"Knowledge is Priceless, Ignorance is Free."

[Searock Fan]

Title edited for caps and typo. ["Knowledge is priceless, ignorance if free."]

Let's share some of our personal tips and ideas with other smokers. There's a lot of things that are useful to know that are not covered in all those "how to smoke a pipe videos".

I just grabbed a pipe and gave it a quick draw like I always do and sure enough, there is a slight blockage, So I ran a cleaner through it... still a little blocked. So the next step, I picked up my "handy dandy homemade pipe tool" to give it a quick ream.

I have several reamers of different types but sometime a pipe doesn't need a full reaming. just a little touch up. Most smokers would use a pipe tool of some sort to clean out the dottle at the bottom of the bowl and scrape away some excess cake, but I don't do that. Most pipe tools just don' work well enough.

I have an old pocket knife I've turned into a pipe tool. The pic below is from the web but looks just like the one I have. (By the way the pic came from some resale site and they wanted $31. for the knife... I got mine years ago at a yard sale for $1.) Anyway, I've taken the knife and with my grinder rounded off the sharp point and with a file dulled the edge of the blade so it won't cut the pipe. It's sharper than most pipe tools and larger for a better grip. It has layed on my desk by my pipes for years and is perfect for a quick touchup. I use it every day.

If you want to make one yourself it's easy. You don't need a top quality knife because sharpness is not a factor. And I strongly recommend a lock blade type for safety. Hope this was useful.

 

[jpberg]

So reaming the bowl improves the draw?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just use sandpaper.

 

[Grangerous]

 

[FurCoat]

I just use sandpaper.

Same

 

[burleybreath]

How are you cleaning the knife?

 

[ashdigger]

Here’s a great tip.

dry your tobacco and then smoke it in whatever pleases you.

Here’s the more importanter tip.

don’t overthink smoking a pipe.

 

[Searock Fan]

So reaming the bowl improves the draw?

Terminology.... Scraping away dottle that is blocking the draft hold.

 

[Searock Fan]

How are you cleaning the knife?

I just scrape the blade on my cork knocker. Mine looks a little better than the one in the pic.

 

[Searock Fan]

I forget.... have I told you about the coat hanger?

 

[solideogloria86]

Here’s a great tip.

dry your tobacco and then smoke it in whatever pleases you.

Here’s the more importanter tip.

don’t overthink smoking a pipe.

Drying tobacco is the single most importantest bit of advicing that was ever used on me.

 

[sablebrush52]

Wipe the chamber walls with a wadded up piece of paper toweling or a few folded over pipe cleaners after finishing a bowl, use a couple of pipe cleaners to clean out the airway, and you won't get any buildup that blocks the airway.

 

[sablebrush52]

Apply a bit of spit to the rim of your pipe before you apply flame. That helps reduce rim burning and darkening.

 

[sablebrush52]

Ignore YouTube videos with a few exceptions. They will give you awful advice and rot your mind.

 

[mingc]

Solves all my draw problems, every time:

 

[Searock Fan]

Always let you pipe cool before trying to remove the stem... unless it's a military bit. If you run into a stem that just doesn't want to come out try putting the pipe in the frig for a while. Getting it cold can make the stem loosen. It there is a build up of residue around where the stem fits the pipe clean this off with a paper towel, the residue can act like glue. And finally, a little rub of the tenon on a candle can make a tight stem easier getting in and out. I keep a little nub on my desk all the time. I'll bet I've been using the same one for 20 or 30 years!

 

[TheWhale13]

I ream my meerschaum with a knife often. It works okay.

 

[Sgetz]

Pipe smoking is about enjoyment (well it is for me) don't over obsess about it!

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

The only advice I've got is - learn how to smoke a pipe.
Unless you can already of course.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm a little confused on how reaming the chamber walls clears blockages. I just run a pipe cleaner down the draft. YMMV

But, when I do need to ream, I just use a very sharp knife, but after being here a while I decline to suggest this type of thing to folks, because it does take a certain amount of skill to use.