Essential or Not: What's Missing In Your Pipe Gear?

[Chasing Embers]

My fingers are too large for tamping beyond the initial tamp.

Many of my pipes have a 1" chamber diameter, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it either.

 

[Egg Shen]

Yep, got one by my egg carton pipe rack!

That’s funny. Some of these ”no-frills” types like Mateusbrown two posts above yours reminded me of how in the movie Cobra, Stallone keeps his weapon cleaning kit in an egg carton. You’re like the Marion Cobretti of PSF. (this is a cheesy 80’s action film in case you’re not familiar)

 

[sparker69]

Pipe tool and wiping the chamber with a paper towel after every use. I've only reamed my basic cob, which I abuse and don't clean regularly (and I should treat it better).

There was a suggestion by @georged about using a popsicle stick here:

The Popsicle Stick Trick :: Pipe Talk

Reaming thick cake buildup is a PITA. Messy, takes special tools, and if not done carefully can cause permanent damage to a pipe. Depending on the tobacco smoked and chamber height, it can also be EXTREMELY difficult to remove. I've seen it nearly as hard as ceramic and take a half hour...

pipesmagazine.com

My reamer is very similar to the one linked below and should work for most pipes: https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-tampers-and-tools/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=84690

I tried to popsickle trick - I think I got a decent bit off - the cake seems to have a few pits in it, I don't know if that's ok. (Just measured it - didn't take much off so I'll try some more)

 

[warren99]

Has anyone mentioned a smoking jacket?

 

[crashthegrey]

Has anyone mentioned a smoking jacket?

And a fez.

 

[mso489]

Being the son of a guy who owned only one fully functioning pipe at a time and smoked only Granger from the foil pouch for all fifty years of his pipe smoking career, the one piece of pipe gear I lack might be austerity.

I have the smoking jacket and the fez.

 

[sparker69]

Pipe tool and wiping the chamber with a paper towel after every use. I've only reamed my basic cob, which I abuse and don't clean regularly (and I should treat it better).

There was a suggestion by @georged about using a popsicle stick here:

The Popsicle Stick Trick :: Pipe Talk

Reaming thick cake buildup is a PITA. Messy, takes special tools, and if not done carefully can cause permanent damage to a pipe. Depending on the tobacco smoked and chamber height, it can also be EXTREMELY difficult to remove. I've seen it nearly as hard as ceramic and take a half hour...

pipesmagazine.com

My reamer is very similar to the one linked below and should work for most pipes: https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-tampers-and-tools/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=84690

I went at it a second time with the popsicle trick and have the bowl up to .7" - up a full 10th of an inch. It looks noticeably wider and "healthier" - like a normal bowl. Comments?

 

[orvet]

Has anyone mentioned a smoking jacket?

I smoke outside on my back deck, usually reading. At night the light over my head attracts a few unwanted flying critters. I don't have a fez, just an old military style boonie hat and a flannel shirt that I wear in the evenings to keep the bugs off my arms. Since my head lacks significant foliage, the boonie hat keeps the bugs from practicing Touch and Go Landings!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I went at it a second time with the popsicle trick and have the bowl up to .7" - up a full 10th of an inch. It looks noticeably wider and "healthier" - like a normal bowl. Comments?View attachment 235442

Looking better.

A wet paper towel and elbow grease (and perhaps another popsicle stick) may get you where you need to go.

 

[Rumrunner]

I bought this three in one tool 40 years ago. It seems to be from Rodgers Stainless Sheffield England.
Best little tool ever.

 

[orvet]

I bought this three in one tool 40 years ago. It seems to be from Rodgers Stainless Sheffield England.
Best little tool ever.

IMHO, the Rogers 3 in 1 Sheffield tool was one of the best ever designed, and those manufactured by Rogers were the best qualiry. Some I've seen from the Far East were inferior to the ones made by Rogers, imho.

I believe Rogers is out of business now, or were last I heard. But knife brands and designs, like so many other things including pipe tobacco brands, are often purchased and relocated to places they can be manufactured with less expense, and higher profits.

 

[Rumrunner]

Yes I agree, "be manufactured with less expense, and higher profits" means cheaper quality.
I am glad I found this when I did.

 

[Searock Fan]

I have at least a dozen and a half tampers but probably use my index finger more than any of them.

I use a tamper. Once tried my finger and it didn't go well.

 

[Searock Fan]

I have one of these among my pipe stuff. It's a woodworker's carving bit. I fitted a wooden handle to it and it comes in handy to ream out the cake that can build up around the draft hole in the bottom of the bowl.

p.s. Sorry, the formatting of this post is a little screwed up. It won't let me fix it for some reason.

 

[GreatWhiteNorthPiper]

I still don't have a really nice, high-end lighter. It's not a necessity but I would love one to make the smoking experience feel more elegant. I also don't have a good travel pipe roll. I see that there are some sellers on Etsy who can customize with your initials, so I'm thinking about one of those too down the road.