Clean Your Briar Pipes the "New Way".

[brian64]

I also own thermocouples, if I get time I'll do a proper heat experiment.

:clap:
SCIENCE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GllSfiwCEtY

 

[davet]

I also own thermocouples

A few years since I've used TC's, not missing the work, pay's another story

 

[ashdigger]

One experiment I've though about often is to rig a pipe with 5 tc's to measure combustion of tobacco from light to "fine white ash"

 

[voorhees]

I cleaned and reamed my favorite flake pipe last night. To make sure I got all the dust, I did a cool water rinse as well. Dried and wiped bowl with a paper towel along with a pipe cleaner. Just smoked it and it was a perfect bowl. Worked fine for me.

 

[davet]

rig a pipe with 5 tc's to measure combustion of tobacco from light to "fine white ash"

It would be interesting to test the "cooler" smoke of a Church Warden as well :puffpipe:

 

[Chasing Embers]

Really! It makes the pipe look great, and lasts for weeks, perhaps months. And it removes no material.

Well, I suppose so if you prefer shiny brown stems to black. A bit like hiding rust with a coat of paint.

 

[mrmachado]

Sorry for the dumb question, but why deep-clean the pipe so often? Shouldn't it be an occasional event?
I always thought that a pipe cleaner, paper towels, a Czech tool and dry cleaning overall would do the trick for the everyday work.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I always thought that a pipe cleaner, paper towels, a Czech tool and dry cleaning overall would do the trick for the everyday work.

It does.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I always thought that a pipe cleaner, paper towels, a Czech tool and dry cleaning overall would do the trick for the everyday work.

After every smoke, I simply use pipe cleaners, corkscrew a paper towel into the bowl (one to three times depending on the blend I smoked) and then wipe down the pipe and stem with a microfiber cloth. Eventually when a pipe needs a deeper cleaning I'll use 151 rum. All of my pipes look great, and most smoke great. Sometimes simplicity is better.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well, I suppose so if you prefer shiny brown stems to black. A bit like hiding rust with a coat of paint.

No brown with the 50 or so vulcanite stems I've treated with a scrub pad and hot water, sometimes also with dish detergent. These are black.
After mineral oil on rim and stem:

Before oil, after hot water flush and scrubbing of those rims that had some lava:

Not only is it not like painting over rust, its benefit lies also with less material is removed than many other methods.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

No offense, but I still see discoloration in some of those stems in the first photo.

 

[warren]

It appears this "water rinse/cleaning" has morphed into a religion of sorts. :worship: That it works for many is now well established. That some are not sold on the idea or simply do not wish to change is also now established. We've gone circular and each proponent is only preaching to his choir. Or, so it appears.

I always thought that a pipe cleaner, paper towels, a Czech tool and dry cleaning overall would do the trick for the everyday work.

I'm betting the above works for the vast majority of smokers. I don't mess with the paper towel and do run a spirits soaked cleaner as necessary during my Sunday cleaning of pipes smoked during the previous week. But, I'm one of those "KISS" people. Simple, when it does the job, is always my preference.

 

[jpmcwjr]

It appears this "water rinse/cleaning" has morphed into a religion of sorts. :worship: That it works for many is now well established. That some are not sold on the idea or simply do not wish to change is also now established. We've gone circular and each proponent is only preaching to his choir. Or, so it appears.

Quite right. There are a couple of members who just love to piss on the idea, sometimes derailing what could be a good dialogue.

No offense, but I still see discoloration in some of those stems in the first photo.

None taken. Near the top is the stem of a Bing which has a blueish tint in the vulcanite, and a couple of pipes' stems were badly discolored some time ago. They are getting better.
But other than that, can you not agree that the stems are black?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Oxidation is corrosion and you'll lose material that way too. At best the stem will eventually taste like sulpher, at worst the stem will develop holes from erosion. Mineral oil can prevent it, but won't remove it once it starts.

 

[davek]

That it works for many is now well established. That some are not sold on the idea or simply do not wish to change is also now established.

De gustibus non est disputandum.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Secundum quas fideles.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

But other than that, can you not agree that the stems are black?

I can see that some of those stems, even oiled, still look pretty lousy. And I'm not saying that to be a jerk, and I'm not saying that to "piss all over your idea and ruin a good dialogue." It's just the truth. Plain and simple.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You are, of course, more than welcome to say the truth. Now, tell me, other than the three pipes I mentioned (the Bing and the two flanking the Dunhill, which must have had softy bits on them too long) which pipe looks "lousy"? I am sure you realize that a few pipes have bone, perspex, cumberland or black plastic.
Be specific!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Cumberland and vulcanite are the same material, why apply mineral oil to plastic, perspex, and bone?

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

8th, 10th, 11th pipes down, all showing oxidation.

I am sure you realize that a few pipes have bone, perspex, cumberland or black plastic.

Yeah... I'm fully aware the bone, perspex, and black plastic aren't going to oxidize. I'm stating that a little bit of mineral oil isn't going to get rid of the oxidation if that's what you're trying to imply from that photo, as the oxidation is still quite visible.