Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   coalsmoke
   

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   I FINALLY got around to reaming out my two main pipes and giving them a good cleaning. The pipe cleaners are OK for the quick clean-ups of course, but mine needed a more thorough job. It's been a good while since I did this and I bought a shank brush and used it along with cotton swabs and the ol' alcohol treatment. I have a lot of small hobby tools and I used my Dremel to open up the bottom of the bowls which were so caked they were narrowed like funnels! A really small round file opened up the draw holes nicely, too. They both smoke like new and I can taste the difference in the tobacco. I almost forgot how well they smoked...Guess I need to do this a little more frequently and not be so lazy about my pipe maintenance.

   Russ
   Smoking a pipe is true relaxation. Everything else is work.

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   Spartan
   

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   I just gave my current 8 pipe rotation a thourough cleaning last night. It doesn't feel like a chore to me. I take pride and pleasure in keeping them lean mean smoking machines.

   "I was born to lose. So I'll die to win." -Breaking Benjamin

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   cigrmaster
   

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   I am very vigilant in keeping my pipes clean. I don't ever want to waste good tobacco on a dirty pipe. My daily regiment is such that even when I do an everclear and shank brush full cleaning, my pipes are never very dirty. My sons( who do my heavy cleanings for me) always comment, " Dad, these aren't even that dirty why are you making us clean them" I just laugh and tell them to get to work, and that I want my pipes pristine.

   Harris

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   coalsmoke
   

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   It's the geezer in me.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   shawn
   

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   I like cleaning mine as well. I look forward to it. I never have much cake to speak of.

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   coalsmoke
   

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   I guess my dry sense of humor made it sound like I don't clean my pipes and have suddenly discovered how wonderful a clean pipe is! I never thought of cleaning my pipes as a chore...I think it's a necessity. A clean pipe gives a trouble-free, clean smoke. I keep my pipes cleaned out and maintained and to me it's just a question of the frequency of what kind of cleaning I do. I have my cleaning routine broken down into 'good/better/best' categories using the tools needed to perform each one. I do the good and better cleaning often, but it was time for a 'best' cleaning. I had put this off for a while until I could get a new reamer and shank brush when I ordered my tobacco. Of course I use a lot of pipe cleaners, but give my pipes a more thorough cleaning when I feel they need it. The Q-tips work OK, but I like the way that I can 'scrub' with a shank brush using a twisting action. I've also cleaned out my pipes with alcohol-soaked cotton left over night and that will be scheduled again. I've cut the cake back on my pipes several times, but decided to get a proper reamer that would give my bowls an even reaming. What I really needed was to get right into the heel of the bowl where a standard pipe reamer won't reach. My Dremel did a good job of reaming out the bottom of the bowl, too. It all worked out just fine and they smoke great after a good overhaul!

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   strugglingthinker
   

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   That's awesome, cigarmaster. I guess I should put my boys to work.
   I too am very vigilant in keeping my pipes clean. In addition to a couple of dry pipe cleaners after a smoke, I run a pipe cleaner with Everclear. I pull out the stem after every third (or so) smoke and do a more thorough cleaning. I cannot abide gunk. Cake in the bowl? Yes. Gunk and wet tar elsewhere? No thanks. I want to taste THIS tobacco, not the gunk from the last 20 bowls. Cake IN THE BOWL is fine (and GOOD) though.

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   rothnh
   

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   After every smoke: I let the pipe cool, remove the stem and use pipe cleaners until one comes out clean on both the stem and the shank. Leaving the folded pipe cleaner in the air hole, I use a dull pipe knife and gently ream the interior bowl (this has kept the cake at my preferred thickness), followed by a "ream" with a piece of paper towel.

   About one a week: Same routine, but High proof alcohol (Bacardi 151 or Everclear), Q-tips and a shank brush are brought in to thoroughly clean each pipe, being careful of the pipe's finish. Meerschaums get a more gentle weekly cleaning, being careful to avoid the alcohol being absorbed into the meerschaum.

   Pipes are set aside and allowed to dry completely, usually at least overnight.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   rlunderhill
   

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   Cleaning my pipes is like cleaning my guns. Inside and out. I use Obsidian stem oil along with bowl polish on the outside as a final touch.

   I use a wire (Round brush) lightly inside the bowls to remove build up. I don't like any cake build up in my pipes. The tobacco tastes great, smell's wonderful and burn's cool.

   I take good care of my smoking instruments.

   Good topic.

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    yadan
    

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    Cleaning out pipes is vital, but letting them rest is no less so!

    "I'm always easy to please since I'm always satisfied with the very best." - Oscar Wilde

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    hobie1dog
    

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    I need to clean mine more often, thanks for the reminder.

    Want to get raped? bank with Wells Fargo, the worlds biggest Criminals
    
    Does a culture based on seperation and competition, of scientific sophistication and mideval religion, offer happiness even as it ravishes the Earth that sustains it?

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    hobie1dog
    

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    I use Everclear or Bee pipe sweetener.

    Posted 4 months ago #

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