First Time Reaming Any Advice.

[anotherbob]

awaiting a reamer in the mail one of those castleford pipenet imitations. I got two pipes that need reaming one is certainly more expendable then the other. Both need it as in I'd be stupid to smoke them any more at this point with out a reaming. I think I get the idea and it sounds easy enough to handle if one is careful but the tutorials seem to act like if I am not careful I'll blow up half the town I live in so any just basic first timer advice? Oh let's see if I got it first. Take the smallest bit that will fit and slowly ream it out increase the size of the bit till there is a thinner layer of even cake. Clean up and repeat in a few years?

 

[warren]

Yes, small bites, keep it round and don't wait years to repeat. Do as needed. It all depends on how much, if any, cake you wish. It's a personal decision.

 

[anotherbob]

I already feel more confident

 

[didimauw]

Your already on the right track by purchasing an actual reamer. Pocket knives do damage if not careful.

 

[milehighpiper]

I may break the forum with this... On the last estate pipe I received (the almost $900 pipe) I could not fit a reaming tool in the bowl and it had a significant amount of cake in there. I used a 20ga and a 12ga nylon brush to get rid of the cake. The nylon bristles were coarse enough to beak down the cake but did not touch the briar at all. Just a thought...

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Just go slowly and gently.
As my old barber used to say when he was asking me how short I wanted my hair: 'I can take it off but I can't put it back on again'.
The same words apply to cake.

Chris.

 

[trouttimes]

This is not rocket science but easy does it. A little at a time is the way to go. Just try hard not to get into the briar and you should be good. My gramps taught me and he just used his old pocket knife, the same one he cut bull calves with. ?

 

[kcghost]

Well, I'd tell you to go to a pro and let him ream the pipe. It's one of the advantages of living near George Dibos.

 

[mso489]

Nothing against cake or reamers, but you can smoke pipes without building cake, if you wish. Here's how. Just scoop out the ash after a smoke, then wipe out the bowl with a stiff paper towel or napkin. This will maintain a thin carbon layer but not allow cake, per se, to build. You don't need to own a reamer. Also, this maintains a pretty much original chamber size and reduces ghosting to a point. Does this work? A number of Forums members choose this approach. I've used it for decades, and my pipes approve entirely. This is NOT a campaign against cake building or reaming, just an option that you have instead. If you do ream, do it sparingly. Many a pipe has been ruined with a reamer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My gramps taught me and he just used his old pocket knife, the same one he cut bull calves with.

Sounds like what I use.

 

[trouttimes]

Exactly!

 

[seanv]

It will sound like you are destroying the pipe. Go slow and be confident with your motions. Clean the dust out often and inspect before starting again. It is not hard but can be intimidating. Good luck

 

[anotherbob]

Well, I'd tell you to go to a pro and let him ream the pipe. It's one of the advantages of living near George Dibos.

I would be as surprised to see a pipe smoker in the wild as I would be to see a unicorn. Well not really but, no pros I'd trust around these parts.

 

[anotherbob]

so the words of warning are true but not anywhere near as scary as some make it sound. Just use care and confidence! Thanks all.

 

[pianopuffer]

I may break the forum with this... On the last estate pipe I received (the almost $900 pipe) I could not fit a reaming tool in the bowl and it had a significant amount of cake in there. I used a 20ga and a 12ga nylon brush to get rid of the cake. The nylon bristles were coarse enough to beak down the cake but did not touch the briar at all. Just a thought... View attachment 3547View attachment 3548

Do you use these with a drill or by hand?

 

[milehighpiper]

Do you use these with a drill or by hand?

By hand. I attached it to a pistol cleaning rod and began turning.

 

[milehighpiper]

Nothing against cake or reamers, but you can smoke pipes without building cake, if you wish. Here's how. Just scoop out the ash after a smoke, then wipe out the bowl with a stiff paper towel or napkin. This will maintain a thin carbon layer but not allow cake, per se, to build. You don't need to own a reamer. Also, this maintains a pretty much original chamber size and reduces ghosting to a point. Does this work? A number of Forums members choose this approach. I've used it for decades, and my pipes approve entirely. This is NOT a campaign against cake building or reaming, just an option that you have instead. If you do ream, do it sparingly. Many a pipe has been ruined with a reamer.

I own a reamer and I am getting a second. Exclusively used for estate pipe restoration.

 

[curl]

All I ever use is a Brigham Pipe Reamer.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Of the many things I do with a pipe, reaming has to be one of the easiest. Take your time, take a little at a time. I never ream all the way to the wood, I see no reason to. Now that I wipe the inside of the bowl after each smoke and use hot water rinse, reaming is rare.

 

[anotherbob]

o.k. just reamed my first pipe and it was really super easy and the castleford reamer worked like a charm. Seriously all the be so careful with reaming stuff I've read is just silly. The only piece of advice I would give is just use patience and not worry about how long it takes.