Is the owner of my B&M not as bright as I thought?

[jsiddle]

So the other day I went into my B&M to get a small churchwarden for short burns...
He was looking at the pipes with me and handed me one that said "this draft hole
is drilled right" He also stated that a draft hole should NOT be at the very bottom
of the pipe, but just a hair off the bottom, so that saliva that makes its way down
sits below the draft hole and doesnt gurgle...
Thoughts?

 

[sjpipesmoker]

It would make sense...So the saliva would collect under the hole and not be sucked up?? I could be wrong?

 

[juvat270]

Sounds like a load a BS to me.

 

[captainprophesy]

yeah sounds a bit wonky to me... but Im not 100% sure so dont go off of my word... very interested to hear if its true or not, but im betting not.

 

[jsiddle]

Well lets get our resident experts in on this matter

 

[spartan]

+1 flyfishn
And no saliva ever should go from the stem into the pipe...
If that guy is a pipe smoker he has a serious problem... :crazy:

 

[jsiddle]

I have gottan a very very slight gurgle once... what your saying is thats staying in the stem?

 

[spartan]

When you smoke your pipe there will be moisture that accumulates below the ember. It's just a result of combustion. How much depends on a number of variables which includes how the draft hole is drilled. The pipe is made out of briar because it doesn't catch on fire easily and absorbs moisture well. You're basically hoping that the moisture of your smoke gets absorbed by your pipe, or you're smoking slow enough that there isn't an abundance of moisture before it gets to your stem. Obviously your stem won't absorb much moisture before it drips back to the bottom of your pipe.
The moisture will collect at the bottom of the bowl, but pushing a pipe cleaner in the pipe while you're smoking it every now and again will help take some moisture out of the stem and shank of the pipe. And if your pipe is drilled right you can pass a pipe cleaner through and it will soak up a lot of the wetness at the bottom of your pipe.
This is why if the draft hole is drilled above the bottom, creating a pit for the water to collect, that you will not be able to alleviate the problem with a simple pipe cleaner, and then must rely of other methods to control gurgle. A pipe cleaner is just a simple, easy, very effective way, but obviously not the only.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[nsfisher]

Exactly right Spartan

 

[pipebob]

Draft hole at the bottom! I find that very slow smoking really helps here.

 

[foggymountain]

I do believe that he is wrong. He was probably mis-advised by a pipe salesman. Pipemakers will tell you that the two holes, bowl and stem, have to meet perfectly at the bottom to get a good smoke. And gurgling is usually from moisture collected inside the stem where it meets the tenon.

 

[eaglerico]

Sounds to me like something I would have said back in my salesman days. Not completly idiotic with just enough sound logic behind it to make sense.
Anything to make sale.
Use your judgement. As a former salesman, sounds to me like he is taking advantage of your novice status in the hobby.

 

[mrenglish]

Yeah, that is not good. You wont be able to burn the tobacco very well below the hole and it will also end up a goopy mess.

 

[jsiddle]

Use your judgement. As a former salesman, sounds to me like he is taking advantage of your novice status in the hobby.

This annoys me as I have been giving these guys my business and would have liked to continue it...
Maybe if I continue to purchase there, they will start taking me more seriously...

I started learning the guy's names and a couple other customers have questioned my tattoos and such...
So its a friendly environment...
The guy I usually speak to (matt) said the owner (ed, the guy who said this about the draft hole) has been smoking a long time and knows a good amount about it.

 

[brewshooter]

He gave you some bad information, but it sounds like it was given with the honest intent of being helpful.

 

[shaintiques]

I think it is important for you to realize that not everybody knows everything. And perhaps in his experience that drilling is best, and so he is not misleading you. The best thing you can do is keep shopping there, but as you learn inform them. The guys at my B&M don't know a lot about pipes, but are interested to learn. Also unless you are buying a name brand pipe such as Petersen or Savinelli or Nording, you probably aren't going to get a perfect drill. if you buy a well made pipe from a master carver who drills perfectly centered at the bottom, you will experience the smoke you are expecting. Nording is an example of this. Even on his carve your own pipe kits, the holes are drilled perfect, in the center right at the bottom. Though a hole that is a little elevated shouldn't ruin your smoking experience, many here smoke cobs and the draft hole on a cob doesn't come out right at the bottom, and they are still a pleasant smoke.

 

[msandoval858]

What I've learned about pipes over the years is that there really is no official right or wrong with certain things, just what people find work for them or what they learn from others. This is especially true with some of the guys that have been smoking for many years, often the same blend everyday. These are the guys that break every rule in the "book" when it comes to pipe smoking yet they never have problems and always seem to enjoy their hobby just fine.
As for the salesman, it's very likely you're not being intentionally misled at all. He may be just passing along what he was taught and what works for him. Do I disagree, sure. I wouldn't buy a pipe drilled too high and last year wound up sending a brand new Nording back to P&C for this very reason. Would that same pipe smoke just fine and be enjoyable for someone else? Probably. It's all matter of preferences based on what works best for you.

 

[quaffer]

As others have said, the draft hole should be at the bottom. Period.
Out of all the B&Ms I have been to, I have only been to one (Romeo's in Bentonville, AR) that I actually trust and respect the employees and their opinions. The others know less about their products than I do. And that's not me bragging, that's an implication of their lack of knowledge. Unlike many forum members, I never advise new pipe smokers to go to their local B&M and ask for help. It's usually not good.

 

[smokindawg]

Romeos has "Employees?" as in plural? I haven't been there in about a year and he's moved since I was, but didn't know he had hired any help! LOL There are always a great group of guys hanging out there though just about any time you go in.
Where has he moved by the way?
As for the draft hole, I learned when I first started drilling pipes that the draft hole should be right at the bottom of the tobacco chamber. This has always worked well for me when drilling a block.

 

[dochudson]

'just a hair off the bottom' isn't really a deal breaker depending on the price range you were looking at. if you are talking small quick smokes in a church I doubt moisture build-up will be a big concern.