Having trouble passing a pipe cleaner through my Brighams

[shikano53]

I have two Brighams that I really like; A Chinook #47 and a Moutanineer #384 three dot.
I notice that I can't get a pipe cleaner all the way through the stem no matter how I try. They have been like this since I purchased them new.

Any thoughts or comments on why?

I have a few different size cleaners, thinner Zen type and fluffier ones.
I'm mystified because all of my other pipes pass a pipe cleaner no problem.

Thanks for any comments

 

[ctron]

I have one Brigham pipe, I love it. When I bought it, it had the rock maple filter in it and that seems to make the draft hole a tiny bit narrower and this may be your issue. I'm not sure what those shapes are, mine is a 216 and that is a straight but if your pipes are bent they may have been improperly drilled.

 

[shikano53]

thanks ctron,

Mine are both bent. I can get a cleaner into the bowl but I can't get the cleaner through the stem.

 

[owen]

How is the draw? Maybe part of the filter is stuck inside.

 

[jkrug]

I have several Brigham pipes including a Mountaineer 384 and 364. So far I have found that the Brigham pipe cleaners work best in my pipes, any that are thicker don't pass very well. Even with the Brigham pipe cleaners I find that sometimes I need to twist/spin the pipe cleaner while applying gentle push pressure to coax it through the stem. I also find that leaving the pipe cleaner sit in the stem for a few minutes before removing it will help draw alot of excess moisture out of the rock maple filter. Hope this helps. ::

 

[aldecaker]

FWIW, 4noggins sells Falcon extra-thin pipe cleaners.

 

[shikano53]

Thanks guys,

I will try and pick up some Brigham cleaners or Falcon extra-thins.
Owen, the draw is good and open.

Kindly

Chris

 

[rcstan]

We're assuming here that you don't have the filter inserted........
A few bent pipes ( Dunhill and Peterson come to mind ) will not easily pass a cleaner with the stem inserted. It's not a biggie unless it's a wet smoker and you need to sop up juice as you smoke.
If you think about it, once the stem airway opens into that tube that holds the filter, you have this wide open space until you reach the bowl airway, and if that cleaner doesn't go straight down to the bowl airway, which may or may not be directly across from where the stem airway ends, it will never reach it.
I say let the pipe cool down, break it apart, clean as usual, and don't worry about it. Or you'll stress out, smoke back-to-back bowls, and burn out your pipe 8O

 

[shikano53]

Hi folks and hello RC,

I went up to my B&M and bought some smaller pipe cleaners and they work fine.

RC that is correct, I don't have the filter inserted.

Wise and good advice. Thank you kindly.