Clogged Bit??

[PipesandGOP]

Well guys, the streak of bad luck I've always had doesn't mind affecting my pipe smoking either. I'm now dealing with a radice dual bore that has what I believe to be a piece of tobacco lodged inside the stem. I know I was smoking it one day and instantly noticed the draw get much tighter, almost to the point of no air passing through whatsoever. Got that unplugged (or so I thought) and then I just figured I must not've noticed it was a bit of a tight draw to start with. Well tonight I sit down for a smoke while studying and am having to puff so much just to keep the damn thing going before I know it it's like I've got a soup kitchen stationed in the bottom of the pipe.

I can see what appears to be a couple of flakes of tobacco in the section of the stem where it's still just a single bore, but no matter how many pipe cleaners I run through the thing it won't come out. Any help on this one is greatly appreciated.

[wharfrathoss]

you could try a pipe cleaner dipped in alcohol, or if that doesn't work soak the stem itself in alcohol

[JaKaAch]

I'm sure a pipe smoker with a lot more experince than I will post some help and or ideas.
But I was wondering if a little shot of air from some "canned air" might dislodge the flakes.

[PipesandGOP]

Man didn't even think about that one. I think I might've just inhaled the majority of whatever it was in there so unfortunately I'm not too sure what exactly what it is.. now I've got a clogged bit and clogged windpipe lol. Can still see a little bit of something in there so I might try letting it soak in some alcohol then get a can of dust-off tomorrow and see how that goes. Thanks guys

[Rolando]

Be careful with that can of air. It can leave stains on some surfaces and I am not sure if it is a good idea to radically chill the stem. It might be ok I just don't know.

If it is tobacco in the stem it may be too humid where you are for it to dry out completely. If the alcohol has not dislodged it you might try putting the stem in the fridge for a day to dry out the tobacco.

[PipesandGOP]

Well ya know sometimes I think fayetteville nc is the most humid place you can find lol. I'm about to go get a can of dust off and see how it works though. The stem seems to be pretty much unclogged but i can still see some stuff stuck in there. Figure if it's safe to use the stuff on computer hardware it'll be safe on this as long as sprayed slow enough to not condense and freeze.

[Rolando]

I run 3 de-humidifiers in my home and pull an average of 20 gallons a week of water out of the air during the summer. I empty the buckets myself and I still can't believe there is that much.

[aehub39]

Another way to clean and clear a stem,Is to dip a fluffy cleaner in alcohol and put it all the way through.Then if you have a battery operated drill,Hook that up to the fluffy cleaner and let the drill spin it as you slowly work it back and forth.That should clear your stem as well as cleaning it.



Alan

[PipesandGOP]

I know this sounds stupid but could it actually be a part of the bit? Like I've even tried (gently of course) poking my pipe tool in there to feel around and whatever it is is solid. I'm sort of wondering if crap is just getting stuck to it and clogging or something because poking it, running cleaners through it, spraying air through it.. none worked. do radice dual bore bits have some sort of little nubs on the walls of the pipe about where the dot is on each side and I'm worrying about nothing now? or is something really screwed here.

[aehub39]

If it feels like nubs or something solid,Try using a needle file and run it through.Just be carefull not to take to much off.Good luck.



Alan.

[PipesandGOP]

Thanks dude, tomorrow's job- stop by my grandpas and grab a file

[DubintheDam]

A bit late on reply....but...it sounds to me you have a small bit of vulcanite or lucite in the stem...this is quite common, it's hasn't been filed through after it was drilled out by the maker...I use a large paper clip straightened out, and very carefully try to chip off the bit off the offending lucite or vulcanite. Best of luck.