Dirty Pipe

[wizhunter]

Finally cleaned my new Falcon pipe, well it's new to me. I thought the pipe was in pretty good condition and clean until i started it, i used 6 or 7 pipe cleaners to clean the stem and it was proper dark brown gunk that came out,obviously i used alcohol on the pipe cleaners, it was filty with old tar/nicotine when i unscrewed the bowl and there was still a bit of tobacco in the bowl from a previous owner. It cleaned up pretty good so overall i am pretty happy, there is a build up of cake in the bowl that i am not too keen on and was wanting to ask you guys the best way to get it off, i have seen several types of reamer but will i damage the pipe or is there a better way to remove the cake ?. I also made a little pipe cleaner ring which i don't think it's ever had.I want to get rid of the cake so i don't run the risk of ghosting or whatever it's called.

What's the dirtiest used pipe you have got ?

Thanks in advance

Wiz

 

[mawnansmiff]

Most reamers should do the job Wiz. I use a Senior reamer for de-caking old estate pipes that are truly caked up and a British Buttner reamer on my own pipes after every dozen or so smokes.
Some folks like to build a cake in their bowls, I prefer minimum to no cake.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I got a reamer a few years ago, I am not sure what brand. I think it was a freebie from one of those IPSD specials. But, it had no sharp edges at all. It was sort of rounded over. I tried using it, but outside of just wallowing around in the bowl, it did nothing at all, pointless. Looks exactly like this...

I just use my well sharpened pocketknife very carefully. In fact, unless you are very comfortable making things or whittling to perfection with a blade, maybe just use some sandpaper rolled over a wooden dowel.

But, with the reamer, maybe there is some secret to using the thing, or maybe some people build up cakes that are so soft that a reamer that has rounded edges cuts it easily? I am not sure. Or, it very well could be that I just have no idea how to use that contraption. ::

 

[wizhunter]

Thanks guys, the outside of the bowl is nice but when you put your finger in the bowl it's like a gritty feeling, i have a really sharp penknife but don't want to make a mistake a gouge any chunks out of it. I think the reamer you have is the Buttner one that Jay mentioned Cosmic, i might be wrong though. Fine sandpaper seems like a good idea, might give that a try as i really want to give the Falcon a blast

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I suspect that Jay has a better quality one than me, or he has access of some gnostic wisdom on how to use it, ha ha.

 

[ray47]

The Butner reamer that Cosmic suggests work well, but I took an old two blade penknife and rounded off one of the blades and use that on my Falcon bowls as well as my other pipes. Works better then the Butner reamer, as least for me it does.

 

[nevadablue]

Water will soften the cake and make it come out easier. I always ream estate pipes under running (just a trickle) hot water in the sink. No dust, mess goes down the drain too.

I had to sharpen my little reamer like that one shown above. Same deal, round edges. File the edges to a square profile, that is flat on the edge instead of round. Use carefully, it won't hurt the bowl if you go slowly. Don't push too hard, the Falcon bowls are small and have no support in the bottom like a normal pipe bowl.

Keep flushing the aluminum part of the pipe. I use a pipe cleaner, under running water and just scrub it back and forth. Get it clean and it will be easier to keep that way.
Oh, I bought a Chinese knock off Senior reamer and it works fine. Also got a set of Decatur reamers from P&C. Those work great.

 

[jpmcwjr]

M-
If the edges of that reamer are rounded, it's useless. But if they are at 90º, i.e., sharp, it works all right. It's the 90º corner that does the work. I sometimes use the back of a good paring knife to smooth out a chamber.
EDIT- I guess this goes well with the above, which I just saw.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

So, I am supposed to cut the edge on the reamer myself? Ha ha, we suggest these things to guys who may not be very delicate with a pocketknife, and then these same folks are expected to cut the edge on the reamer? Ha ha.

 

[deathmetal]

The instructions I saw were specific to people who had home nuclear reactors to generate the right temperature for molding the reamer. Pocketknife it is.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ha ha!! :lol:

 

[mawnansmiff]

"I suspect that Jay has a better quality one than me, or he has access of some gnostic wisdom on how to use it,"
Michael, mine is a 'proper' British Buttner, the one you showed was a cheapo Chinese knock off. Believe me, the proper version works a treat.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[crashthegrey]

I agree, the actual British Buttner reamer is quite useful. Many people are unaware that it has a finer side and a courser side depending upon whether you turn it clockwise or anti clockwise.

 

[Waning Embers]

I use the Buttner knockoffs with great effect, but they work best on a tapered chamber.

 

[wizhunter]

Had some wet n dry fine sandpaper, just ran the bowl under a tap and got to work on it, it's nice and smooth now so gonna give it a whirl soon.

Wiz
Was looking forward to some stories about pipes you have bought that have needed attention, surely i'm not the only one lol

 

[mikethompson]

Was looking forward to some stories about pipes you have bought that have needed attention, surely i'm not the only one lol

oh boy - how much time do you have?
There's also a subforum on here about restoration of estate pipes

 

[tschiraldi]

I use sandpaper wrapped around not of my son's drumsticks. He hates that! Ha, ha!

 

[spartan99]

I use a T-handle reamer. It's easier to twist than the style Cosmic shows. I couldn't believe how much carbon came out of some of my pipes the first time I used it.

 

[unkleyoda]

I use the one Cosmic said was useless, and it works fine for me. You need to push it in hard and turn hard, but it trims cake back very well. I like little to no cake in my bowls, and it works well for me.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ok, does your version of the one I said was useless have rounded edges, or does yours have flat edges that cut the cake? If yours has the flat edges, then it is a much better version of mine, more like what Jay was talking about.