New Grabow Viking Clean-Up

[MyCombOver]

Hello pipe experts. I know one of you can help me. I just bought a Grabow Viking cheap on the Fleabay. One problem - I can’t remove the bowl. I know it is threaded and should unscrew, but I’ve given it what I think is the most force I possibly can without bending the aluminum base and it still won’t come off. It does wiggle left and right just a tiny amount, so it doesn’t seem to be stuck, though it does look pretty grimy where the bowl connects to the base. Any ideas? Is it just lefty loosey and give it hell?

 

[didimauw]

Dump alcohol in it and keep it at like a 45 degree angle. Leave it for an hour or two and try it again. That should soften it up.

This is the reason I've never smoke a pipe like that. With the way I build cake, I fear it would seize the bowl.

 

[Humblepipe]

In addition to ^^^^, also pour rubbing alcohol down the stem/shank and run a pipe-cleaner back and forth... repeat until you are certain it is as clean as can be. If it is still challenging after all that, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. When you take it out of the freezer, firmly continue to work the bowl off repeatedly. As it thaws over 3-4 minutes you should have success.

 

[yaddy306]

 

[kcghost]

Oh, hell, no way!!

 

[mso489]

It's loose but unscrew-able. Loose but it won't turn. You must "unscrew the inscrutable ..." to quote, I think it was James Weldon Johnson.

 

[MyCombOver]

View attachment 152327

Maybe if I can just find a particularly oily and goopy aromatic it will work the same way.

 

[OverMountain]

Wow, what a Grabow! That type seems way outside their “norm”

 

[mortonbriar]

In addition to ^^^^, also pour rubbing alcohol down the stem/shank and run a pipe-cleaner back and forth... repeat until you are certain it is as clean as can be. If it is still challenging after all that, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. When you take it out of the freezer, firmly continue to work the bowl off repeatedly. As it thaws over 3-4 minutes you should have success.

freezer should do it.

 

[peteguy]

I have cleaned many of these over the years. I have never had a bowl that did not turn out counter clockwise. There is nothing obstructing that is pipe related. It has to be gunk or whatever, hell someone may have even glued it. Try a heat gun, any of the soak methods should work. I always try heat first, seems like it would mimic smoking it. I then move to a plain water soak at first and then move to alcohol if I must. I just use enough to fill the bottom of the bowl / metal part.

 

[MyCombOver]

In addition to ^^^^, also pour rubbing alcohol down the stem/shank and run a pipe-cleaner back and forth... repeat until you are certain it is as clean as can be. If it is still challenging after all that, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. When you take it out of the freezer, firmly continue to work the bowl off repeatedly. As it thaws over 3-4 minutes you should have success.

Thanks Humble. The freezer for an hour got it loose enough to turn. It’s free!