What is your method for cleaning out the chamber of your pipe? I've used a Senior reamer, a Backcountry reamer, a Decateur blade, all to minimal success. How do the pros do it?
Reaming Pipes
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I used to use a Swiss Army knife for cleaning the chambers of estates. Recently i purchased an old pipnet reamer and it has changed my world. Lol
This. I use the knockoff pipnet.
the key is to hold the bit still and turn the pipe on it.. and use a smaller size than you think you need.
I also use a Sheffield pipe knife for detailed work.
The only smart thing I can do is hand the pipe to George Dibos to ream.
I use a pocket knife. It works, but I'm considering something better. All my knifes have pointed blades and I'd prefer a rounded tip. Or maybe a reamer, I dunno.
I guess I'm in the camp or not letting any cake build up. A wipe from a damp paper towel is good enough for me.
Same here. What about estates you have purchased that require some chamber work?
I've been pretty lucky with estates. I look for fairly smooth chambers to start with. That said, I do own a Buttner reamer, I have just never used it.
Any estates I get, I use my buttner reamer and or a blunt-ish pocket knife.
I tend not to let it build up either.
I tend not to let it build up either.
I have a pair of industrial scissors that have a blunt tip that work well if i need to ream
I rarely have to ream my pipes because I don't let any cake build up. If I do have to ream the bowl I'll use a Buttner reamer.
I do that too, but it can be a little inconvenient to have a wet paper towel will you all the time. The Swiss knife sounds good: good sturdy handle, thick knife edge when you want to apply real pressure to it. Problem is, I smoke so much it cakes up fast. Failing that, I go to Silas Walls. Thanks for the tips, gents!
Machinists 3 blade scraper - keep two blades in contact with the interior of the bowl wall while rotating the bowl against the scraper.
I'm simple. I use sandpaper. No need for reaming. Once cake layer is sanded away, and under control -there's barely a reason to use sandpaper, again. Don't allow a thick cake layer to build up.
Even the cake in neglected estate pipes can be sanded away, or gently scraped away if first softened. Just use a square bamboo chopstick, or piece of wood, to scrape away softened, gummy, cake layer. Popsicle sticks work for scraping, and will never nick or gouge the bowl like a knife blade could. BTW...stick/jam a piece of oily juicy orange peel into the bowl to soften up the cake. Leave the peel in the pipe bowl at least overnight, then scrape away the gummy cake. Repeat, if necessary until cake disappears. Your pipe will smell great, too.
Even the cake in neglected estate pipes can be sanded away, or gently scraped away if first softened. Just use a square bamboo chopstick, or piece of wood, to scrape away softened, gummy, cake layer. Popsicle sticks work for scraping, and will never nick or gouge the bowl like a knife blade could. BTW...stick/jam a piece of oily juicy orange peel into the bowl to soften up the cake. Leave the peel in the pipe bowl at least overnight, then scrape away the gummy cake. Repeat, if necessary until cake disappears. Your pipe will smell great, too.
Patience is the key. I use any blade handy, a "fitsall" usually and take small bites. Only small bites! I've not run across "gummy" cake though. I try to grow a shin shell of hard cake. The gummy crap "residue" is usually removed during Sunday cleanings. Perhaps we do need a definitive dictionary of pipe related terms so the sake of understanding. Good luck of course on that! 
Use a Sheffield pipe knife with a rounded tip.
Pipnet.... easy peasy lemon squeezy
the knock off pipent reamer is pretty easy to use. Never had a problem with it. Just take your time it's not a race and us a light touch. The cake will clear out nice and evenly.
Where would I go for something like that? What would I ask for? Sounds great!
Sounds like a “Fitsall” reamer which is what I use at times. They are available on eBay periodically.
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