Just for the record, some of us choose not to build cake at all. This is done by simply scooping out the ash and then wiping the chamber clean with an abrasive paper towel or something similar. This keeps the chamber at basically the original size permanently and eliminates the need for owning a reamer. I haven't got a thing against cake building, and i realize that for many pipe smokers, it is part of the joy of pipe smoking. For some of us who prefer not to deal with cake, this alternate method works out well. I have pipes that I bought new that are over forty years old that are still going strong. It's all personal taste.