disinfecting used pipes

mikeyroteuthis · Dec 10, 2009

Hello all,

I recently acquired a pipe from the singer in my band, it belonged to his grandfather, purchesed back when he was in the service in Germany. I've looked up a few methods on how to disinfect the mouthpiece but was wondering what this community thought. It is the second pipe I've recieved from him, the first pipe he gave me I just cleaned as best I could with a reamer and bristled cleaners, took a chance, lit up, and I guess, "broke" it in a second time. Any help will be greatly appriciated...
Cheers,

Mikeyroteuthis Infernalis

python · Dec 10, 2009

I just use grain alcohol and pipe cleaners when I disinfect a pipe stem.

cortezattic · Dec 10, 2009

I have successfully removed white-ish plaque (crud) caked on and inside the stem using lemon juice. If it's stubborn soaking will probably help. Of course, don't rely on lemon juice to sterilize the stem; but physically removing old plaque will also remove the bacteria that may dwell within it. That's my 2¢ worth.

ejames · Dec 11, 2009

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean and disinfect my pipes.

ejames · Dec 11, 2009

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean and disinfect my pipes.

dunendain · Dec 14, 2009

Good old Wild Turkey. Good for what ails you or you're pipe. Maybe some stem polish too.

falconeer · Dec 21, 2009

I have this long lasting notion that whisky soaked pipe cleaners fix most things and have always used them on my own pipes, but I have read a lot about disinfecting used estates on other sites.
They raise the spectre of Tuberculosis and all advocate soaking the stems in a diluted bleach solution until black bits begin to come off the vulcanite, then flushing thoroughly with clean water. This they say leaves the stem slighly rough so it needs a rub over with very fine grain sandpaper and then a polish with say toothpaste or metal polish and possibly a final coat of beeswax.
Hope this helps
Gerry

admin · Dec 23, 2009

I haven't read this in any of the conventional wisdom, but I have found that after a pipe is cleaned, that olive oil will give the wood and the stem a nice shine.

python · Dec 23, 2009

Kevin Said: I haven't read this in any of the conventional wisdom, but I have found that after a pipe is cleaned, that olive oil will give the wood and the stem a nice shine.

Click to expand...

I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil all of the time. Some people say that it could make the pipe start tasting sour because the olive oil goes rancid on a pipe, but I have never experienced that.
It leaves a great shine on both bowl and stem and I have been doing it for years with no adverse affects on my pipes.

cortezattic · Dec 23, 2009

I hope this is not too heavy sounding and/or more than you needed to know...
I investigated the use of vegetable oils on wood a few years ago when I was reconditioning a clarinet, which is made of grenadilla wood. What I found was that extra virgin olive oil, and expeller pressed almond oil (from health food stores) are good choices. If rancidity is a worry, the addition of 1½% α-tocophenyl, an anti-oxidant, will help. That's a fancy-schmansy name for vitamin E -- the oil that's enclosed in those little gelatin balls you would otherwise swallow.
My overall impression, not based on a deep knowledge of briar, is that you should avoid using those oils on really valuable pipes. I think applying a good coat of carnauba wax, or easier, Paragon Wax would be far less risky.
For the science on this check out Wood, Oil, and Water, by Raymond & Lee Dessy.

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