Cob "Filter" Problem

[alfredo_buscatti]

I've been smoking this Patriot since 11/2012 without problem, but now the draw is occluded. The impediment begins just where the end of the tenon reaches. It seems to be made of a paper base, and I'm wondering if it is a filter. Whatever it is lives inside the shank. Whatever it is I'd like to remove it. Can anyone suggest a tool? Thanks!

 

[Fr_Tom]

Run the drill bit thingy on a Senior reamer down there to see what it is. If you got a filter or something crammed down in there, maybe a paperclip with the tip bent to make a hook with some needlenose pliers will help you pull it all out.

 

[tiltjlp]

Stop using filters.

 

[Richard Burley]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm inferring from what you said that you have smoked a corn cob pipe for almost a year without changing the filter or knowing it's there. That's awesome, dude.  :suspect:

 

[Kyle Weiss]

:scratch:

Did you fix it?

 

[SpeedyPete]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm inferring from what you said that you have smoked a corn cob pipe for almost a year without changing the filter or knowing it's there. That's awesome, dude.  :suspect:

Wonder what it tasted like?? Chicken dung :twisted: ??

 

[SpeedyPete]

Stop using filters.

Yes, yes, YES!!!

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

I didn't say that it was a filter but instead that this is what I thought it could be. But I had thought that in cobs, if a filter is used, it's home is the stem, not the shank. Whatever it is, it is in the shank. There's no room in this stem for a filter.

No, I don't use filters. No, it's not fixed. What a weird thing!

 

[Fr_Tom]

If it fits in the stem, it will fit in the shank.

 

[SpeedyPete]

I didn't say that it was a filter but instead that this is what I thought it could be. But I had thought that in cobs, if a filter is used, it's home is the stem, not the shank. Whatever it is, it is in the shank. There's no room in this stem for a filter.

No, I don't use filters. No, it's not fixed. What a weird thing!

Hi Alfredo, I sincerely hope you know that we were only joking, no offence meant  

I'm only guessing but maybe the filter, which was supposed to sit in the stem, was somehow forced into the shank. MM does insert a paper filter in every pipe they sell.

I would use a drill bit in reverse (know what I mean?) to extract whatever is lodged in the shank.

I'm sorry if I've upset you, my brother :lol: 

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

Annoyed with myself, not you all; I thought I had communicated clearly and apparently I haven't. My apologies. I'm rather humor oblique. It's not that I'm humorless but that I almost never come from such a space. Plus, nobody gets my jokes.

So, again, whatever it is in the shank. Are you saying that MM cobs always have a filter placed in the shank? As replacement stems can have a larger diameter for the filter, that's where I thought they were placed. If so the stem on this pipe will not accommodate a filter so it would have been impossible for such to migrate into the shank.

Again, I appreciate the help, but I'm now aware you guys were playing.

 

[Fr_Tom]

They come with ones in the stem. A stem like a Walker "forever" stem is just a standard stem that won't take one.

 

[Puff Daddy]

Find a drill bit that just barely fits into the shank and very slowly and gently hand rotate it to ream out the shank. It's probably some partially decomposed cob or wooden stem material that broke free.

 

[huffelpuff]

What PD says! I've had stems clog up with chunks of tobacco too. Pull the bit and drill it out. I have a Phoenix American from the 50's that some joker filled the shank with a mixture of wax and sawdust then glued the shank into place in the cob. 20 minutes with a drill bit and it was good as new.

Jim

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Plus, nobody gets my jokes.

I only laugh if other people do, keeps me safe. Usually I laugh at things not intended as humor. For some reason they're more funny.

Meanwhile, very small pen knife and some careful gouging? Just-right drill bit to gently hand-ream out the offending obstruction?

Eventually whatever it is will become cemented in place with tar, ash and whatnot, and so long as the airway isn't obstructed... <img class="emojione" alt="?" title=":shrug:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/1f937.png?v=2.2.7"/>

...could it be the glue used to keep the shank in place at the bowl, some over-drippage or something?

8)

 

[Slartibartfast]

I don't care for a filter in my cobs either, but I do like a (relatively   :lol: ) clean pipe and so I've developed a bit of a habit when it comes to cleaning a cob after a smoke.  First I just run a cleaner through the stem as per, but then I'll take the stem off and clean the shank out using the same cleaner folded in half - seems to be about right for the larger bore of the cob shanks.  This might help keep any obstructions from clogging up the shank on any of your cobs in the future.  Works for me.  :idea:

PS - being the cheap miserable sort, I'll usually take the same folded cleaner and give the chamber a good once over as well, just to keep the cake down!  

:shock: :lol!:

 

[Hawker]

It will be interesting to see what you find in there. I once had a shard of metal coil 3/8" long in a shank like you see wrapped around metal drill bits.

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

I got the airway open. I had to use 3 successively larger drill bits before I finally got one that would grab the obstructive material and remove it.

It turned out to be mostly wood with a bit of tobacco. It's as if part of the inner shank splintered off, hung down and obstructed the airway.

Thus the cob has been rescued! But I inadvertently pulled the end of the shank out the bowl. But having done so I can now cut off the part of it that enters the bowl. I'd heard of others removing this part but could never figure out how they maneuvered some sort of small saw inside the bowl.:suspect: :suspect: I might just do this with all my cobs, including 10 I ordered today.

I'll be buying more briar pipes, but cobs are quickly becoming my first pipe choice.

Thanks again!

 

[Fr_Tom]

It turned out to be mostly wood with a bit of tobacco. It's as if part of the inner shank splintered off, hung down and obstructed the airway.

I wonder if that splinter was there from day one, and as long as it passed a pipe cleaner (and smoke), you never noticed?

 

[SpeedyPete]

I don't care for a filter in my cobs either, but I do like a (relatively   :lol: ) clean pipe and so I've developed a bit of a habit when it comes to cleaning a cob after a smoke.  First I just run a cleaner through the stem as per, but then I'll take the stem off and clean the shank out using the same cleaner folded in half - seems to be about right for the larger bore of the cob shanks.  This might help keep any obstructions from clogging up the shank on any of your cobs in the future.  Works for me.  :idea:

PS - being the cheap miserable sort, I'll usually take the same folded cleaner and give the chamber a good once over as well, just to keep the cake down!  

:shock: :lol!:

My brother, I do that all the time and I honestly don't feel cheap or miserable. No better use for a used pipecleaner :cheers: