How do I ream a stem?

[SpeedyPete]

Good evening brothers! The Davidoff 401 which I bought recently has got what seems to be flaw; the smoking hole in the wooden part of the stem is to narrow. I have to draw/suck very hard on this pipe even when it's filled very lightly. This causes tongue burn and a hot pipe.

Can someone tell me how I must go about to ream this opening please?

 

[DoverPipes]

Good evening brothers! The Davidoff 401 which I bought recently has got what seems to be flaw; the smoking hole in the wooden part of the stem is to narrow. I have to draw/suck very hard on this pipe even when it's filled very lightly. This causes tongue burn and a hot pipe.

Can someone tell me how I must go about to ream this opening please?

Have the airway opened up by a "professional"..........
http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html/pipe_repairs.html
Open Airway to 5/32” Straight Pipes $16.00 / Bent Pipes $19.00

 

[NeroWolfe]

If it is an Estate pipe, you could try cleaning the stem out with pipe cleaners and alcohol, 5 or 10 times; presuming that you have already done that, you could use a drill bit of the right size to clean it out of tar, etc, without removing any briar...Might be worth a try before more "drastic" measures...

 

[eon]

There's an article written on similar subject by Greg Pease.

You can find it here: Silly Millimeter

While not a step by step instruction it comes pretty close. Plus, like all of Greg's articles, it is an entertaining read whether actually useful or not.

 

[SpeedyPete]

There's an article written on similar subject by Greg Pease.

You can find it here: Silly Millimeter

While not a step by step instruction it comes pretty close. Plus, like all of Greg's articles, it is an entertaining read whether actually useful or not.

Hi Eon, the problem with my pipe is exactly the same as what Greg described! I'm feeling so much better now because I don't need to work on the wood. It's the bit side of the stem which needs reaming and I will make a plan with that.

This forum is really amazing with the brothers being so helpfull. Thanks brother Eon!

 

[SpeedyPete]

Good evening brothers! The Davidoff 401 which I bought recently has got what seems to be flaw; the smoking hole in the wooden part of the stem is to narrow. I have to draw/suck very hard on this pipe even when it's filled very lightly. This causes tongue burn and a hot pipe.

Can someone tell me how I must go about to ream this opening please?

I've inspected the bit on this pipe closely and found an obstruction inside about 15mm from the bowl side. I'm going to get a drill bit which fits losely in the smoke channel and carefully remove whatever the obstruction might be.

 

[RealtorFrank]

I've got a buddy who opens all of his stems with a 5/32 drill bit, seemed odd to me at first, but works great. Just go slow.

 

[SpeedyPete]

I've got a buddy who opens all of his stems with a 5/32 drill bit, seemed odd to me at first, but works great. Just go slow.

That's exactly what I did. I have a variable speed drill and I worked very slowly as not to cause any heat. The draw is perfect now and the gurgling is gone.

I thank you all!!

 

[dbreazeale]

I have a variable speed drill and I...

:shock:

 

[SpeedyPete]

I have a variable speed drill and I...

:shock:

I'm Afrikaans speaking and English is a third language to me. So please accept my apologies if I'm not always very clear about matters.

The drilling machine I use is activated by pulling a trigger. By just touching the trigger softly, the drill turns very slowly. When the trigger is pulled all the way back, the drill speed is at it's highest.

Btw, I've ream this stem some more and now the pipe smokes like a dream. I'm 100% happy with it.

 

[Sasquatch]

Your English is fine - people are just scared of using power tools on pipes.

 

[dbreazeale]

I have a variable speed drill and I...

:shock:

I'm Afrikaans speaking and English is a third language to me. So please accept my apologies if I'm not always very clear about matters.

The drilling machine I use is activated by pulling a trigger. By just touching the trigger softly, the drill turns very slowly. When the trigger is pulled all the way back, the drill speed is at it's highest.

Btw, I've ream this stem some more and now the pipe smokes like a dream. I'm 100% happy with it.

Yeah, your English is fine.

I just get a little scared when hearing people using a power drill with a bit to open up the shank. I keep picturing it in my head and imagining that accidental "uh-oh" moment. :lol:

 

[SpeedyPete]

I have a variable speed drill and I...

:shock:

I'm Afrikaans speaking and English is a third language to me. So please accept my apologies if I'm not always very clear about matters.

The drilling machine I use is activated by pulling a trigger. By just touching the trigger softly, the drill turns very slowly. When the trigger is pulled all the way back, the drill speed is at it's highest.

Btw, I've ream this stem some more and now the pipe smokes like a dream. I'm 100% happy with it.

Yeah, your English is fine.

I just get a little scared when hearing people using a power drill with a bit to open up the shank. I keep picturing it in my head and imagining that accidental "uh-oh" moment. :lol:

I did not ream or drill the shank. I won't dare doing that because if I make a mistake, the pipe will be ruined. It was the tenon side of the stem which was blocked and to narrow for my liking. I opened it up very carefully for about 30 millimeters down the stem. This little operation changed the whole character of the pipe completely in a positive way.