dried out bug in pipe

[smokertruck]

you read correctly !! my best tasting pipe very open draw -

before i load up a pipe i draw on it as i prepare the tobacco - this time it had almost no draw - i always clean my pipes after i smoke them so could not figure it out,

passed the cleaner thru it - a few very small pieces came out didnt look like tobacco.

kept getting small pieces - then used the stiff bristle brush dipped in bacardi 150 proof.

came out dark brown to black with pieces attached - dipped into rum to clean the brush then followed this procedure for an hour changing the rum a few times - reaming the stem then the rest of the pipe needed 2 brushes together to do the shank & entrance to bowl

all the pieces were not tobacco so i guess the thing must have been a small roach - dried out as i had not smoked it for about 2 months.

.... downtown buildings always have visitors but didnt know they smoked ... eeaacchh.
hope i didnt put too many off smoking !!!!!!!!!!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Oh hellllllll no! That does it for me.... I can handle a lot, but not creepy crawlies in my pipes! I'm done. I'm giving away all my pipes. I'm gonna have nightmares for a week! 8O

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've found tiny spiders in mine.

 

[bassbug]

Yet another reason to keep your pipes in a sock

 

[mayfair70]

Yikes! I had a similar incident whereupon I sucked on a pipe to check the draw and something went down my throat. It had a bitter backbite and definitely wasn't tobacco. I'm not a fan of exotic proteins. Thereafter, I BLOW through my pipes first, then draw. As a rule, I've always allowed spiders to roost in all my homesteads so as not to have roach problems. It seems to work, though, they forfeit their lives if they crawl on me during sleep. Time for bed!

 

[jndyer]

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I am now much, much more thankful that I keep my pipes in air-tight containers.
Keeps tobacco smell from escaping, and stops bugs from nesting in your pipes.
Ammo Cans and Coffee Tubs, plus one Pelican case for my fancy pipes.

 

[cossackjack]

It was the NSA...but, you didn't hear that from me.

 

[philobeddoe]

I always blow through my chosen pipe after drawing it from the pipe rack, never found anything, but my paranoia has now been justified!

 

[kiel]

While helping a friend figure out why his estate full bent meer had no draw, I removed the grate thingy that is cemented in the bottom of the bowl to discover a whole generation of spiders called that place home. I don't mind bugs, but bugs in your pipe! That is when I will mind bugs. Never did tell that friend the plug in the pipe was spider eggs...

 

[deathmetal]

As a rule, I've always allowed spiders to roost in all my homesteads so as not to have roach problems.

I have the same feeling toward non-venomous snakes. I can hear them out there at night, munching down rodents by the truckload.
My next science experiment:
1. Capture insects

2. Feed them tobacco

3. Smoke them
I have a feeling it will taste just like Penzance.

 

[condorlover1]

I have never had bug issues with any of my pipes as they all live in cases. I doubt anything would survive long in one of my pipes any way! As an after thought Kiel the 'grate' you refer to is a form of trap either made from clay or a button or coin and was the 19th century answer to the coloring bowl. I have found all sorts of crap underneath one of these things when you pull them out of the bowl

 

[bigpond]

Shove a pipe cleaner in the airway after smoking and leave it there 'til next time. This will shove the bugs down to the bowl adding a little seasoning to your next smoke. BTW: critters are often the "secret spice" in oriental blends. Well, unless it's a C&D blend....they like to add a bit of twine, metal bits and/or insulation just to keep us on our toes.

 

[prairiedruid]

Smokified!

 

[fitzy]

That gives a new meaning to Royal Yuck.
Wish I never read this thread. I think it's time to abandon the pipe rack and find an alternative way of storing my pipes.

 

[papipeguy]

Shh, if the FDA heard about this they'd add the animal kingdom to the list of those affected by tobacco. Not to mention raising the ire of PETA.

 

[cabinfever]

Once in a while I get a piece of entrail or a scale in my mouth when I smoke fish. It doesn't keep me from smoking fish. The only thing that keeps me from smoking more fish is that they're so darn hard to light.

 

[warren]

Obviously the bug detracted from the enjoyment of your pipe. The real question is: Did the bug improve or injure the taste of the blend?

 

[pancakejake]

Smoking bugs, eh? Interesting. Couldn't be worse than some blends I've tried. Crickets taste like the inside of a kitkat, ants taste like lemons, I wonder how they smoke? You would have to treat them like a flake and dry them to desired moisture, then either fold and stuff or rub out to consistency. Probably wouldn't be any neurochemical stimulus in the experience though. May need to blend with some Prince Albert for burn consistency.

 

[ophiuchus]

Which bugs burn to a fine white ash?