How to Ream Pipe with Thick Cake

[sparrowhawk]

Having learned a bit more about care for pipes, I realized that some of my favorites had built up too much cake for my Elder creamer to remove without breaking my wrists. Is there anything to do that would make the process less painful and time consuming?

 

[warren]

I use a Dremel "Stylus" very carefully, low speed with a "fine" sleeve. Small bites! This tool can ruin a brier very quickly. I finish with a pocket knife or a reaming tool.

 

[danielplainview]

For concrete hard cake, plug the shank and fill the bowl chamber with alcohol for a few hours. It will soften the cake. Good luck.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I usually use a pipe tool to even out the cake, but at the same time, it's not real thick to begin with. The tool has a rounded point, and you don't want to push on the bottom regardless of the tool you use. It's a bit safer than a jackknife or paring knife.

 

[sparrowhawk]

I like the alcohol idea, and I'm getting a special pipe tool with a curved blade for reaming the bottom. Thanks for the suggestion, gents!

 

[fnord]

Sparrow:
Where are you getting the curved blade? That would be a Godsend.
Fnord

 

[darwin]

Would this meet the case?
SP Knife

 

[cossackjack]

Look at shucking knives, specially oyster knives since they have stouter blades than clam shucking knives. The New Haven pattern has a slightly curved/bent tip which may help accessing the cake at the base of the bowl. I like the Galvaston pattern, but will get one of each for versatility.

The Smoking Pipes knife, as suggested by @darwin, is a modified oyster shucking knife (& is currently out-of-stock).

 

[jpmcwjr]

You have a lot of cake at the sole of the stummel? I've never had to remove cake from there, just dottle at times.

 

[tbradsim1]

I read on this forum one fella poured Drinking soda Coke in the bowls and it would soften the coke. Never tried it.

 

[sparrowhawk]

The pipe tool knife is available at SP. It's just a flexible length of flexible blade with a curved end, costs about $11. Has a wood handle, nothing fancy. Ask SP about it, they'll know what you're looking for.

 

[jpmcwjr]

For a touch more, I find this type of pipe tool very useful.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Yeah, that's my standard tool too.

 

[samon]

I reamed an estate Dr.Plumb pipe the other day that had a small bowl but only about the tip of my pinky finger could fit in am ongst the cake over load!
I was stuck for a minute as my reamers didn't fit at all.. but I used the tip of a knife to score lines down the entire sides of the cake and pick enough off and out to be able to fit the clean ream space dildo thing I use. Then touched up with the Brit butner tool thing.
Tbh I'm shocked at the disrepair of some pipes, it's genuinely a testiment to good hearted ignorance! lol poor olg bugger who had it must have had to load it about 3 times ina row to get enough smoke.