Stem Plugged
- Thread starter Doctor Chopper
- Start date
Someone mentioned guitar string, A I believe, strength and flexibility combined.
If it is fluff in the end, buy better pipe cleaners and always rub all of the loose fluff off before using it. I will not use cheap pipe cleaners anymore for this exact reason.
I've had three meerschaums, a Baki, an IMP, and an SMS. The draw on each was problematical. Careful cleaning results in minor improvement that lasts about 3.5 seconds. Not my favorite medium for enjoying tobacco weed. My only suggestion is to separate the bit and shank and suck on each to see where the restriction actually lies, then do what you can to remedy it. If successful, the improvement might last a bowl or so. I almost think the material swells up from moisture or something. Don't really care; I've pretty much written them off as a viable smoke. Their superiority to briar is non-existent. [and with those final words of encouragement, he exits stage right]
Here ya go. GeorgeD video on just this topic.
I hope it helps
I hope it helps
I was not as of yet. Still have not had the courage to try and straighten the stem. I did get a pipe cleaner through it again, but very tight and did not loosen with pulling back and forth. There was so much effort that it would pull suddenly when I had enough force and after a few passes it pulled too far out and I was unable to get it through again. Then I got busy at work and it is still sitting on my desk....
Thanks for asking.
@Doctor Chopper
One of the old Britwood pipes (with a bone tenon) I took out yesterday had a tight draw.
It wouldn't pass a pipe cleaner after the smoke
After a bit of jiggling around and dissembling the pipe, I managed to push a cleaner through the shank end of the stem and dislodged a firm plug of cleaner fluff
I have stopped using BJ Long cleaners
I now use BBB cleaners (from The Danish Pipe Shop) - super absorbent, but sheds very little fluff
I use Falcon cleaners on pipes with small bone tenons
I wish you every success clearing the obstruction in your pipe
One of the old Britwood pipes (with a bone tenon) I took out yesterday had a tight draw.
It wouldn't pass a pipe cleaner after the smoke
After a bit of jiggling around and dissembling the pipe, I managed to push a cleaner through the shank end of the stem and dislodged a firm plug of cleaner fluff
I have stopped using BJ Long cleaners
I now use BBB cleaners (from The Danish Pipe Shop) - super absorbent, but sheds very little fluff
I use Falcon cleaners on pipes with small bone tenons
I wish you every success clearing the obstruction in your pipe
I am going to have to buy some wire - diamond wire? or guitar string? As of now, I can't draw through it at all or pass even a thin wire or pipe cleaner. I don't want to be defeated, but feel as if I don't want to put much $$ into the pipe as I think I will not be able to make it a good smoker ever again without assistance.
If a (stiff) pipe cleaner won't work, I use a stiff bit of wire
Luckily I don't come across this problem often
A friend had a similar problem with a bent pipe I'd gifted him
He used a bit of wire successfully - again it was a wad of cleaner fluff blocking the stem (at the bend)
Did you look at georged’s video liked above? I think that little roto-rooter would work on just about any clog.
I’ve had luck getting a fuzzy cleaner to clot, standing clogged airway upright somehow (cleaner poking out top), and using a syringe to soak cleaner with everclear to saturate/loosen up plug of nastiness. Sometimes it take multiple re-wetting of wick to get plug gooey enough to dislodge.
Doc, have you tried soaking the stem in water? The stem is plastic so water won't damage it. That may soften whatever is causing the block enough for the wire to dislodge it.
Putting it in water now. I did see the video. That will take some time to get done so I likely will not have an answer soon, but it will be my next step. Busy week and leaving for vacation this weekend, so I doubt if I will get time over the next week to mess with it much.
Thank you to all for the suggestions!
Thank you to all for the suggestions!
I keep thinking about music wire when reading this. Stiff stuff but flexible.
McMaster-Carr - https://www.mcmaster.com/products/music-wire/
That diamond wire sounds useful as well but maybe less so for dislodging a clog. Possibly useful for opening up an airway. I also like abrasive cord for airway modification.
McMaster-Carr - https://www.mcmaster.com/products/music-wire/
That diamond wire sounds useful as well but maybe less so for dislodging a clog. Possibly useful for opening up an airway. I also like abrasive cord for airway modification.
Just be careful if working abrasives on inside curves of bends.