Cursed Pipe Won't Smoke

[Lumbridge]

For me, it would end up in the trash (or given away with the disclosure that I didn’t like it).

There are way too many great pipes I’ve smoked that required absolutely no break-in or alterations.

Opening the airway is an easy mod that could be done in a couple of minutes with a good, sharp drill bit and some pliers. There's not much to lose by attempting it.

 

[Briarcutter]

Opening the airway is an easy mod that could be done in a couple of minutes with a good, sharp drill bit and some pliers. There's not much to lose by attempting it.

This can make a substantial difference.

 

[LeafErikson]

Opening the airway is an easy mod that could be done in a couple of minutes with a good, sharp drill bit and some pliers. There's not much to lose by attempting it.

A more open draw does not always equal a better smoke in my experience.

 

[didimauw]

Those briars always threw me off. A company that molds clay pipes together, creating a briar pipe? I like inexpensive pipes but those dont do it for me. Not suprised theres a draft issue.

 

[Lumbridge]

Those briars always threw me off. A company that molds clay pipes together, creating a briar pipe? I like inexpensive pipes but those dont do it for me. Not suprised theres a draft issue.

They're vintage stummels, so that may account for it. I wouldn't buy another tbh, but the one I have was easy enough to fix to my liking.

 

[SmokeyJock]

you'll need to find the wizard who cursed it

 

[Briar Lee]

I had been having some success with English blends recently, so a couple weeks ago I bought a few new ones to try out. I also got a new pipe, an Old German Clay "Basic Briar" large billiard. I chose it because of it's close similarity to my favorite pipe for latakia blends, which is also a large sandblasted billiard with a nearly identically sized chamber. I wanted another one like it to have in the rotation.

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten it to smoke well even once, out of at least half a dozen attempts. It's very difficult to light, and impossible to keep lit. Once I get it going, to the extent that I have, it stays lit for a minute or two at best. I have to dump the ash almost as soon as it builds up to get it to take a light at all. The smoke seems thin and watered down. The wood flavor of the pipe predominates, not because the wood flavor is very strong, but because the tobacco flavor is weak. It almost seems like it smokes too cool, and never builds up enough of an ember. I don't think I could get it smoking too hot if I tried.

One would think that these issues would be dependent on the tobacco and/or the way it's packed, but it seems to be the pipe. Tobaccos that I enjoy in other pipes will not smoke in this one. I've tried it with Arango Balkan Supreme, Sutliff 965 match, Stokkebye Proper English, and maybe one other that I forget. All pretty dry and loosely packed. Also tried tamping it tighter in case the problem was too loose of a pack, to no avail. I've managed to smoke it close to the bottom once, but I usually end up dumping it half way because it's just terrible.

Yesterday I smoked some of the Proper English in a Dr. Grabow, and it was fine. Packed a little too tight in fact, but still enjoyable. Today, I gave it a little more drying time and packed looser, in the new pipe. Still awful. Am I going crazy, or did I get a bad pipe?

In my experience a brand new pipe must be smoked all the way down about a package of tobacco (1 1/2 ounces) to be properly judged.

Also, it must pass a doubled bristled pipe cleaner soaked in everclear in the shank and single through the stem to draw correctly, or drill or file the button until it does.

Some few pipes are just bad.

Why they are bad, only the Gods know.

The answer is to get a good one, instead. Most are.

 

[Choatecav]

Some excellent suggestions here by @Briarcutter, @Lumbridge and others.... Anything you do with it, as far as drilling, etc. DO IT GRADUALLY and test after each attempt. Don't drill a hole that you could roll a nickel down through......

But, at the end of the day, just remember that "Life is too short to dance with ugly women..." I think it was Socrates or Plato that said that.............

 

[Jon C.P.G.]

I would also suggest opening up the draft with a new drill bit and use vice grips over pliers, they'll really lock that bit in and allow you to slowly turn the bit.

Ive done this before with pipes and some extra advice is don't forget to back out every once in a while when hand turning the bit so you can get rid of whatever briar collects in the groves.

PS might want to open your stem up from the tennon as well with a tapered drill bit and chamfer the tenon to lessen turbulence and moisture build up

 

[tschiraldi]

I know this is apostasy among our brothers on this forum, but the last Peterson I bought was 35 years ago and was poorly constructed. I cannot try them anymore.

I’m with you.

 

[Briarcutter]

These work very well for hand drilling.

 

[Briarcutter]

If you have the ability you can make something like this. I made it with a piece of acrylic for the handle and re-ground the 59 deg. point to a radius to prevent grabbing. The down side it's only one size and you can't change drill bits. I use this specifically for clearing out my draft holes from smoking. The T-Handle tap wrench is more universal.

 

[anotherbob]

you'll need to find the wizard who cursed it

he's probably dead not because of time. I mean he's a wizard so times not the same. But you curse the wrong mans pipe you'll discover realms that are not talked about even in the blackest of circles.

 

[anotherbob]

Some excellent suggestions here by @Briarcutter, @Lumbridge and others.... Anything you do with it, as far as drilling, etc. DO IT GRADUALLY and test after each attempt. Don't drill a hole that you could roll a nickel down through......

But, at the end of the day, just remember that "Life is too short to dance with ugly women..." I think it was Socrates or Plato that said that.............

couldn't be them as that's terrible advice. Lifes too short to be that picky about who you dance with. I had one friend who had great advice. Ugly people need love too.

 

[SmokeyJock]

couldn't be them as that's terrible advice. Lifes too short to be that picky about who you dance with. I had one friend who had great advice. Ugly people need love too.

Life's too short to throw away opportunities to dance

 

[anotherbob]

Life's too short to throw away opportunities to dance

reminds me of this great line. "he's the kind of guy that would rather stare at an 8 then dance with a 6".

 

[doug535]

If you have the ability you can make something like this. I made it with a piece of acrylic for the handle and re-ground the 59 deg. point to a radius to prevent grabbing. The down side it's only one size and you can't change drill bits. I use this specifically for clearing out my draft holes from smoking. The T-Handle tap wrench is more universal.
View attachment 386301

An inexpensive keyless 3/8 drill chuck will solve the changing sizes problem. Also less tendency to get side pressure, as with a T-handle.

 

[Briarcutter]

Also less tendency to get side pressure, as with a T-handle.

My hands aren't that unsteady......yet, if they were, the T-Handle, or drill won't make a difference.

drill chuck will solve the changing sizes problem

The drill in the acrylic holder is for a specific draft hole in the pipes I smoke. No need to change.

 

[Choatecav]

My hands aren't that unsteady......yet, if they were, the T-Handle, or drill won't make a difference.

The drill in the acrylic holder is for a specific draft hole in the pipes I smoke. No need to change.

Larry, having seen your work, I'd say your hands are as steady a rock!!

You're like the fella on the old luxury car commercial who could split a diamond while riding in the back seat, through the streets of New York, ha.

 

[Briarcutter]

Larry, having seen your work, I'd say your hands are as steady a rock!!

You're like the fella on the old luxury car commercial who could split a diamond while riding in the back seat, through the streets of New York, ha.

Thank you sir, you're too kind. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while