Ashy Taste

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Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,229
41,511
RTP, NC. USA
One pipe I dropped in a mug of coffee resulted in dull finish. With a lot of working with wax and a rag, it came out ok. But I won't risk any water. But that's just me. I'm sure water will do wonder. I sort of like sweet smelling tobacco on my pipes. When that goes sour, I'll probably use some rum very carefully.
 

PipeIT

Lifer
Nov 14, 2020
5,155
30,515
Hawaii
Alcohol may affect plastic/acrylic stems
Here’s the trick I do, with acrylic/vulcanite/cumberland stems...

I place the stem under the kitchen sink faucet with the water running slightly onto the stems, as I push a cleaner through dipped in Everclear.

The water running on the stem will keep any dripping alcohol away, of course, only dip a small part of the cleaners in the alcohol and then give them a shake to get off any excess.

Works all the time, I’ve never wrecked a stem, just go slow, it’s easy to do.
 
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OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,783
36,537
72
Sydney, Australia
Here’s the trick I do, with acrylic/vulcanite/cumberland stems...

I place the stem under the kitchen sink faucet with the water running slightly onto the stems, as I push a cleaner through dipped in Everclear.

The water running on the stem will keep any dripping alcohol away, of course, only dip a small part of the cleaners in the alcohol and then give them a shake to get off any excess.

Works all the time, I’ve never wrecked a stem, just go slow, it’s easy to do.
You need to take care with old(er) vulcanite stems
Warm/hot water will cause the stems to oxidise or bring oxidation to the surface.
 
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Reactions: PipeIT
Nov 20, 2022
2,751
27,855
Wisconsin
I rinse my pipes every evening, have been for years now. And, I have some very nice pipes. It has been the best thing ever. There is absolutely nothing bad that can happen, unless you use boiling hot water on an old vulcanite stem... just don't do that.
But, my pipes all smell fresh, and taste great.
But, if someone doesn't want to use water, that's fine with me. But many forum members here do it, and have been doing it for years. So, there is nothing wrong with it.
Don't take this as criticism, this is a serious question-

You rinse the pipes every day, and I know that you like your tobacco bone dry. Could it be that your pipe has extra moisture influencing how you like the tobacco?
 
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biodarwin

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 11, 2019
163
857
Indy
Man I feel like I have abused my pipes. Ive had most of them for 6 years, I deep clean them with alcohol once a year and thats it, well, other than cleaning with pipe cleaners after every use.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,995
117,785
Man I feel like I have abused my pipes. Ive had most of them for 6 years, I deep clean them with alcohol once a year and thats it, well, other than cleaning with pipe cleaners after every use.
None of my newly purchased ones have ever had alcohol used on them. If cleaned after each smoke, there's no need and many of them I've had since the early '90s through 2000.
 

anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,678
31,269
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
I haven't had to use alcohol on a pipe since learning to swab the mortise. I still do it every once and a while but more cause I like the next couple smokes. But a wipe after every smoke has kept the pipes nice and sweet. The daily light cleaning of any smoked pipe seems keep them in really good shape.
 

fishmansf

Can't Leave
Oct 29, 2022
435
1,419
PNW
I have one pipe (a Dr. Grabow) that has developed an ashy taste.
I’ve used the hot water rinse and cleaned the mortise with Qtips . Unlike the other pipes I’ve rinsed, this one still has a dark coating on the bowl after I wipe it out. Do I try wiping it out with alcohol next, or something else? The stem is black plastic. I can taste it if I draw on the pipe before filling and through as much as I can stand of the bowl.
It was a cheap pipe, but it fits well in my hand (it’s tiny), so I’d like to save it if possible.

Thanks for any suggestions.
I'm surprised at the lack of responses that address the speed at which you are smoking. Regardless of what you're smoking, if your cadence is too fast all you're going to taste is hot air and ash. I generally like to follow the three breath rule: one sloooooooow draw in, wait three breaths and then draw again. Also the breath method is nice.
 
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