A well-drilled pipe

mseddon

Friends, I'm going to the Chicago Pipe Show this year, and planning on picking up a pipe or two. I know that the humble drilling of a pipe is key to its value as a good smoking pipe. How do I recognized good drilling prior to smoking a pipe? 

Charles

Run a pipe cleaner through it and see if it goes through to the bowl.  Also, take the stem off and look at the tendon.  If the inner hole is off center, you will see it and that would also explain why a pipe cleaner is difficult to pass or will not pass through.

motie2

Clear air passage upon draw. Also the air passageway should hit even with th ebottom of the bowl.

PappyJoe

As a courtesy (and possible safety issue) Do NOT put the pipe in your mouth and suck on it to see if the air passage is open. Use the pipe cleaner method but beware that with some bent stems, its not going to pass easily all the time.

motie2

@PappyJoe -- Of course you are correct, sir. I should have noted that......

AnantaAndroscoggin

I remember an Oom Paul I had that you couldn't get a pipe cleaner to go all the way through no matter what tricks you tried, that fell out of use and eventually became lost.

Go4Broke

@mseddon This graphic always pops into my head when I'm looking at new pipes in person.  Not sure it helps me pick out a good smoker, or if it just appeals to my inner (ok - maybe not so inner) nerd.  I love Jeff Gracik's pipes... I just wish I could afford one.

motie2

Howdy, @go4broke, and thanks for posting a really excellent graphic.

Go4Broke

Thanks @motie2, just glad to be able to contribute when I can... I'm usually just hear to suck in as much information I can from all the great folks here.

motie2

@Go4Broke -- <<I'm usually just here to suck in as much information I can....>>
Have you checked out the FREE PDF PIPE SMOKING LIBRARY discussion folder?
Let me know what you want and I'll post it for downloading.

mseddon

@Go4Broke Great diagram. Thanks! I'll probably print it out and take it.

Woodsman

@Go4Broke; Thank you.