Cleaning Briar Pipe Bowl

[James8855]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title - Bob

How come you can’t use alcohol to clean the briar pipe bowl?

 

[python]

Because it will strip the stain from the wood.

 

[olkofri]

You can use it to clean or disinfect the chamber and airways, though.

I use vodka or gin.

 

[James8855]

Because it will strip the stain from the wood.

I mean the inside of the bowl, not the outside.

 

[James8855]

You can use it to clean or disinfect the chamber and airways, though.

I use vodka or gin.

C

You can use it to clean or disinfect the chamber and airways, though.

I use vodka or gin.

The chamber is the inside of the bowl right?

 

[hauntedmyst]

I mean the inside of the bowl, not the outside.

Just like Bob said, you can and many of us do. And yes the chamber is the inside.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The chamber is the inside of the bowl right?

The chamber is where you place the tobacco, the bowl is the section of the stummel that the chamber is drilled into.?

 

[badbriar]

I use 151 Rum Inside the bowl and stem. /works like a charm and has the added benefit of dramatically reducing a mild-medium ghost!

 

[subsalac]

The reason why you may have heard against using alcohol inside the bowl is likely because it will remove cake. I think most advise to just swab it with a dry pipe cleaner. If your pipe already has a good cake, I see no harm in it but someone more experienced can correct me there.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The reason to avoid alcohol is that it removes material in the briar that help make it so fire resistant. (and many think it's better to drink it!) However, that's a slow process, and obviated by having a sturdy layer of cake.

A hot water flush is in my book way superior to the hoary old method of alcohol cleansing.

 

[olkofri]

The reason to avoid alcohol is that it removes material in the briar that help make it so fire resistant. (and many think it's better to drink it!)

Of course! It's not every day I eat hot coals, you know? nana

 

[olkofri]

A hot water flush is in my book way superior

I've been meaning to ask you, jpm, seriously this time, is the water method safe on Meerschaum pipes?

 

[jpmcwjr]

It has been on my six meers. Also on a MM, though I recommend against hot water on cobs.

 

[jhowell]

I've been meaning to ask you, jpm, seriously this time, is the water method safe on Meerschaum pipes?

I use it all the time. Soft toothbrush, Dawn soap, scrub and dry...

 

[Rebub24]

For cleaning my pipe before packing it, I will run a bristled pipe cleaner down through the button of the stem down to the chamber. Pull the bristled cleaner out, reverse it and run it down through the stem again. I will then fold it in half and run it around the chamber. I will then do the same process with a regular pipe cleaner. I find that doing this before packing a pipe, it will keep the pipe clean and the cake won't build up too much. After smoking I will let the pipe rest to completely dry.

 

[olkofri]

I use it all the time. Soft toothbrush, Dawn soap, scrub and dry...

You mean I can use a baby toothbrush and dish soap on a Meerschaum?? ?

I was wondering how to disinfect mine when/if it comes in prior to first smoke. I was gonna use gin as I normally do with briars.

 

[dcon]

Most soaps are actually detergents and leave some residue. Mark me down as skeptical. My meers
are not that old but, I have kept to dry cleaning only.

 

[olkofri]

Most soaps are actually detergents and leave some residue. Mark me down as skeptical. My meers
are not that old but, I have kept to dry cleaning only.

Yeah, I was afraid of that. Even with my dishes I've found the soap I use (Sunlight) can be quite concentrated and leave a residual smell (and possibly taste ) on kitchenware. I have to rinse real good.

 

[BROBS]

gotta use a phthalate free soap.

 

[craig61a]

Ya mean we’re smoking Dishsoap...?