Italian Pipes

Is it ok to drill the hole in the stem bigger in my new briar pipe?

I smoke a corncob pipe and just bought a briar pipe online. It arrived but the draw hole it too small and it has a lot of resistance and i can barely even suck in enough to light it. Can i take a drill and make it bigger? Would this mess anything up? I'd rather not take it into a tobacconist to look at it but will if it is necessary.

Public Comments

1. Uncle Goose, I consider myself fairly crafty on doing any thing and usually won't shy away from a challenge. After looking at several pages of these Briar pipes and another dedicated to corncob pipes, I think I would decline DIY on this one. But you have it in hand, and can see exactly what you would need to do. After looking at the prices, could they charge so much to fix it that would compare to replacing it if you don't get it right.
2. I've done this once. You have to use the smallest bit possible, (but still larger than the current draw hole), and go slow. I would suggest you place your pipe in a vice and not clamp it too tight while doing this. Remember it's made out of wood and can be easily crushed. Go very slow and easy.