Leave Stems Unattached?

[Tony.A]

Do you let your pipes dry with the stems separated from the shank?

Question: After completely cooling, I take out the stem from the shank and clean the whole pipe and shank properly. Then I put the pipe away to dry for 3 or 4 days (at the very least) without reattaching the stem. They seem to dry faster, I think.

I've recently read that it's not a good idea to do that, because the shank can contract and it can become very hard to reattach the stem. I haven't had any problems, but I don't want to risk cracking the shank, that's for sure.

What do you do? Do you reattach the shank?

 

[xrundog]

I’ll let a pipe cool, pull the stem, give it a good swab and let it sit a few hours before putting the stem on and stowing. Cased pipes I leave out a bit longer. Most of the musty tasting estate pipes I’ve restored came in cases.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I never detach it if possible. And immediate reinsertion unless the mortise isn't dry.

 

[PaulRVA]

I swab mine out, wipe the bowl with the swab and place the pipe in the rack ready for the next time. I rarely remove the stem except for a reverse calabash and those I swab out the stummel with the stem removed and wipe off the end of the stem.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I only separate for a deep clean, maybe after 10/15 smokes.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I let the pipe cool completely, disassemble, clean, reassemble.

 

[kcghost]

I never remove the stem unless I have to clear a blockage that is in the stem or shank. Happens maybe once a year.

 

[Hillcrest]

I remove stems all the time for cleaning or to clear any blockage; I wipe out stem, shank and bowl, put in new filter, reassemble and place in a rack for next use which may be minutes or days.

 

[bullet08]

Just make sure the stem fits snug before gently putting it back in. That's how it should be cleaned after each smoke. All the nasty stuff that collects and sours the pipe will be at mortise.

 

[OzPiper]

2-3 Pipe cleaners after each smoke

I Dissemble IF:
1). Pipe cleaners come out very dirty or moist
2). there is a blockage
3). It doesn’t pass a pipe cleaner
4). It is a Pete system (with a well)
5). I suspect the mortise is harbouring

 

[Sigmund]

I clean and assemble. Anything else leaves to many bits and pieces laying around asking to be knocked on the floor or lost. It dries fast enough.

 

[bullet08]

After few pints of Jack and Coke, came back to this thread. Keep thinking my tobacco doesn't have a shank attached to the stem.

 

[BingBong]

Wasn't there some poor sod on here with 3 similar Petes who did this, couldn't work out which was which later? I don't clean anything until it needs it, never leave a pipe in bits.

 

[Sigmund]

I think this is getting far into the realm of over thinking.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I smoke some filtered pipes so stems have to be removed. However, only when cool. Once cleaned, stem goes right back on. Never had any issues with this process.

 

[ophiuchus]

Just pull the acrylic or vulcanite stems off and toss them. The briar of the shanks are easier on your teeth, anyway.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I only remove the stems if I have to.

 

[samuelgawith01]

I only remove the stems if I have to.

I pull the stems on my 9mm pipes after cooling to remove the spent filter,and remove any goo that has accumulated in the shank and smoke channel. My non filter pipes I just run a cleaner or two through and only pull the stem when the pipe gets caked up and starts to smell funky and nasty and needs a cleaning.

 

[MattRVA]

One thing I’m starting to notice is that pipes I’ve stored for a year or more without smoking don’t have the same fit they had originally. Not all pipes but some have loose stems now. I suppose it has something to do with environment, also whether or not the fit was modified at one point. I’ve run across this issue before and usually smoking the pipe remedies the issue. When I smoke a pipe I usually let it dry with the stem detached for an hour or so but I’m starting to wonder if it’s best to leave the stems removed for long term storage. Fit and finish is really important to me and I don’t like loose stems…

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I know weve all harped on and joked about the warm/hot water flush... Haha that dead horse has been beaten, I know.

But, the water flush does help you avoid removing the stem. I rarely even use pipe cleaners. That gunk will all come out when you rinse the pipe, and it'll air dry pretty quickly.

If you use filters you aren't going to be able to avoid removing the stem, obviously.

As far as the stem getting loose when you store the pipe goes... Once you smoke it a couple times it'll tighten back up.