Shortcut to Gurgle Control

[4dotsasieni]

I've found a way to minimize or at least temporarily halt gurgling (moisture) problems while smoking. Once you start to hear and feel that gargling sound, send a couple of judicious puffs down the stem. This seems to work best on bent pipes, and pushes the offending moisture down into the bottom of the bowl, where hopefully it will become vaporized as smoke. Follow up with a light tamping. Using this method I've usually (but not always) been able to finish my smoke in silence and dryness.

 

[trailspike48]

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

 

[juptierspipe]

Thanks for the great idea 4dotsasieni! All my pipes are full to medium bent stems and I just finished one that is still in the break in phase and the gurgling was quite bad. Now I am sipping slowly enough for cob webs to nearly start forming around the pipe and myself. I tried the pipe cleaner down the stem and that helped a bit but did not solve the issue. Next time I fire up I will be sure to give your method a try.
John

 

[flyguy]

4dot,

I have tried this method and it works for removing the gurgle. However, it does make the tobacco at the bottom of the bowl wet which can produce steam (ouch!). Your method works fine if you don't smoke to the bottom of the bowl. I don't get gurgle much anymore since I am older and don't produce as much saliva and I carefully dry my tobacco. When I do get some gurgle, I run a cleaner through the stem and push it into the bottom of the bowl. This removes the moisture and opens the airway.

 

[foggymountain]

That is one way to do it. I prefer to use a pipecleaner. Keeping the airway very dry improves the smoke. When I finish a smoke but there is sometimes a dottle I blow through the stem, as required to keep it going so the carbon cake will extend to the bottom. This is especially good during breakin.

 

[jndyer]

+1 to using a pipe cleaner.

 

[durham270]

+1 on the pipe cleaner method but I'll sure give this a try. Thanks 4dotsasieni!

 

[cigrmaster]

On the rare occasion my pipe gurgles, I will use a pipe cleaner. I keep them in my car and always have them handy. I do not blow the nasty juice back into the pipe. If a pipe of mine needs a pipe cleaner more than twice in one bowl, I get rid of the pipe. To my mind the pipe is not drilled properly and I cannot deal with a wet smoking pipe. It has been a long time since I bought a pipe that has done that and I honestly cannot remember which pipe it was that did it last. I own 22 pipes that have never needed a pipe cleaner one time to soak up excess moisture. A wet smoking pipe is my major pet peeve, along with a pipe that does not pass a pipe cleaner. If you have a properly drilled pipe made from quality briar and if you dry, pack and smoke properly, pipe cleaners are rarely needed. I mostly use pipe cleaners to clear a pipe that gets tobacco caught in it while smoking and cleaning my pipes.

 

[oklansas]

Thanks 4dot!
O've noticed this works particularly well with pipes that have stingers - you pay cleaning up later though.

 

[allan]

I believe that G.L. Pease did an article about the issue that Flyguy mentions-that the moisture pushed back can cause steam to hurt the tongue. (the article was about tongue bite)
If I'm not mistaken, Pease said that the temperature of the wetness is less than tepid tea, and not an issue.
The biggest issue is the annoyance of having it there in the first place. I keep a pipe cleaner in my car as well and will often blow back the moisture to have it burn off. It works most of the time.
Allan

 

[mzpuff]

I smoke outside, or in my garage. I cover the bowl with the heal of my hand and flick the pipe, stem first toward the ground. The liquid shoots out and then I just wipe the button. I do not waste pipe cleaners. This would not be a good idea in your living room, unless you like the Jackson Pollock look on your floor and walls.