Bristle Cleaners and How Often I'm to Use Them

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Short and somewhat banal question, should I only use these Bristle abrasive pipe cleaners when doing so-called deep cleaning procedures,or can I use those in between with regular soft' pipe cleaners, without causing any possible harm to mortise and stem airways. These Bristled ones seem to be way more effective especially when dipped in isopropyl or spirits.Thank You for Your advice,much appreciated.

 

[economistandfisherman]

I only use soft because they go through easier, but then, I never use chemicals on my pipes either; when build up occurs I scrape, ream, and poke. That said, I can't imagine they would cause any real harm to your pipe even if you did use them every cleaning. I would assume the wood and stem are more dense than the bristles are, kind of like you can only shape a rock if you use something harder than it...I can't imagine the bristles are harder than any part of the pipe, but I could certainly be wrong, especially since I don't use them.

 

[bnichols23]

Tell you the truth, Paul I use nothing *but* bristles all the time & have never had any problems. Unless they're like wire-brush stiff you shouldn't have any trouble using them.
Bill

 

[warren]

I use them whenever I feel they are required. Usually when a stem is really "gunked" up, when a soft is tough to push through. Rum, high proof, is always used when cleaning, for me (over ice) and the pipe (neat). Just my Sunday afternoon routine.

 

[prairiedruid]

I use them once a month on my cobs with a bit of vodka. Works like a charm!

 

[snoopy311]

I use bristled pipe cleaners fairly often. I use Decatur tapered cleaners. Tend to keep my deep cleanings done to a minimum.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I only use bristle cleaners.

 

[trouttimes]

I use bristles because I think they clean better and faster.

 

[donjgiles]

Softies during and after a smoke, bristles for cleaning.

 

[madox07]

I use bristle for mortise and bowl air ways, and soft for stem. They don't damage anything, so use them with trust. I think that bristles clean the mortise and bowl draw hole far better than softies.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Bristles clean better, but if I just want to soak up moisture soft cleaners work better, in my view; they are just more absorbent.

 

[bnichols23]

^^^ Yeah, pretty much just by nature they'd have to, I agree, peck. I don't worry much about moisture, since when I'm done with the cleaners (either with/without alcohol) I'll usually leave them in the rack to air out. It's also easier to keep up with just one type of cleaner, *&* if I kept both in the pouch the fluffies would be bound to hang up in the bristles.
Bill

 

[npod]

I do the same as Peck. I have lots of pipe cleaners organized for different purposes. But I'm a nerd.

 

[trouttimes]

After some of the other threads here, I'm just going to take my pipes to the car wash once a week.

 

[bnichols23]

lots of pipe cleaners organized for different purposes

OK, Neal. NOW.... Show me how you pack that all in a pouch for the cah. }

take my pipes to the car wash once a week.

I tried that once. Hung it on the antenna before it went through the conveyor. Ain't seem the sumbuck since......

 

[npod]

NOW.... Show me how you pack that all in a pouch for the cah

Economy of scale brother. Just the essentials go in my car kits. I keep a larger bag with essentials in the glove compartment and a smaller case with an Opera 44 and lighter and a few pipe cleaners as a backup pipe kit. I always keep an unopened tin of flake tobacco in the car as well just in case.

 

[trouttimes]

Wow! You are organized. I just dump all my stuff in an ammo pouch. I do clean it out at least every 6 months.

 

[cigrmaster]

I use bristle cleaners on my shanks and mortise after every smoke. I use fluffy on my stems. I only use BJ Long Tapered Bristle in the 80 count pack and BJ Long Fluffy Tapered in the 100 count pack. I wait for a sale at PC and buy 20 packs of each at a time. The price goes as low as 1.59 per pack when on sale.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Thanks for the Tips, folks, should have bought them Bristles more and earlier,in our neck of the woods'bristle cleners were hardly used by anybody, and still today You can't find them almost nowhere,so got order from overseas.

 

[blackadderlxx]

@npod - SIIIIIIIICK setup man