Why I'm Beginning To Dislike Straight Pipes

[cosmicfolklore]

Well cosmic..., don't sit on the damn thing! Otherwise, you might find out after fat a#@ envelopes it...yes, the drinking lamp is lit

Wait… are we talking about tobacco pipes or is this all a euphemism for something else. I feel like the straight guy who realizes that the bar he is in doesn’t have any women.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’ve never had a pipe clog. I’m not even sure how to make a pipe clog.

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[irishearl]

I don't believe the problem is the shape. I have had this problem with 2 or 3 bents that I smoke regularly. I went so far as to deep clean them with salt and alcohol. The problem I noticed is that as the cake builds up in the bowl it narrows the trench leading to the draft hole in the bottom of bowl and the cake and tar starts to clog the draft hole into the shank. The briar also remains 'moist' despite cleaning with a cleaner. The solution that worked for me was to use a bristle cleaner to clear; a regular cleaner to wipe out and then let the pipe sit for several days without the stem so the draft shaft can dry out. This seems to work until it happens again and then start over. In my case its from using the same pipes too regularly with fresh moist tobacco. PS I always wipe bowl and stummel chamber clean after each use with paper towel too.

I hope this helps you in some way. Best of Luck.

Interesting info. I always use bristle cleaners and only smoke my pipes once every 2 weeks in the case of the miscreants.

 

[irishearl]

What a namby pamby way of going around something that doesn’t need doing in the first place. A complete & utter waste of time.
For a quick fix, drop a chalk pad or wire birds nest in the chamber.

Don't know what a wire bird's nest thingie is, though I could find the real thing in my yard.

 

[Akoni808]

I have over 100 straight pipes , and I’ve never had a pipe clog. I’m not even sure how to make a pipe clog.

I have yet to find this unicorn of pipe clog too!

 

[Akoni808]

Well cosmic..., don't sit on the damn thing! Otherwise, you might find out after fat a#@ envelopes it...yes, the drinking lamp is lit

Is this English?

 

[Akoni808]

OP, how tight do you pack your straight pipes?

 

[Hillcrest]

I almost never smoke a pipe twice in the same day because of the moisture build up from repeated smoking. The pipe does not have time to dry out. The exception is when I am fishing and only have a couple of pipes with me. I will rotate back and forth and that is when I have problems with tar buildup in the shank, especially if there is a gap between the end of the stem tendon and the end of the mortise hole in the shank. That is easily cleaned with grain alcohol and a shank brush or a folded bristle cleaner dipped in alcohol. I use Everclear which is 90% grain alcohol. It may take two or three swabbings to get all of the gunk out, but the pipe tastes much better after that.

 

[irishearl]

OP, how tight do you pack your straight pipes?

Packing remains the same for straight and bent, which is to say fairly loos. I just lightly pack the tobacco in with my fingers and gently tamp down once prior to lighting it.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Never heard of carbon pellets. Are these like carbon fiber, the stuff that submarine was made from? Like meerschaum pellets (White Elephant)--which I've not yet tried?

(Activated Carbon Pellets)

Amazon.com

These are basically free compared to what pipe companies charge for brand name moisture absorbers.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

i never really liked straight pipes at all..only got a few vintage ones and the ones without stinger will make me suck plenty of ash ...Very few straight pipes are enjoyable for me...2-3 maybe..

 

[ThermionicScott]

Examine with a strong light to see if the shank needs unclogging
Tar and other unmentionables may be the problem
I've had to resort to unclogging a few of my pipes (usually estates) with small drill bits/jewellers screwdrivers.
Huge difference afterwards

If that's not the problem, consider having the airways widened a tad

Signal boost on this one. Even with regular pipe cleaner use, I sometimes need to get out a 1/8" drill bit to get things flowing properly again.

 

[OzPiper]

Signal boost on this one. Even with regular pipe cleaner use, I sometimes need to get out a 1/8" drill bit to get things flowing properly again.

Yup.
If the shank is clogged, regular pipe cleaners or even bristled ones aren’t enough to do the job

 

[simong]

Don't know what a wire bird's nest thingie is, though I could find the real thing in my yard.

Not to be confused with the American ones, favoured by the ‘Ganja Brigade’. These have been around for over hundred years & a godsend for ‘wet smokers’ & poorly drilled pipes.

 

[huntertrw]

The pipes I'm griping about will clog after 1 bowl to the point where I have to resort to hot water bowl soaks and shank brushes to open them up again. I always want to smoke multiple bowls at a sitting, so this is more than an inconvenience.

Have you tried the Ream-N-Kkean style of pipe-cleaners after finishing a bowl? Their bristles might help remove the still-warm material that causes the clogs. You may then follow-up with soft pipe-cleaners, and proceed to enjoy multiple bowls.

 

[huntertrw]

If the Ream-M-Klean pipe-cleaners don't relieve the clogging, then the problem may be your pipe-bobacco :

 

[irishearl]

Wow- a couple of interesting ideas.