Seeking Advice: How Critical is Straight & Centered Drilling?

[Singlebevel]

Just received a new pipe, for which I paid full price. Upon inspection, I noticed the bowl bore is a bit off center.

Looking straight through the mortise toward the bowl, the drilling is low and pointing slightly from left-to-right.

Looking straight down on the bowl from above, with the stem at 6 o’clock, the drilling is perhaps a half mm right of center.

Pipe cleaner passes cleanly with the stem attached.

This is the first pipe I’ve had, which I’ve noticed any off-center issues. I have seen several opinions in the forums, that these things happen, and some folks are happy to live with it.

I would appreciate any thoughts and opinions about how likely this could be problematic. I could gain some peace of mind in making my decision whether to return this pipe. I could also learn something useful too!

It’s a tough issue to photograph, here’s what I could capture (stem at 6 o’clock for all):

 

[georged]

Set it down, back away, get to a place of safety, and call 911

A team will be sent to your address to deal with the situation

 

[AJL67]

I would send a strongly worded western union telegram, its a nickel a letter so choose your working carefully.

 

[ashdigger]

Zero

 

[AJL67]

Set it down, back away, get to a place of safety, and call 911

A team will be sent to your address to deal with the situation

 

[huntertrw]

Looks like a bad shop-class project!

 

[didimauw]

I had a Dr Grabow that was drilled way off center. Almost to the side of the bowl. Still smoked great. No gurgle, and passed a pipe cleaner just fine, albeit slightly to the left.

 

[troutface]

If that's something that will always irritate you, regardless of how well the pipe smokes, just send it back now. I have a couple pipes like this and they smoke just fine.

 

[Waning Embers]

I've seen way worse than that.

 

[Bbailey324]

I've had worse that smoked just fine. Unless it really bothers you just go with it.

 

[tobakenist]

If it smokes good, keep it, we all don't measure our pipes, we just smoke them.

 

[lraisch]

Certainly not perfect, but I doubt if it's far enough off to make a difference.

 

[anotherbob]

I never have worried about such things. As long as it smokes well in my opinion it's a great pipe.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Damn, the drilling looks pretty damned good to me.

 

[bullet08]

Looks good enough to smoke. But if it bothers you, send it back. Because, if it bothers you now, it will bother you later. From the look of it, it won't have any functional issue. Truth is, nobody will know how it will smoke until it's smoked.

 

[proteus]

Crooked holes means crooked smoke. You better watch out. Smoke needs to be straight for ultimate enjoyment. Send that pipe to me. You'll be better off.

 

[LeafErikson]

I have a meer drilled almost the exact same way in the shank and it’s a great smoker. Light it up and don’t worry about it.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I would send a strongly worded western union telegram, its a nickel a letter so choose your working carefully.

LOL, or just “stop”!

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Agree with send it back if it bothers you.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

It would be great if there were clear metrics for what is responsible for a great smoking pipe. Sometimes, you get a pipe that looks perfectly carved and drilled with fantastic looking briar. And it smokes horrible. Sometimes,you get a junkyard dog and it smokes like a dream. If T you like the pipe, fill it up and enjoy it.