My routine involves cleaning my briar pipes with bourbon whiskey after each bowl of tobacco. However, when I am breaking in a pipe, I may simply run a dry pipe cleaner through the pipe while building a cake.
On a pipe that is broken in, I will inspect the bowl for excessive cake buildup, and if...
The first thing I do when I buy a new cob, is make up a batch of pipe mud from cigar ash, and put about a 1/16th layer of it in the bottom of the bowl. This in addition to the hardwood plug from the factory, will virtually bulletproof your new cob.
http://www.stemandbriar.com/repairs/pipe-mud
I...
I always use rubber softee bits. The only problems I have with the button end of my stems, are when they are too wide, or too narrow to hold my softee bits in place. In which case, I will have an acrylic stem replacement made to solve that problem.
Here is a link to Neill Roan's blog, where he critiques this gorgeous Italian "second chamber" pipe.....
http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2013/3/23/neatpipes-aerobilliard-takes-flight.html
I remember a long time ago, reading Shinypipes "Sellers Requirements," shown at the bottom of every listing. After reading that diatribe, I was almost certain what to expect, and have never placed a bid with her.
Here in Alabama, a 50 gram tin of pipe tobacco runs $14.50 plus 8% sales tax, and a 100 gram tin goes for $21.50 plus 8% sales tax. For the most part, I am trying to put my PAD on hold, and sinking my disposable income into TAD before things get any worse than they already are.