What's your Go-to Process for Estate Pipes?

[Talon]

Title edited for caps and brevity. -jpm

I've been assured that these pipes have been very thoroughly sanitized and they have both been purchased from reputable dealers but I can't really shake the weird sort of feeling with smoking someone's pipe. I'm sure I will get over it but do you guys have any extra sort of things you do? I've heard of the hot water flush but is that literally just how it sounds? Running the pipe under very hot water?

 

[karam]

Running hot water through the chamber, not over the pipe!

You can use a small bristle brush to scrub the chamber, or an old toothbrush. I ream all cake out too.
Use pipe cleaners dipped in alcohol, a lot of old pipe gunk takes time and hydration to soften, and a lot of it can hide in the mortise, it’s usually the gunkiest part.

 

[Singularis]

Smoke 'em while you got 'em.

But seriously, almost all of the pipes I bought in the last 4 years are estate pipes lovingly restored (I'm led to believe) by SmokingPipes.com. The estate pipe restoration team at SP.com has my full confidence as evidenced by the excellent condition and cleanliness of every pipe I've gotten from them. As such, I don't do nothin' to 'em but pack 'em with fresh baccy and light up. I'm doing just fine (FANTASTIC, if you want to the full truth).

 

[anotherbob]

if The dealer is reputable just smoke them. The more you smoke them the more they'll feel like yours. Also give them a name they'll feel more like yours that way too.

 

[sablebrush52]

Any new to me estate, no matter from where it comes, gets thoroughly sanitized with alcohol. Sellers never clean them like I clean them.
After that I primarily use a warm water flush to keep them clean.

 

[JimInks]

Any new to me estate, no matter from where it comes, gets thoroughly sanitized with alcohol. Sellers never clean them like I clean them.
After that I primarily use a warm water flush to keep them clean.

Ditto.

 

[Streeper541]

Fill them with tobacoo, light, smoke, repeat.

 

[captainsousie]

Any new to me estate, no matter from where it comes, gets thoroughly sanitized with alcohol. Sellers never clean them like I clean them.

Yep, high proof alcohol and pipe cleaners, both bristle and tapered, are my go-to solution for estates. If the stems need to lose some oxidation, I'll add micromesh to the mix.

 

[Talon]

Fill them with tobacoo, light, smoke, repeat.

You are a visionary!

 

[Streeper541]

You are a visionary!

I find it's best not to overcomplicate things. ?

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Any new to me estate, no matter from where it comes, gets thoroughly sanitized with alcohol. Sellers never clean them like I clean them.
After that I primarily use a warm water flush to keep them clean.

I recall you mentioning not using alcohol when cleaning acrylic stems with pipe cleaners - is there an issue with alcohol and acrylic?

 

[Ahi Ka]

I recall you mentioning not using alcohol when cleaning acrylic stems with pipe cleaners - is there an issue with alcohol and acrylic?

It melts it.

 

[tbradsim1]

Every estate pipe I’ve gotten I’ve done a Retort on them, clean looking Pipes have awful shit in most of them, that’s just me

 

[OzPiper]

The vast majority of my pipes are estates.

They come in all conditions from "well used, as found" to "pristinely cleaned and ready to smoke".

Of all the estate pipes that have come my way, there were probably no more than 4 or 5 that I would say were in a "ready to smoke" condition.
There have been inumerous pipes looking polished and clean externally, but the internals were like sewers that have never been cleaned since they left the shop.

All the estate pipes that arrive are given a "deep clean". Lots of threads on how to deep clean pipes on these Forums, so I won't rehash the process.

 

[STP]

I guess if you have no issues w/restaurant plates, cups, utensils, etc., which are used by countless others, then a pipe previously used by another is no big deal. Sanitize to your satisfaction and enjoy?

 

[tbradsim1]

STP it’s the Shank man the Shank, horrible shit!

 

[trouttimes]

I do an Everclear clean with brushes and pipe cleaners unless I detect a ghost. Ghost requires a deeper salt cleaning.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Especially the mortise.

 

[ScienceSmoker]

Like lots of other commenters here... most of my pipes are estates. I actually love cleaning/restoring pipes... which is how I ended up with so many pipes. I bought quite a few lots of pipes in order to restore them and then resell them. But most of them I liked so much, I just kept.
Anyway... firstly, I take the stems, then put them in a container with warm/hot water and oxyclean. Let them sit for a few hours, then take a bristle cleaner soaked in alcohol and see how much gunk is inside the stem. Some old pipes are FULL of tarry gunk, others are fairly clean. I just keep at it until the cleaner comes out... clean.
As for the stummels, I sometimes use the kosher salt/alcohol technique... and on the very smelly ones, I put the stem back on and use a retort cleaning system (What is a Pipe Retort and How it is used - https://rebornpipes.com/2012/10/17/what-is-a-pipe-retort-and-how-it-is-used/)... but mostly I just make sure the cake is the level I want it, then use a little hot water and a few pipe cleaners. Sometimes I don't even use the water.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Any new to me estate, no matter from where it comes, gets thoroughly sanitized with alcohol. Sellers never clean them like I clean them.
After that I primarily use a warm water flush to keep them clean.

This!!!