Breaking in a new knock around cob. Bent stem this time. I saw a Kaywoody at a local shop. It has a "Stinger" like this photo. Bottom was marked "Briar" but it seemed very light in weight, an odd greenish almost plastic like bowl. Might go back for it, only $15. How do you run a cleaner through the stem?
You don't really, so long as the stinger is intact. Possible it could be brylon, depending on what it is and when it was made.
I don't think the Brylon pipes are marked Briar. If you get it and don't like the stinger, just snip it off.
The purpose of the stinger is to reduce or remove condensation and gurgle? Seems I recall @Bama Samurai either has or prefers these.
Yelo-Bole had brylon pipes with stingers, Medico had brylon pipe with filters I believe. I don't know if Kaywoodie ever had brylon. S. M. Frank has all three brands, but they used to operate as separate companies, but no longer.
It's marked "Briar" but it's a weird color and very light weight. Can the previous users gunk be cleaned by using a solvent to soak? Fumble fingers post via Kyocera / Tapatalk (subject to later editing)
As I recall when I was researching a few Kaywoodies I was thinking about buying, they had a few lines in the 60s that were brylon.
Now I need to research the restoration process Fumble fingers post via Kyocera / Tapatalk (subject to later editing)
Sorry if I offended you, but I'm the type of person who doesn't mind modifying things to get them right for me... Guess it's hot rod vs. fully restored. I personally don't like stingers, but I just avoid them.
I wasn't offended. Avoiding stingers seems more reasonable than destroying vintage pipes. Stingers cause issues for guys who smoke to fast. They actually teach good puffing technique.
It looks like you are mostly correct. I didn't know that. According to this https://pipedia.org/wiki/Kaywoodie The Marmont and Impulse were brylon and were briefly tried and abandoned in the 80's. Interesting reading.
Marmont =/= Magnum! I have one Brylon, a Medico, and that's enough of that. Fumble fingers post via Kyocera / Tapatalk (subject to later editing)
I wouldn't use a solvent, you never know what effect it will have on the stem. You could probable soak the stem and stinger in water then brush off and use a couple of pipe cleaners, then follow that with alcohol and pipe cleaners. The bowl and shank - you might try cleaning the outside with Murphy's oil soap or something similar if it needs it. Maybe an alcohol/salt treatment in the bowl. It doesn't look like it needs reaming to me, but I'm no expert.
I stuffed a fuzzy cleaner down the shank, filled the chamber with large crystal Sea salt, and added Smirnoff vodka. It's turning brown as it should. Moistened a cleaner and was able to pass it through the stem. The stinger wiped clean with a paper towel and vodka. Looking good so far. Laptop is booting up, going to see if I can pin down a manufacturing date next! Fumble fingers post via Kyocera / Tapatalk (subject to later editing)
I need to find the time to deep clean my vintage pipes. I might trade them to someone who likes straight pipes with stingers.
First pipe, Kaywoodie White Briar bulldog. Some bite marks and oxidation. Standard Kaywoodie drinkless stem. Needs broken in again. I repaired an uneven thick cake and took too much off.