotive polishing compound & a pipe cleaner to smooth out burrs. This has worked well for me.

There are numerous sized stinger bodies, making it tough to give drill bit measurements.

 

[bent1]

Is that a shape #17? Looks like it’s a good size stinger body, I’ll call it a medium. Should be enough meat on that stinger to open it up.