Clay Pipe Logistics

[aspiring_sage]

Got some clay pipes, now I got some questions for the people that use clay pipes.

These things are fragile! How do you guys tote them about without breaking them?
The short ones from Old German Clay seem to fit in any sort of case, but my Old Dominion Jamestowne is longer than a pen, doesn't fit in a sunglasses case. I can't think of a way to safely carry it.

Anything special about cleaning them? Is water flushing a problem?

I have to clench but don't want pipe notch, can't stand the clay on my lips.
Tried nail polish, it came off in a day of smoking.
Wrapped cotton twine (common whipping) around the stem, which works but it gets a little soggy.

What do you clay experts do?

 

[OzPiper]

Got some clay pipes

Anything special about cleaning them? Is water flushing a problem?

I have to clench but don't want pipe notch, can't stand the clay on my lips.

Congratulations on your clays
I’m definitely NOT an expert
Calling @halfdan

Cleaning:
in the old days in taverns they would place them in the fireplace at the end of the day
No reason why water-flushing won’t work

Pipe notches are not the only problem.
Lip cancer is a very real possibility

 

[TheIronMonkey]

The few clays that I smoke have stems made from other materials, and I only smoke them at home so traveling with them is not a consideration; I use pipe cleaners and clean them as I would any other pipe, just be mindful of fuzz and snags—give the cleaners a swipe between fingers before using to reduce the loose fuzz that can get caught. You may wish to pick up some Falcon Extra Thin pipe cleaners—they’re a must for older pipes with narrower draught holes.

If you want to take your 100% clay pipes on the go, I suspect there are a variety of foam lined generic pistol cases you could get to fit whatever sized pipe you want to take on the go. I would take the time to notch out the custom shape to minimize any pressure on the clay stem—the foam in these cases is pretty firm and you won’t want to apply that to a delicate shank/stem.

For the end, maybe use some silicone tape to wrap around the end? It sticks to itself.

Good luck!

 

[Kobold]

I’m no clay expert but I used a little melted beeswax on the end and it worked perfectly. As for cleaning I just wiped the bowl down gently with a moist towel after smoking.

 

[aspiring_sage]

foam lined generic pistol cases you could get to fit whatever sized pipe you want to take on the go. I would take the time to notch out the custom shape to minimize any pressure on the clay stem

For the end, maybe use some silicone tape to wrap around the end? It sticks to itself.

Good luck!

I hadn't considered a custom case. Not sure I'll go that route but it is the best option I can think of.

For the short pipes, I think I can drop them into a pouch with flake and the flake might act as "packing material".

I might try the silicon tape. Looks inexpensive and should solve my problems.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

The silicone tape works well!

 

[Carol]

This may sound weird, but I use "Burts Bees" lip balm, and always have it in a pocket. When I smoke a clay pipe, I swab a little lip balm on the stem. Works great. It IS bees wax after all.

 

[aspiring_sage]

This may sound weird, but I use "Burts Bees" lip balm, and always have it in a pocket. When I smoke a clay pipe, I swab a little lip balm on the stem. Works great. It IS bees wax after all.

Makes sense to me! Will try it.

 

[anotherbob]

consider clay a meditation into the impermanence of life. I swear you can break a clay pipe sometimes by looking at it funny.

 

[PipeIT]

On a different note here, I swear looking back on history and clay pipes, I assumed, going back to when clays started out, that pipe smokers didn’t carry these, they just used a clay pipe as an example at a Tavern where Taverns were known to keep them in stock, and that is how clay pipe smoking was.

hmm

P.S. I’d keep them in like a small hard case of some sort.

 

[warren]

Clays were also, back in the day, full of tobacco, smoked and discarded. Truly fragile and disposable. "Pub pipes" were long stemmed so that the smoker could pull one off the rack and break off the end, ensuring a nearly sanitary smoke.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Maybe the best bet would be to smoke a clay pipe only on occasions you do not want/need to clench?

I tried only one clay pipe (more as a novelty) one time…. And did not like the feel of the stem. It is basically just an unused ornament for me now.

 

[OzPiper]

Metal clay pipe cases appear occasionally on EBay.
I’ve seen a couple in the past 6 months or so
The trick is to find one that fits
Much like finding an after market case for a meer

 

[Michigan_Bill]

I use nail polish on my clays with no problem. Two or three coats seem to work fine, but then again I don’t clench very much.
The clay in my car is in a hard glasses case. It's a shorter clay, maybe 4 1/2 inches or so. I put it in the case with some bubble wrap, fits perfectly.
Unfortunately a longer pipe would need a longer case.

 

[aspiring_sage]

Clays were also, back in the day, full of tobacco, smoked and discarded. Truly fragile and disposable. "Pub pipes" were long stemmed so that the smoker could pull one off the rack and break off the end, ensuring a nearly sanitary smoke.

I always wondered if that "break off the end" was a myth.

The local establishments never seem to have any available.

 

[warren]

If you were going to smoke a communal clay, used by who has what, wouldn't you break it off at the tip? I sure as hell would. They were cheap, easy to make by the hundreds and obviously not very hygienic in an age of various illnesses, woeful sanitary and personal hygiene conditions. Granted hygiene wasn't that much of a concern for most of the lower classes but, I'd still think breaking off the previously used tip would be an obvious action. It's not like clays were the pipe of choice in clubs or at home. They were a quick, cheap, disposable tool. One of the reasons the floor of the Thames River is littered, under the bridges and close off the banks, with clays. Buy a clay with tobacco, smoke it while walking home and toss it. Grab one off the rack buy a bowl full of tobacco, smoke it and replace on the rack. The next patron, not knowing what illness you might be hauling around, would certainly break off the bit. Why swap spit with strangers or, even drinking buddies. Even with the lack of knowledge of how sickness are transferred back in those days would most likely exercise a bit of care. Maybe not though. All we have are the stories and printed word passed down through the ages.

 

[warren]

The local establishments never seem to have any available.

We've come a long way with regard to personal hygiene. And, these days, smoking is prohibited in pubs in most areas. And, pubs are in the business of selling booze, why carry an inventory, of stuff people have to leave the premises to use.

There are some pubs/bars with heated and protected outside smoking locations. Far and few between though. Well, the nice ones are.

 

[OverMountain]

Congratulations on your clays
I’m definitely NOT an expert
Calling @halfdan

Cleaning:
in the old days in taverns they would place them in the fireplace at the end of the day
No reason why water-flushing won’t work

Pipe notches are not the only problem.
Lip cancer is a very real possibility

Lip cancer and clays? What’s the link?

 

[OzPiper]

Lip cancer and clays? What’s the link?

Obviously not if you smoke a clay occasionally
It could be due to the constituents of the clay or microabrasion caused by the pipe on your lips with decades of use.
If clay pipes can cause tooth notches, just think what they will do to your lips

 

[woodsroad]

I have a few clay pipes that I enjoy at home. They ain’t suited for travel. A few coats of nail polish has held up well. Revlon. Pearlescent Red. Looks snazzy. That’s important when I’m all alone.