Should I Be Concerned About This Draft Hole?

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Auxsender

Lifer
Jul 17, 2022
1,136
5,846
Nashville
IMG_1739.jpeg

I just got this 2023 Peterson Christmas pipe. The draft hole looks like it’s way off. Should I return this?
Are more pics needed? If so, what exactly can I photograph to better illustrate the seemingly way off center draft hole?

Please advise. Thank you.
 
Dec 3, 2021
5,552
48,219
Pennsylvania & New York
Was this a new, unused pipe from a store? Was it previously owned? I wonder if someone opened up the hole to make it bigger or if it came from the factory like this? How is the draw when assembled?
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
20,993
50,282
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
View attachment 313942

I just got this 2023 Peterson Christmas pipe. The draft hole looks like it’s way off. Should I return this?
Are more pics needed? If so, what exactly can I photograph to better illustrate the seemingly way off center draft hole?

Please advise. Thank you.
You appear to be the proud owner of one of Peterson’s signature ATP draft holes!
How’s the draw?
 
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Auxsender

Lifer
Jul 17, 2022
1,136
5,846
Nashville
Was this a new, unused pipe from a store? Was it previously owned? I wonder if someone opened up the hole to make it bigger or if it came from the factory like this? How is the draw when assembled?
I bought it from SP.C as an unsmoked estate pipe. I haven’t smoked it yet because I want to return it if it’s not right.
 
Dec 3, 2021
5,552
48,219
Pennsylvania & New York
I guess this will come down to what you’re willing to live with. I have a pipe or two with drilling that’s waaay off, but smoke fine. As long as the draw is good, there may be no problem in terms of smoking. If passing a pipe cleaner is of paramount importance, maybe this could be an issue. If you love the pipe and the draw is good, it could be a keeper. It all depends on what you’re willing to accept. There are pipes I wish had all the original materials (box, sock, brochures), but sometimes that’s not possible and I can’t get that particular pipe any other way, so I accept that the pipe has to be enough.
 

Auxsender

Lifer
Jul 17, 2022
1,136
5,846
Nashville
I guess this will come down to what you’re willing to live with. I have a pipe or two with drilling that’s waaay off, but smoke fine. As long as the draw is good, there may be no problem in terms of smoking. If passing a pipe cleaner is of paramount importance, maybe this could be an issue. If you love the pipe and the draw is good, it could be a keeper. It all depends on what you’re willing to accept. There are pipes I wish had all the original materials (box, sock, brochures), but sometimes that’s not possible and I can’t get that particular pipe any other way, so I accept that the pipe has to be enough.
Insightful and wise. Thank you.
I think I’ll return it.
 
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Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,801
19,304
Connecticut, USA
I second @burleybreath 's question What does inside of bowl look like ad draft hole in bowl ?

My Pete Pub has a wide draft whole from system (wider than pipecleaner) to about 1/3 of an onh from bowl where it significantly narrows (thinner than standard pipe cleaner. Which makes it harder to run pipe cleaner through but not impossible with angling.
 
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kcghost

Lifer
May 6, 2011
15,138
25,713
77
Olathe, Kansas
You can try to run a cleaner down the pipe (starting at the stem) and see how it goes. If goes through with no problems, you have a choice of smoking it or returning it. If it has some problem, then you may as well send it back. If you are going to worry about this problem anyway, then send it back.
 

Auxsender

Lifer
Jul 17, 2022
1,136
5,846
Nashville
I second @burleybreath 's question What does inside of bowl look like ad draft hole in bowl ?

My Pete Pub has a wide draft whole from system (wider than pipecleaner) to about 1/3 of an onh from bowl where it significantly narrows (thinner than standard pipe cleaner. Which makes it harder to run pipe cleaner through but not impossible with angling.
Great Q. It’s already packed up and ready for shipping back.

I do not own a single pipe out of roughly 30 that won’t pass a pipe cleaner and I don’t plan on starting now.
I tried and this one does not pass a pipe cleaner.
 

Sig

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 18, 2023
514
2,422
Western NY
Like others have mentioned, its not a big deal as long as the hole inside the pipe bowl is on the very bottom. The hole in the shank shouldn't cause an issue. If the bowl hole is too high, you can still fix it pretty easy with pipe mud or another concoction.
If its a pipe you really like, there are ways to fix it.
Even if that hole bothers you, you can fix that too.
 
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bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,340
41,826
RTP, NC. USA
Peterson seasonal/novelty pipes occasionally lack the quality. But most of them smokes fine. If you are one of those who have to have a pipe that passes cleaner test, that pipe might not make it. I would be more concerned with draft hole in the chamber. One in the mortise usually doesn't cause an issue.
 
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pinem

Might Stick Around
Aug 16, 2015
83
135
Nebraska
It's my understanding that this how all Pete's are drilled. There should be no expectation that a Pete should pass a cleaner. It's just the way it is with them.

It can be corrected with a Dremel and needle files, which I used on the one Pete I own.
 

Briarcutter

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 17, 2023
620
4,206
U.S.A.
It may have been drilled to give more meat to the bottom of the chamber. It's a oval shank so there's not much meat from the center of the shank to the bottom. As mentioned, as long as the draft hole is at the bottom you're ok. It looks centered left to right. However, I just noticed it does not pass a cleaner, that would be a problem for me. If it were mine, I'd just fix it but if you're not comfortable doing it, send it back.
 
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