Cleaning Peterson's Dry Systems

[hotshot]

Just a quick question, do you take your Pete's apart to clean them? If not, what's the trick to snake the pipe cleaner through and into the bowl?

 

[warren]

Try putting a small bend the very tip of a cleaner and when it seems to bottom out, twist it a bit as you push. Sometimes that'll work. Otherwise, let the pipe cool and take the bit off, shouldn't be any problem getting a cleaner into the bowl then.
Also, www.peterson.ie will provide you with a ton of information about the system pipes. Seems to be a problem getting there right now, so try it in a couple of hours.

 

[judd]

I have a system standard and I take it apart to clean it, and you can clean the "sump pit" properly while it's apart.

 

[hotshot]

I've done the little bend in tip, like you said, Warren, sometimes it works but rarely. I've had a Pete for 35+ years and always just took it apart. But with all the guys sayin, don't take them apart, I wondered if there was another way. LOL. I usually pull it apart and clean the well with a que tip or a folded pipe cleaner. Then it's done.

 

[bryanf]

You can take the system pipes apart right after smoking. Immediately after a smoke, I remove the stem and dump out the moisture. As I don't dry my tobacco, usually plenty comes out. Then I blow strongly thru the removed stem, and if needed clear out the draft hole with the poker on my pipe tool. I will also scrape the bowl with my pipe knife. Just enough to smooth it out. After the last smoke of the day, I pull the stem and run a pipe cleaner, starting from the button always. Then I fold the cleaner in half and scrub the draft hole in the stummel. I then take a napkin or bit of paper towel and twist it into the system reservoir. I try to do this each night, but not a big deal if I skip a night. I typically leave the stem off over night to dry out and smoke the same pipe the next day. Been doing this with the same pipe for almost a year and hasn't gone sour yet!

 

[hotshot]

Judd, you and I are alson on the same wavelength. Just wondered if I was missing something.

 

[hotshot]

I guess what started this is I bought a new Pete a few weeks ago and it got me wondering.

 

[bryanf]

I love system pipes. I own two. Great pipes, and can take a real beating. Mine's taken some pretty hard abuse, not to mention hard drops onto concrete.

 

[hotshot]

Thanks Bryan. Good words. I think we are all in the same ballpark.

 

[billypm]

The whole deal with a military" bit like a Pete system is that you may take it apart when it is warm if you wish. A normal mortise and tenon joint will not be happy with that treatment, but a military stem mount is designed for it.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I've always been told since the Peterson system pipes are military mounted you can take them apart right after smoking a bowl, no harm done.
I love my Peterson system. Just got a System Standard Rusticated 314 last month. Easily the coolest driest smoke I've ever had.