I just remove the stem and run the cleaner down both halves. The only pipe I have that I can't get the pipecleaner all the way through the stem is a churchwarden, and i just keep churchwarden pipecleaners on hand for that pipe.
Pipe cleaners doesn't reach to the end of the stem
- Thread starter Dmitri1516
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Frankly speaking, why would anyone want to leave the stem on the pipe when cleaning? Dragging a dirty pipe stem back through the pipe seems counterproductive.
Some people have this notion that if they take the stem off that it wont fit back. I am not sure where this comes from, but after setting in a pipe lounge for a few years watching these big meat handed guys rip their stems out like a gorilla opening a banana, I don't criticize them as much. Some guys just don't have the gentle dexterity or fine motor skills to do most things. However, I have to wonder if they are using some cheap off brand pipecleaner, as most of mine will reach the bowl with some to spare.
It's possible that there really is a blockage in the stem that is preventing the pipe cleaner from passing. This was the case with an estate meerschaum that I purchased recently. It was so blocked, in fact, that I couldn't even blow air through it. I cleared it by first carefully inserting very thin wire through it to open up a small passageway, then moving up to thicker wire. I followed this by inserting thin monofilament fishing line through, then gradually knotting up the line and pulling that through to open up the passageway further. I then repeated this a larger diameter monofilament. At this point there was enough clearance to pass through a length of braided line, which I also increasingly knotted to clear out the remainder of the blockage.
My one caveat with using this approach to be very careful with increasing the knot size, because you could get to a point where the knot itself won't pass through, and backing it out may also not be possible. Be sure to leave a good length of line on both sides of the knot.
My one caveat with using this approach to be very careful with increasing the knot size, because you could get to a point where the knot itself won't pass through, and backing it out may also not be possible. Be sure to leave a good length of line on both sides of the knot.
I had a new meer with a blockage.
I could tell it was rough because I put a flashlight in the bowl and then looked down the stem.
The pipe cleaner would get hung up and never make it to the bowl. I was able to smooth the inside of the shank by getting the meer wet then brushing with a tiny baby bottle nylon brush. Use this advice with extreme caution and gentleness.
I feel like, if you can’t figure out if there is a blockage… I might be too reckless giving you techniques to clear one.
I could tell it was rough because I put a flashlight in the bowl and then looked down the stem.
The pipe cleaner would get hung up and never make it to the bowl. I was able to smooth the inside of the shank by getting the meer wet then brushing with a tiny baby bottle nylon brush. Use this advice with extreme caution and gentleness.
I feel like, if you can’t figure out if there is a blockage… I might be too reckless giving you techniques to clear one.
