Whistle and Gurgling

[JM]

The estate pipe I recently cleaned up makes a light whistle but more often a gurgling sound when I draw. How to I quiet this thing down? It has a stinger if that matters, I thought I cleaned it well enough but maybe I didn't.

 

[Richard Hester]

pull the stinger off should smoke just fine.
Best Regards
Richard

 

[Harlock999]

The whistling may indicate a misalignment of the stem and draft hole, but the gurgling would be caused by moisture that's collected at the bottom of the bowl.
I've had a pipe or two that whistled only when air was drawn in from a certain angle. Annoying, but not the end of the world. Gurgling means that either the tobacco should be dried out more to cut moisture, because you may be over puffing in order to keep it lit, and/or slowing down your puff rate. A misalignment could also be causing you to over puff.

 

[JM]

Can I remove the stinger? I tried when I first got it but it seemed really secure, I was afraid of breaking it.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Can I remove the stinger? I tried when I first got it but it seemed really secure, I was afraid of breaking it.

Carefully but forcefully twist and pull. Emphasis on "carefully." Cooling off the stem in the 'fridge or freezer for a few minutes might help--a good balance of both twist and pull usually works. They're jammed in there much of the time. Removed a few of 'em myself.

 

[JM]

GOT IT!

It had a small section of it plug so I cleaned it up, should be good to go now, thanks folks.

I don't think the baccy was too moist but I'll leave a bowl full out and try it again latter, perhaps tomorrow after church.

:star:

 

[Kyle Weiss]

GOT IT!

It had a small section of it plug so I cleaned it up, should be good to go now, thanks folks.

I don't think the baccy was too moist but I'll leave a bowl full out and try it again latter, perhaps tomorrow after church.

:star:

Congrats! :cheers: Let us know how it goes!

 

[MisterE]

Another way to remove a stubborn stinger it to warm the insert with a lighter for a few moments. Not red hot, but just enough for the heat to travel up the metal and soften the stem around it. Keep the flame away from the stem, only heating the metal istself. Then twist the stinger gently with some pliers (so you don't burn yourself). Should come right out.

 

[JM]

I smoked it again and the problem continued so in frustration I tamped it down tight and the it stopped. I could smoke without sound, puff in peace and relax.

 

[Anonymous]

Putting the stem in the freezer is going to shrink it down around the stinger even tighter. Freezing a stem is how you get an overly tight one out of the shank it's in. The vulcanite shrinks while the briar doesn't.

Stingers eat poop. Across the board. Getting rid of them is step one. But if it's an old, "name" pipe, take it out carefully (without damaging it) and save it. It adds considerably to the value of it.

Gurgling : I guess it would be possible to so mis-pack the tobacco in a pipe that it would gurgle at the draft hole. But the problem of whistling, gurgling (and sometimes making a cracking sound) &c. is condensation of the smoke at the point where it goes from flowing along a wide passage in the shank (where the stinger was) down to a narrow one (at the end of the tenon). Which creates turbulence. Which creates condensation. Which creates gurgling.

The usual solution (which usually works) is to make a tapered expansion in the intake hole in the stem -- like the bell of a trumpet. The more gradual constriction of the smoke column that results as it flows toward the button tends to minimise the problem.

The other potential gurgle/condensation point is inside the stem itself (rather than the tenon) where there's a steep step-down from one drill size to another. That you need a pro for.

FWIW

:face: