Tight Airway on my Moretti, Suggestions That Don't Require Shipping To Italy.

[jttnk]

I love my two Moretti pipes. One of them is a Yellow Acrylic stemmed Morta stack billiard. It seems to have a very tight draw. The airway in the stem seems too narrow as well. I know Marco is a fantastic guy and if I asked, he'd probably fix it. However, shipping to Italy and back will cost almost as much as the pipe.

Is opening the airway difficult? Good chance of success, or good chance of ruining my pipe?

I know we have some expert repairmen/women, what is the approximate cost to do this kind of work?

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Is the constriction in the stem, shank, or both?

 

[weezell]

good chance of ruining my pipe?

YES! Send it off to Briarville if it were me...

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If you sent it to Marco, he would pay to ship it back to you. He may just send you a new replacement pipe. He is very customer oriented. Contact him.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

It can be done. I’ve done some of my pipes. But I have wrecked one stem, too. So all in all, I’d say @weezell has pretty good advice. Just send it to a pro. Shouldn’t cost much.

 

[jttnk]

If you sent it to Marco, he would pay to ship it back to you. He may just send you a new replacement pipe. He is very customer oriented. Contact him.

Probably best to at least ask him first. You are correct. Then take steps from there. Thanks.

 

[jttnk]

Is the constriction in the stem, shank, or both?

I think it’s both. Hoosier’s right, I think I’ll ask Marco first and see what he says.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

If the draw and stem airway are not super tight I'd assume you could enlarge them by yourself using needle file set,
but please,do proceed very carefully and slow, only a few rounds at at time is what You want,little goes long as they say,
Also sending them to a dependable domestic pipe repairshop is worth considering

 

[craiginthecorn]

 

[craiginthecorn]

A straight stem makes it relatively safe and easy, provided that you have the correct tools and patience. Acrylic is harder to drill than ebonite, but still not too bad. A tapered drill bit is the key. You can buy then from Vermont Freehand or Rawkrafted. Watch Georged's video, which I linked above.

 

[Jrsower]

I love my two Moretti pipes. One of them is a Yellow Acrylic stemmed Morta stack billiard. It seems to have a very tight draw. The airway in the stem seems too narrow as well. I know Marco is a fantastic guy and if I asked, he'd probably fix it. However, shipping to Italy and back will cost almost as much as the pipe.

Is opening the airway difficult? Good chance of success, or good chance of ruining my pipe?

I know we have some expert repairmen/women, what is the approximate cost to do this kind of work?

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

View attachment 36153View attachment 36154

Wow, that church warden is amazing. I haven’t seen one of those from Moretti before. Any idea where they can be found?

 

[jttnk]

Wow, that church warden is amazing. I haven’t seen one of those from Moretti before. Any idea where they can be found?

I believe Moretti’s are only sold through eBay store. Search bima1960. I haven’t seen this shape come up in a while, but you can always ask Marco, to make one for you.

 

[jttnk]

Fantastic video. That’s George D., yes? What a great video. I have neither the tools, talent or patience. I dabble in clean up and enjoy it, but that’s a whole universe away from what I would attempt.

 

[mso489]

I'd definitely keep the use of the repairman this side of the pond as an option. The pipe carver sounds excellent, but international shipping right now isn't at its best, and I think a well-recommended repairman could do this at modest cost.

 

[mingc]

I believe Moretti’s are only sold through eBay store. Search bima1960. I haven’t seen this shape come up in a while, but you can always ask Marco, to make one for you.

Marco does have an e-commerce website: Pipe Moretti - https://www.pipemoretti.com/

 

[jpmcwjr]

A nice site it is, too, but very few that don't have the "sold" designation.

 

[mingc]

A nice site it is, too, but very few that don't have the "sold" designation.

He likes to sell them fast on ebay!

 

[pitchfork]

Straight stems and shanks are easy enough to open up with needle files. Just take things one step at a time.

And once you get it like you want it, you can go back and polish the airway with a pipe cleaner embedded with stem polish or buffing compound.

 

[Scarlet claw]

is it the shank or the stem if the stem then send it back or at least ask them advise on what to do. if it's the shank, this is just me (dont try this at home kids) i drill my pipes if the airway is clogged of tiny with a drill bit a mill bigger than the shank airway.(DANGER RISK OF BREAKING THE SHANK) not that this has happened to me yet. Touch wood
Just a hand held battery drill.

 

[craiginthecorn]

The question is whether the tight airway is a manufacturing defect or a difference in preference. If the latter, send it to a pipe repairman. If the former, contact the carver. My guess, however, is that there’s no “defect”.