Acrylic Pipe Stem Cleaning With Baking Soda

[orlandofurioso]

Greetings to you all,

We are full well aware ( are we ? ) that cleaning acrylic pipe stems with alcohol is not agreeable.
How about a paste from baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate ) and water on a pipe cleaner ?
Please share your opinions .

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Believe the consensus, or use what I have been using for 40 years with no ill effects whatsoever. 50% acetone and 50% IPA or PGA. Please note that I only run pipe cleaners soaked in that solution through the stems. I do not advocate soaking a stem in it, but I have never had the need to do so, even cleaning up the grungiest estate pipe stems.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just use whitening toothpaste and bristle pipe cleaners.

 

[shanez]

I just use whitening toothpaste and bristle pipe cleaners.

Which has a good chance of having some bicarbonate of soda in it.

 

[bent1]

Baking soda sounds reasonable. I use automotive paint rubbing compound and bristle brush pipe cleaners.

 

[STP]

I recently used Chasingember’s toothpaste method, and it worked perfectly ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Which has a good chance of having some bicarbonate of soda in it.

But premixed, finer particles, and more adhesive to the pipe cleaner.

 

[jaytex1969]

I coat mine in a protective layer of saliva and tobacco ash.

Works great!

 

[sablebrush52]

Warm water and a couple of pipe cleaners dipped in unscented dish washing gel works fine for me.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Believe the consensus, or use what I have been using for 40 years with no ill effects whatsoever. 50% acetone and 50% IPA or PGA. Please note that I only run pipe cleaners soaked in that solution through the stems. I do not advocate soaking a stem in it, but I have never had the need to do so, even cleaning up the grungiest estate pipe stems.

I never tried cleaning my pipe stems with Indian Pale Ale, but sounds like a good idea
What is PGA ?

 

[orlandofurioso]

Baking soda sounds reasonable. I use automotive paint rubbing compound and bristle brush pipe cleaners.
View attachment 55200
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Commandant car cleaner in my pipe stems, hmm ?

 

[orlandofurioso]

The idea about BS is that it is an alkaline. So it is perfectly (food)safe , near to tast- and odorless and it neutralizes odd smells. Works great to clean the interior of my pipe stems from oxidation, or residue of stem deoxidizer !
Yes, you can brush your teeth with . It is a household cleaner and desinfectant too, allthough it does not kill ALL bacteries.
Mixed with common white toothpaste it somewhat discolours burned spots on your briars too .
My friend bakes amazing wonderful cakes, Irish breads and puddings using BS in stead of yeast

 

[sumusfumus]

I recently used Chasingember’s toothpaste method, and it worked perfectly ?

Never occurred to me to use toothpaste as a stem cleaner! Of course! Thanks for the tip!!!!

 

[mikethompson]

There are almost as many ways to clean a pipe stem as there are stars in the sky.

For the inside, vodka and a bristle brush. For the outside, oxy clean and time.

 

[orlandofurioso]

And there are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

I never tried cleaning my pipe stems with Indian Pale Ale, but sounds like a good idea
What is PGA ?

IPA= isopropyl alcohol, preferably 90% +
PGA = Pure Grain Alcohol, like Everclear

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I’ve always heard to keep alcohol away from acrylics, so I’ve never tried it. I just use water and sometimes a drop of dishwashing detergent.
On the topic of baking soda, it has worked for me to remove mild ghosts from meerschaum. I haven’t tried it in briar, but I’d expect it to work. I just fill the chamber and airway, and dribble just enough water to dampen the baking soda, and let it rest overnight. Then I dump the old damp stuff and fill it with dry to help dry the pipe back out for a few hours.

 

[gerryp]

I didn't realize alcohol was bad for acrylic, good to know.
I always keep 91% rubbing alcohol and 100% acetone around for cleaning various things, but never used acetone on acrylic. Am I understanding correctly that acetone is ok?
I haven't seen any damage from using alcohol on acrylic yet. Maybe because I try to make sure the stem is dry after cleaning...?

 

[edger]

It seems some are thinking of vulcanite. The joy of acrylic is no maintenance. Just wipe ‘em off!

 

[orlandofurioso]

It seems some are thinking of vulcanite. The joy of acrylic is no maintenance. Just wipe ‘em off!

All the ado is about cleaning the airway, not the exterior