Who Uses Pipe Cleaners While Smoking?

pitchfork · Mar 6, 2013

I read an article by Mike Butera from the late 90s in P&T and he said that he uses one or more pipe cleaners during every smoke in order to remove moisture from the airway. I can see the advantages of doing this -- drier smokes are usually better smokes, but it seems like a hell of a lot of fuss and trouble. If my pipe smokes without gurgling, I'm happy. If there's a little moisture in the stem and around the mortise, I don't really mind. To me, that's what pipes do. Does anyone else use one or more pipe cleaners during every smoke?

dnietosi · Mar 6, 2013

I do. Sometimes

mustanggt · Mar 6, 2013

I do. It's not much trouble to me as I find the gurgle annoying. It does help me keep the pipe cleaner so it's not such a chore later.

wildcat · Mar 6, 2013

Depends on where I am. On the couch, smoking a moister aro, usually. Out and about, no. If I'm smoking a pipe with a stinger or screw in stem while I'm outside, I just unscrew and give the stem a flick. Then back to business. :puffpipe:

taerin · Mar 6, 2013

I tend to, even on pipes that do not gurgle, I find it tastes differint (worse) when too much moisture accumulates in the pipe.

juni · Mar 6, 2013

I always do, except when smoking Falcons.

buster · Mar 6, 2013

I use to. Might have been that some of my first pipes were bent? Or I smoked to fast? Now days I smoke straight pipes. If a gurgle starts I just exhale threw the pipe softly. That seems to clear up the problem. I do run a pipe cleaner threw after every smoke though.

keith929 · Mar 6, 2013

I always use a pipe cleaner while smoking. Nothing worse than the taste of tobacco flavored saliva. :twisted:

allan · Mar 6, 2013

When I'm home I use it when gurgling happens although I do have some trouble with deep bend pipes-I luckily I do have thin cleaners

teufelhund · Mar 6, 2013

I do also. I've had to since I took the filters out of all my pipes.

kashmir · Mar 6, 2013

Sometimes I'll use one. Dependent on tobacco moisture. Of course if you're the salivating kind, you may need more. The cleaner to a pipeman is like the bib to a lobster eater. Or something like that.

peckinpahhombre · Mar 6, 2013

If I sense gurgling I do it. That's why I hate a pipe that won't pass a pipe cleaner without being taken apart.

nsfisher · Mar 6, 2013

Yup, I never smoke a pipe that won't pass a cleaner, so I always run a cleaner tru the pipe about halfway tru the bowl. I smoke faster than I should so it usually makes a bit of moisture.

lumberjakpipester · Mar 6, 2013

I always pass a cleaner mid-smoke, even if the pipe smokes dry. The cleaner always comes out a least slightly damp and dirty, saves me the cleaning later. I think it's a lot easier to clean the residues before it dries and cools.

papipeguy · Mar 6, 2013

Yes, it really helps with the dreaded gurggle. After I'm done with a pipe I also run a pipe cleaner through it and leave until the next smoke.

jeffboyrd · Mar 6, 2013

agreed papipeguy

wayneteipen · Mar 6, 2013

I don't usually have to but if I do and have a cleaner available (I don't carry them with me most of the time) and get a gurgle. If I don't have a cleaner I'll either gentle exhale into the stem or, if I'm outside, put my thumb over the chamber and give the pipe a gentle flick.

brdavidson · Mar 6, 2013

I never used pipe cleaners mid smoke before, however since my packing technique has improved (thanks to all of you) I've noticed some gurgle from time to time. I'm still smoking a bit too fast but I'm working on it, in the meantime the pipe cleaner quickly resolves the problem. I now carry 5 or 6 cleaners in my pipe pouch at all times.

popsmusix · Mar 6, 2013

I always have a pipe cleaner with me when smoking. I don't like the gurgling or the "backwash" if you will. Only exception is when I smoke my meerschaum, I want to color it so I let all that tobacco laden juice stay there so the meerschaum soaks it up.

pitchfork · Mar 6, 2013

Wow, thanks for sharing, everyone. From these results, it looks like I'm in the minority here. I only rarely use a pipe cleaner for moisture.
Still, I find it curious that a guy like Butera would rely on pipe cleaners. I thought the reason for making a pipe with proper airflow was to prevent turbulence and moisture buildup. If you're using 3-4 pipe cleaners per smoke, say, it really doesn't much matter whether you're smoking a properly made Mike Butera pipe (or a Wayne Teipen :wink: ) or whether you're smoking a Peterson with half-ass engineering.

Who Uses Pipe Cleaners While Smoking?

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