Sasieni 4 Dot

[twangthang]

I recently purchased a Sasieni 4 dot Ruff Root rusticated bent pipe from a local B&M. I have been trying to add some depth to my line up without blowing up my bank account.

I liked the feel of the pipe in my hand and the rustication was nice so I went for it. It had apparently been sitting for a long time as the stem was pretty oxidized. I spent some time cleaning the stem up even though it had not been smoked before.

It has not been love at first smoke. I started by breaking it in with half bowls and trying to smoke slowly.

I was getting quite a bit of gurgle and I really was smoking very slowly. When I got to the bottom and knocked it out I saw that I had a lot of tobacco unburned at the bottom of the bowl.

I realized after a while that the bowl seems to be drilled below the air passage.

Is this a fatal flaw in this pipe? Am I getting a lot of moisture build up from the bowl being too low?

Any solutions or should I just put this one up on Ebay and cut my losses?

I smoked a full bowl of Peterson's Irish Oak in it today and it was a pleasant smoke. I had to use a pipe cleaner about halfway through but it still left me with a good amount of unburned tobacco at the end.

Thanks

Jim

 

[twangthang]

The air passage is drilled so that it does not come out at the bottom of the bowl. it is a little higher on the side. It leaves a dead space on the bottom of the bowl. I will try and post a photo.

Thanks

Jim

 

[gwtwdbss]

I agree with Roth. I would love to see a pic.

 

[twangthang]

Here is the pic... Sorry but there is just no easy way for me to get a clear pic of the inside of the bowl...

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[tbradsim1]

Twang that pipe can be fixed, raise the btm, if you can"t find anybody to fix it , send it to me I"ll fix it. The old cajun

 

[gwtwdbss]

Yea, I think Bradley uses fireplace mortar. That is good stuff that can be found at any ace hardware. He modified my MM General cob with it before gifting it to me. I forgot about that. I am sure pipe mud as Roth suggested will work also. That reminds me, I need to get a tube of that mortar.

 

[ssjones]

Interesting, I'll have to try the fireplace mortar on my next project.

I gather cigar ash in a baggie when I'm at my local shop. The cigar guys get a big kick out of seeing me do that....

 

[cortezattic]

Good idea, Al! :clap:
I had a pipe with a high draft hole, and the only real downside was wasting a pinch of tobacco with every smoke.

I fixed it by plastering the bottom of the bowl with the grout commonly used for ceramic tile. Works fine.
I'm not sure this will stop your pipe from gurgling. I think that has a different cause -- like the pipe is not

at room temperature or warmer when you start smoking it. The relatively cool mass of the pipe acts as a condenser,

and once moisture gathers inside the pipe, it exacerbates the problem by further cooling the smoke stream, and

causing even more condensation. (I dunno, at this point I'm just blowin' smoke, as they say.)
BTW, I have a couple of Sasieni 4-dots, and they're excellent smokers.

 

[tbradsim1]

Most of the time not all of the time if draw hole is too small pipe will gurgle, I have fixed quite a few by opening up the draw hole, sometimes going up 2 drill sizes makes a huge difference, sometimes you can open up just the tendon, I have seen massive tendons with a teeny tiny hole , just by hand, opening with a drill bit in a small pair of vice grips that makes a world of difference. The old cajun

 

[rmbittner]

I actually have a Dunhill Root Briar that has the same issue. As a result, I'm rarely smoking it. But when I do, I just sacrifice the tobacco at the very bottom.
To be honest, though, I didn't realize that this was a problem that had a solution. I'll have to think about that.
Bob

 

[jbbaldwin]

It has not been love at first smoke.

I had one of these for ten years before I figured out what worked in it. Now it's one of my favorites for balkan blends - doesn't seem to like anything else.
I second the pipe mud/fireplace mortar/tile grout solution.

 

[twangthang]

I went yesterday and bought a cigar and smoked it down. I bought a corona and probably should have bought something larger. I don't think I had enough ash.

I also drilled out the drawer hole slightly larger and mudded it up. I got some of the dead space, but probably not enough.

I will let it dry up and try it.

Here is another crappy pic.

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[mlyvers]

pipe mud works, i raised the bottom of dr.grabow. my pipe mud is slightly differnet then the standard ash/water mix. i used alittle honey with carbon cake reamings mix together. the mix is rather thick. i used the spoon on my pipe tool to apply to the heel in my pipe. i let the pipe sit for a week or so before smoking. i now only have very small dottle in the heel. good luck. i also own a 4 dot ruff root dark straight billard.
mike.

 

[mlyvers]

i think anything below the air hole would not burn, and become wet causing gurgle and sourness pretty quick. the air hole should be flush to the heel for complete break in (carbon cake) to form all the way to the heel of your pipe. i think i would still make the repair using some form of pipe mud.
take care.

mike.

 

[mlyvers]

if the air hole is above the heel it shuld only be fractional, the air hole should meet evenly at bottom of the bowl (heel) anything more will cause wetness, this will not allow proper break in at the heel. i have been smoking pipes for almost 40 years. you learn tricks over time that allow for more pleasure in the end. believe me if there is any space below the airhole this will cause problems. this is just my experience with pipe smoking. good luck to you sir.
mike.