Giving a "bad" Pipe a Second Chance

[theboz]

So today I decided to go back to my first pipe that was given to me by my dad when I first started. He never kept up with pipe smoking, and I think this pipe is the reason. It has a tendency to gurgle and smoke hot. I found that the draft hole is drilled above the bottom of the bowl, and is not lined up with the stem either. I put pipe mud in the bottom and am now working on slowly breaking it in. It isn't perfect, but it is a much better smoker now (my technique is probably better as well). Hopefully a good cake will help even more.

 

[mso489]

You are patient, persistent, and maybe a little too sentimental. I'd keep the pipe as a gift from your dad,

but since it was not well made, I'm not sure I'd struggle with it, with other good pipes on the rack. Who

knows, it may turn out to be a favorite and reward you for your endurance. Good for you for giving it a go.

 

[starcat]

I have a really bad pipe I am ready to toss into a fully active wood stove and see what happens

Its really that bad.....

Another pipe from, yes that country.......

God the arrogance of that clan.....

Any Grabow would be a million times better

I had a Grabow in my youth in fact that was a fine smoking pipe.

 

[mrmotoyoshi]

I have this Tsuge E star (my first pipe)
At first I was smoking mostly Aros in it, and then tried some VAs after a salt and alcohol treatment. I really didn't like it as it would always smoke so hot.
But I dedicated it to English/Latakia blends and now it smokes great. Once in a while I'll throw an Aromatic Latakia (Like GQs Chocolate and Vanilla) and it performs great. I guess sometimes certain tobaccos are meant for certain pipes.

 

[theboz]

This is the pipe, it is an International Selection. If I remember correctly it is a GBD second. It has decent grain and a vulcanite stem. It smoked better for me last night, it only started to gurgle when I was puffing a little too fast but it went away as I slowed back down.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The draft above the bottom of the chamber bottom is not uncommon and is a part of the way the Danish pipes are engineered. This allows the condensation a place to go. And, as discussed on another thread, Nording sells pipe stones that raise the bottom of the chamber, while allowing the condensation a place to go. It should gurgle worse if you raise the bottom, keeping the water at the draft hole.
The draft and stem not lining up is.. well.. unfortunate, but not devastating.
I find that each of my pipes have a certain way that they want to be smoked. My gurglers tend to want to be smoked as slow as humanly possible, and when they gurg the least little bit, I can gently blow, just ever so softly, and the condensation pushes down into the chamber.
But hey, not everyone wants to smoke as the pipe dictates, and that is how we define a bad pipe. But, this could also be why someone's bad pipe could very well be another person's favorite.

 

[latbomber]

I've had some estates that have taken forever to become good smokers. But once you dial in on the right tobacco to use etc. it is very rewarding!