Test Driving A Falcon

[Green Hill Hermit]

The international also takes a 6mm filter, I use balsa wood in mine

 

[Manawydan]

Heads-up: I ordered all three available bulldog-style bowls (smooth, hunter smooth, and rusticated) because each of them had very different inner bowl measurements according to tobaccopipes.com (and I like bulldogs). The reality upon receiving them is that they all have the exact same inner bowl dimensions. I wouldn't have ordered three of the same type had I known that ahead. Beware the specs on the sites!

 

[Manawydan]

The international also takes a 6mm filter, I use balsa wood in mine

I love the Sav balsa filter system and use them in my 6mm Sav pipes. I bought the international stem hoping they would work too! Thanks.

 

[gord]

I love the Sav balsa filter system and use them in my 6mm Sav pipes. I bought the international stem hoping they would work too! Thanks.

A couple of cut to size wooden matches also work if you want a hack.

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

An issue that can arise when using dry rings, Falcon or home made, is that due to minute variances in fit, the ring can slightly inhibit the draw. Sometimes, not so slightly.

There are two ways around this. First, slightly round the edges of the draught-hole. This is something I do to most of my bowls, as it reduces the amount of moisture (I assume due to better airflow), and allows trouble-free usage of dry rings.

Like this:
View attachment 324415

Pardon the dust.

The other way to avoid the issue is to not use the cursed things at all; a quarter-turn of the bowl, flick the stem, replace the bowl, and all's well. For the use the OP is thinking of, fishing, what could be easier?

Is that a corn cob falcon bowl? I was unaware such things existed.

 

[grimpeur]

Is that a corn cob falcon bowl? I was unaware such things existed.

Homemade

 

[FalconForever]

Move to see you folks coming round to the world's best pipe!

Cleaning: unscrew bowl and wipe with a bit of tissue or paper towel or your shirt.

Pipe cleaners: tapers and Falcons own do just fine

Dry ring: Yes! It's an essential part of the set up IMO. They stop the goo up the stem issue and work by drying your smoke even more. If smoking particularly wet tobacco or in humid conditions, swap em out mid smoke for a fresh one! Personally I buy the real ones and have never had an issue and they are cheap as chips really.

Packing: Falcons generally have a wider bore than the holes in briar pipes so you can pack a little tighter. Lots of how to vids on YouTube and a good one by Piper X1X. No need to be as fussy as regular pipes in this department. Too loose? Tamp it tighter. Too tight? Push a thin rod or the cleaning bit of your pipe tool straight down the middle till it hits the nib in the humidome then tamp slightly. If you have really ballsed it up, let it go out and unscrew the bowl and you can poke it and loosen it from the underside!

Bowl cleaning: remove tap out and wipe thread and underside and done.

Every now and then a blast the stem with Falcons on pipe sweetner but as others have said you can rinse in water and dry out.