Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   Pipe Novelist
   

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   Whenever I buy an estate pipe, I always give it the standard salt and alcohol treatments to leech out any of the old tars and flavors from the wood. Now normally, I let the treatment sit for 24 hours and if the salt is really brown, I repeat the process until the salt is clean at the end of the process. However, I have a couple of pipes that I have given multiple S&A treatments, but a strong ghost still remains in the pipe. One has a lakeland flavor, and the other one has a ghost that I am afraid is...*gulp*...MIXTURE 79! Bleh! Does anyone know of any way that I can remove the ghosts from these pipes? I have also reamed the cake back to a minimum but left a proper amount in as I like a well broken in pipe. Any thoughts or techniques would be appreciated.

   

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   nsfisher
   

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   may have to ream it all the way back to the wood. salt an alochol an rebreak it in again. Only way to go

   Now i gotta larn how to reed and rite good

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   tobakenist
   

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   You Should look into using the Retort method, I purchaced a kit from a guy in the USA and it works great http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIPE-CLEANING-RETORT-/270888125765?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1230c545

   Regards Ken,
   I am not young enough to know everything.

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   Pipe Novelist
   

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   I have seen little demos on how to use a retort, and seeing what is involved in that, I would not trust myself to perform such an operation. I would probably wind up charring half my face off and wind up with a cameo in the new Batman movie.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   tobakenist
   

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   It's a lot easier than it looks, I built a little rig to hold the pipe and leave hands free to handle the retort, the best thing about this system is it can make a 50yr old pipe smoke like a new one, before I got mine I use to put Alcohol in the bowl and boil it in a oven, not as bad as it sounds because alcohol boils at a low temp, the retort method is much safer and easy to use, you just have to remember that alcohol boils at a safe-ish temp.

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   bbauer
   

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   I just bought a few (probably more than i should have) estate pipes on ebay over the last few weeks. most of the pipes cleaned up well by me just doing to salt and alcohol treatment. 2 of them however were a lot more difficult. i ended up completely removing the whole cake and then i let the alcohol treatment sit for a little bit longer just to be safe. now ive only smoked one of the two difficult pipes, however it smoked great. there were no unwanted flavors remaining just the tobacco i was smoking

   “I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgement in all human affairs.”
   -Albert Einstein, 1950
   

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   Al
   

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   I get a bad one every once in a while that the salt/everclear soak doesn't resolve. I just smoke through it, it takes maybe 5-6 bowls to diminish (burley blend used) than by bowls 8-10, it is gone. My little Comoys pot had some stubborn ghosts, but I smoked them out. I should probably invest in a retort.

   Al
   My Pipes:
   

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   Anonymous
   

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   I have read on other forums that white vinegar is also an alternative to the salt and alcohol treatment for stubborn ghosts.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   unclearthur
   

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   I like to use a retort on all the new estates I get in . Seems to kill the ghosts very well. For the lakeland flavored one . Dedicate it to Lakelands. That is one strong flavor to try to get rid of.

   If at first you don't succeed you are running about average.

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    Pipe Novelist
    

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    For the lakeland flavored one . Dedicate it to Lakelands.

    This may seem like a heresy to some but I dont really smoke Lakeland blends. That flavor just really hasn't grabbed hold of me yet.

    I read on another forum a little bit ago that strong burley blends help to remove ghosts. Maybe I will give that a whirl and see what happens. Thanks for the input everyone!

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    OTD
    

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    I'm pretty well convinced that the majority of leftover "ghosting" resides in the airway, shank and stem, more so than in the bowl.
    So I make a point to really focus on the shank, the stem is usually pretty simple.

    Using whatever combination of shank brushes, doubled over pipe cleaners, rolled up paper towels and alcohol I work towards getting the airway as absolutely spotless as possible.
    Lot of time and pipe cleaners but this has worked well for me.

    I will procure a retort some day though. Save on the pipe cleaners!

    Snus, snuff and briar.
    Not much more required in a day.
    Brian from Oregon USA

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    deleon
    

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    I bought the cleaning retort kit from the gentleman on ebay. You can even contact him over the phone and he'll explain everything you need to know on setting up the kit to work properly. He's a nice man even has a few pipe stories to share with you.

    Posted 4 months ago #
13. 

    unclearthur
    

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    On a lot of ghosted pipes running through a few bowls of PA or Five Brothers is a simple cure.

    Posted 4 months ago #
14. 

    Pipe Novelist
    

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    I'm pretty well convinced that the majority of leftover "ghosting" resides in the airway, shank and stem, more so than in the bowl.
    So I make a point to really focus on the shank, the stem is usually pretty simple

    I didn't really consider this option, so I might give that a whirl. I am sure I cleaned out the shank and stem fairly throroughly but can't remember. In any case, it is worth a shot.

    On a lot of ghosted pipes running through a few bowls of PA or Five Brothers is a simple cure.

    I have a packet of PA sitting around, might have to give that a whirl. MacBarens Golden Extra has also been a recent fave that I could try to use for getting a ghost out. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

    Posted 4 months ago #

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