Cleaning Briar Pipe Bowl

[jpmcwjr]

I seldom use detergent on my pipes, and never soap. Very hot tap water does very good things.

 

[jhowell]

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.

I do. Remember - we're talking about a piece of rock here...

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't believe I would use water on a meer particularly with soap or detergent. Meers are reasonably pourous compared to briar. I would be okay with distilled water on a meer. For that matter, since I presently don't own any meers, you can use dog urine as far as I'm concerned.

 

[BROBS]

I have used plain hot water with success.
on the inside of the pipe and outside.

you do have to be careful because if you let it get too wet, the rock will become soft again.
That's how they carve it.

 

[olkofri]

I do. Remember - we're talking about a piece of rock here...

Yup, but it's a rock with a Mohs hardness of 2: basically anything can scratch it.

 

[BROBS]

chalk is a rock as well... so is salt.

 

[weezell]

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

OH MY GAWD!!!! NOT AGAIN...

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, yeah! You'll hear about it until the very last hoary old goat gives it a fair shake!.

 

[Bowie]

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

I ran some warm water through a couple of cobs tonight and they seem okay. Maybe they will be creamed corn pipes tomorrow though.

I rinsed out a couple of briars last week and they are nice and fresh; "just like that guy on the forum says" I remarked to myself.

 

[craig61a]

It’s not necessary or as advisable to rinse your pipes out after every smoke; I just wipe the chamber with a paper or microfiber towel after the bowl cools down.

And I occasionally sand (320 g) the inside of my Meer pipes to remove build up, but not all that often.