Another Beginners question.
- Thread starter chlogeo3
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Chloeo3 don't sweat the questions, that's what drives the forums.
I personally use a small blunt end knife from an old grooming kit.
I've been using it for years.
As for when to use it; opinion varies greatly.
Some guys like a thin cake or none (especially meers) others prefer to let it get fairly thick.
Here is a link to an old "string" that may help answer your question.
Pipe Reaming How-to
I personally use a small blunt end knife from an old grooming kit.
I've been using it for years.
As for when to use it; opinion varies greatly.
Some guys like a thin cake or none (especially meers) others prefer to let it get fairly thick.
Here is a link to an old "string" that may help answer your question.
Pipe Reaming How-to
Good info...
Is it bad on your system if we let the "cake-ing" get too much ?? As a general rule...is it better to use a "fresher" or "newer" pipe rather than a really old one ? Which brings to mind...are estate pipes "less healthier" than a new broken in pipe ?...(sorry for the questions..but you folks really are an asset and your experiences are really appreciated...)
Is it bad on your system if we let the "cake-ing" get too much ?? As a general rule...is it better to use a "fresher" or "newer" pipe rather than a really old one ? Which brings to mind...are estate pipes "less healthier" than a new broken in pipe ?...(sorry for the questions..but you folks really are an asset and your experiences are really appreciated...)
A lot of my pipes are from the mid to late 70's & 80's.
If you care for your pipes they can last for a very long time.
For example: I this this pipe is 140 years old. but I could be mistaken... it could be a lot older.
If you care for your pipes they can last for a very long time.
For example: I this this pipe is 140 years old. but I could be mistaken... it could be a lot older.
Properly taken care of, most pipes will outlast several owners. Sobering.
Too much cake can damage the bowl, make the pipe taste sour, make the pipe smell sour,...the usual rule of thumb is something like a coin width of cake.
As for less healthy estate pipes...a modest swabbing of alcohol will be enough to nuke the worst bugs. Most times, estate pipes haven't been smoked for awhile and I would guess pretty low on the infectious disease source list.
Too much cake can damage the bowl, make the pipe taste sour, make the pipe smell sour,...the usual rule of thumb is something like a coin width of cake.
As for less healthy estate pipes...a modest swabbing of alcohol will be enough to nuke the worst bugs. Most times, estate pipes haven't been smoked for awhile and I would guess pretty low on the infectious disease source list.
One thing I might add to Mlaug's post.
You can use alcohol to soften up those 1" bowls that you can't get the tip of your little finger into. By softening the cake you can reduce it's thickness without risking large chunks coming off and making the reaming process all the harder.
I personally use Ezra Brooks for cleaning and sweetening my pipes.
A lot of folks prefer Everclear. It just depends on your preference.
You can use alcohol to soften up those 1" bowls that you can't get the tip of your little finger into. By softening the cake you can reduce it's thickness without risking large chunks coming off and making the reaming process all the harder.
I personally use Ezra Brooks for cleaning and sweetening my pipes.
A lot of folks prefer Everclear. It just depends on your preference.
On the posts, blogs, and videos, we are referring to Grain Alcohol such as Everclear. Grain Alcohol is different than rubbing alcohol.
My practice is to ream a pipe when the cake gets to about the thickness of a nickle. I rean it back to the thickness of a dime. Many times allopwing the cake to build to big will crack the bowl because of the diffetent expansionn rates.
Wallbright, screens are not necessary. If you are smoking a tobacco like the old Bull Durham or tend to smoke the load down until you pull ash into your mouth, they can help.
Wallbright, screens are not necessary. If you are smoking a tobacco like the old Bull Durham or tend to smoke the load down until you pull ash into your mouth, they can help.
The bottom line:
I was glad to see that we were mentioned in one of those articles on Wikipedia.
@ bubbadreier
The idea is if it is something you wouldn't ingest, that you shouldn't use it in your pipe.
I personally bend a pipe cleaner into the shape of a "U" after every smoke, and then bend down the ends, around the sides of the pipe, and proceed to ream the bowl after every smoke. I've found I can keep my cake fairly smooth with this method.
Collindow,
You might try using a twisted paper-towel screwed down firmly into a warm bowl.
That will keep your cake under control and it helps to remove any extra moisture that may have accumulated. And, it doesn't have to be done after every bowl.
You might try using a twisted paper-towel screwed down firmly into a warm bowl.
That will keep your cake under control and it helps to remove any extra moisture that may have accumulated. And, it doesn't have to be done after every bowl.
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