Screw on stem?

My 1957 Kaywoodie has one too and it also makes the pipe smoke wet.  How to clean it?  Well, a pipe cleaner goes through to (not through) the tip of the stinger ... after that if its still gurgling you can always unscrew the stem during smoking (this time it's ok - its part of the design).  Overall I find mine an ok smoker and given that I paid about $35 for it who can complain?  All I do is keep myself alert for the tiniest resistance (indicating the beginning of gurgle) and use a pipe cleaner immediately.  It keeps the pipe smoking relatively cool and as dry as possible.

Don't shelf it ... work with it and learn how to smoke it.  It takes practice but it can be done.  Is it the best design out there?  Emphatically no!  But its an experience and  you'll be better for having experienced it.  Who knows, you may like it - some do!  Consider yourself "presidential" ... Gerald Ford smoked nothing but Kaywoodies!

Rick Piatt

The fortunate thing is that this little bugger is so handsome he will stay around - I'll learn to smoke it. I have unscrewed the stinger mid smoke and cleaned it out.
I need to continue on my packing technique - I smoke the occasional aromatic lightly packed and it works great. I try the 3 bears method, with good success, but the slower drag results a barely lit pipe.

 Bob Rivet

Smoke your pipe and be silent; there's only wind and smoke in the world.  ~Irish Proverb

I adjust the position of the stinger.  I turn it to the left and leave it in the ash tray then insert stem back into shank. I am not sure if it is the position or the fact I leave it in the ash tray - but the smoke is definately improved with this method.  Life is too short for this dog to learn anything.

I agree about the Aro's - light is right and tight ain't bright.  they are inherently wet by thier nature and I feel the only way to reduce the amount of moisture is to reduce the amount of tobacco - when done this wat the flavor can sometimes be tasted.  Could be an overactive imagination also, but it appeared to me in a vision that I believe was sent by the goddess Nicotina - so I follow it religiously.

Fume in pace, ckr

Now THAT is hilarious!

In my younger years I was more than once tempted by Beergogglina....

 Bob Rivet

Smoke your pipe and be silent; there's only wind and smoke in the world.  ~Irish Proverb

Grasshopper: But master, how do the bunny slippers vibrate?

Master:  Grasshopper, when you clench the pebble from my hand you will be ever ready to learn the secrets of the pink bunny. 

Fume in pace, ckr

It is late and the slipper thread wins the prize.

I'm rebellious enough to suggest this - Saw off the stinger.

Due to an unfortunate accident, my own Kaywoodie (the best damn pipe I've ever had) had to be put to sleep. Stone floors never really to pipes any good. Here is my recount of the whole tragedy - http://slartie.wordp...

Anyway - On the picture you will see a stingerless stem. Believe you me - that pipe smoked like a dream. I couldn't get it to gurgle unless I punished it with a really foul aromatic and even then the cleaner came out semi-clean.

If I ever get another kaywoodie, I won't hesitate getting the saw out.

Lars Wiberg (slartie) | http://slartie.wordp... | http://www.flickr.co...
Currently reading: Robert Ludlum - The Matarese Countdown | Books read this year: 1

One busted 'woodie equals a spankin' new Pete and an a$$load of tabacky??

Where's that 'woodie? It's gonna meet Mr. Cement Floor!

(Sweet Pete!)

 Bob Rivet

Smoke your pipe and be silent; there's only wind and smoke in the world.  ~Irish Proverb

Who knew math could be used for anything?

That Pete has been a very loyal companion and will take just about any blend I throw at it.

The tobak was just my way of easing the pain.

Lars Wiberg (slartie) | http://slartie.wordp... | http://www.flickr.co...
Currently reading: Robert Ludlum - The Matarese Countdown | Books read this year: 1

Busting a Kaywoodie intentionally!  Now that's good for 40 Hail Mary's, 50 lashes with a wet noodle and a 15 yard penalty. 

True if you're not used to pipes with stingers, they can be a hassle occasionally (trapping moisture etc.) but there are ways around it short of cutting off the stinger.  Pack the tobacco correctly, smoke slow and steady and clean as required.  The good news is you can take Kaywoodies apart while they are hot and clean them with just about anything (i.e. paper towel, Q-tip, etc).  Give it time you'll figure it out.  Clearly, 85% of my collection are Kaywoodies and once I got used to the stinger they became my pipes of choice.  Hang in there, I'm sure after the intial adjustments you'll love them.

Oh yeah, I once saw a picture of Gerald Ford smoking an Edwards Burl Cut.

I have a 'woodie. It has a stinger. Drawing through that thing feels like I'm sucking my eyeballs out. The draw is so tight. I'm gonna chop that blasted thing off and see if it helps. As it is, it's horrible.

Joel
http://www.jspipes.c...

Had a pipe with the stinger in it... standard push bit though, so i just pry em out.

Ahh, the great stinger! Bob, you mentioned the pipe gurgled. That "stinger" is a condenser that is used to cool the smoke by removing moisture from the smoke stream. Without someplace for that moisture to go, it just hangs around the stinger and gurgles. I have 25 or so medium to high grade Petersons and all came with Peterson's version of that misbegotten device. Only one pipe, a 70+ year old Prince Premier, smokes better with it installed. I have been lambasted on other forums for removing the stingers from my Petes, but I know how the pipes smoke with and without them. The only problem I see with your Kaywoody is, once you cut it, you can't go back.

Boy, do I love my Peterson System pipes!

That's it - I've heard enough about these Peterson System pipes! Now I need to own one myself and figure out just what the h*ll people are going on about.

Buy a cheap one Lars ... I've owned 3 or 4 of 'em and hated every one.  Watch out for dip staining also - some of the system pipes are dip stained and its horrible tasting for a long time.  Also note that every one I've owned has gurgled like crazy and there is simply nothing you can do to stop it - its a result of the way the sump is designed.  Terrible pipes.  Never have understood why some folks like 'em.

btw, sorry for the contradiction Chuck ... not trying to be confrontational, but, well, I've had absolutely terrible results with every System Pipe and I'm no newbie!  Its not my technique.  Its not from tobacco being too moist or too dry or any such silliness.  Its just a bad design.

Lars, you must remember my blog where I railed about all my gurgling problems with my Sherlock Holmes Squire and how I finally ended up drilling out the tenon to add a balsa filter hoping to eliminate the gurgle ... Hell, in that thread you'll see numerous long time Pete lovers admitting their system pipes gurgle ...

Rick, I remember your ramblings very well, and you can be sure that I am not about to go out and spending precious money on an all new Peterson. I am going for an estate.

The thing is, that I have heard far too much good AND bad about these pipes, that I simply have to experience this for myself, rather than keep going by what people tell me about them.

I have never owned a P-Lip either, so that will also be something to experience.