Stem Plugged

[Doctor Chopper]

I have a bent pipe from Meerschaum Market which smoked great for about 10 bowls. It suddenly would not draw well. I took it apart and the restriction is in the stem. I was able to run a pipe cleaner through it with difficulty once, but the problem returned on the next bowl. Now I can't get a pipe cleaner down it from either end, with the blockage in the mid stem.

Suggestions???

 

[VDL_Piper]

Wow I wonder what’s in there, almost sounds like stem material hanging but still connected to the wall. I can’t help on a remedy but I reckon the right guys will be along soon.

 

[cshubhra]

Meerschaum market sells replacement stems. That would be a cheap option which would work.

I had to replace the stem of one of my Meerschaum. The replacement works reasonably well.

The first picture is original stem
The second picture is the replacement

 

[yanoJL]

So, there's a blockage in the stem.
I think the easiest solution would be a replacement stem, as suggested by @cshubhra

Alternatively, I would try the following. Straighten the stem. Then work a needle file or drill bit (handheld, not in a drill) through there until I dig out the culprit. Work slowly, gently but deliberately, checking the draw often.
Then heat/bend the stem back to your liking.

 

[OzPiper]

I’ try running through a stiff wire - bend the tip slightly so it negotiates the bend easily
I find that sometimes the problem is compacted fluff from cleaners esp with bent stems or stems with bone tenons

Good luck with fixing this problem

 

[Hillcrest]

I would try some hot water first and more pipe cleaners in case its a knotted piece of tobacco; then the stiff wire or something stiff like a pipe tool rod that will fit. If that doesn't work try one of those cardiac catheterization rods in the hospital with a "team" gowned up ! Or maybe an air compressor.

A friend of mine is a doctor and when at a new job was examining the computers and equipment and came across an X-ray of a Falcon's wing and found out later ... one of the other doctors was a falconer !

 

[Hillcrest]

It just occurred to me that it might be some meerschaum dust or a tiny piece of meerschaum that got sucked up. The hot water might help. You could use one of those ear flush bulbs to flush it in and out of the stem.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If it's got screw in inserts, they may need replacing.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

If it's got screw in inserts, they may need replacing.

It is not a screw in stem. I thought that was strange when I bought it, but didn’t really consider it a big deal at the time. All the replacement stems on the site area screw in that I see

 

[Chasing Embers]

Sounds like it may be jammed pipe cleaner fluff.

 

[cshubhra]

I did not think about jammed pipe cleaner fluff. However every time it happened to me, I was able to just blow it out

 

[OzPiper]

I did not think about jammed pipe cleaner fluff. However every time it happened to me, I was able to just blow it out

I had an old Britwood straight billiard (bone tenon) with a really tight draw.
Passed a pipe cleaner with no problem.
To my surprise I pushed out a half inch of compacted fluff using a bit of stiff wire.

One of my friends had a bent billiard that wouldn‘t draw.
Absolutely the same problem

 

[Hillcrest]

Doc, after coffee this morning I thought, Why not use one of those saline flush syringes for cleaning out IV lines ??? It might provide enough force to blow out the obstruction from the bit end or enough suction from the tenon end to clear the draft. And as always "Hang ringers lactate stat ! (T.V. show Emergency) (or Bourbon !)

 

[craiginthecorn]

I love the good folks at MM and own many of their pipes, but I have on a few occasions purchased a MM which required a bit of work to remove a bit of plastic in the stem which was left behind during drilling. This has only been on their higher end pipes with fancier acrylic stems. Having toured their factory, there's an astounding amount of labor that goes into making a corn cob pipe. It amazes me that they can sell these pipes as cheaply as they do.

 

[ThermionicScott]

catheterization

*winces and crosses legs*

 

[Chasing Embers]

I love the good folks at MM and own many of their pipes, but I have on a few occasions purchased a MM which required a bit of work to remove a bit of plastic in the stem which was left behind during drilling. This has only been on their higher end pipes with fancier acrylic stems. Having toured their factory, there's an astounding amount of labor that goes into making a corn cob pipe. It amazes me that they can sell these pipes as cheaply as they do.

The OP is referring to a meerschaum from Meerschaum Market.

 

[Hillcrest]

*winces and crosses legs*

I did write 'cardiac' ... you should wince and fold your arms !

 

[El Capitán]

I've used and air compressor with surprisingly great results.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Hot water flush and guitar string ! Anti-Dust Spray might help too.
This is why I prefer the more bristle pipe cleaners, not the fluffy ones.

 

[AJL67]

Didn't someone post the "cutting wire" in another thread, it might have been @RustiePyles CPG , seems like that would be perfect for something like this.

Whatever diameter .. i thing the other person posted a place you could buy it by the foot and in different diameters.

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