cleaning Estate Pipes

[ramjetaa]

Hello forum..its the new guy looking for some sage advice. Just purchased four beautiful pipes via craiglist. Although i love my cobbs..i broke down and aquired these four pieces..A rather large Kaywoodie with bamboo stem, Aldo Velani Calabash, Peterson of Dublin with a nice silver spigot system, and a Bjarne. They all appear lightly smoked and in very good condition..There is a slight smell of tobacco in each bowl. All bowls still have tobacco residue along the walls. I payed on average around 50.00 per pipe. I am happy with the trasaction and im looking foward to..what shall we say.. a more safisticated smoke??..No.. thats bullshit..just looking foward to enjoying some real works of art..oh and i almost forgot...purchased these beauties from a very nice lady who was making room for her collection....cool smokes gentleman and ladies!!!
Ramjetaa

 

[romeowood]

one of many fine videos / articles on the site regarding estate pipe rehabilitation is HERE!

 

[smokindawg]

There are many different aspects of cleaning up an estate. If the ones you have are in good condition, then cleaning them up will be easy enough.
An alcohol soak in the bowl followed by a lot of alcohol soaked pipe cleaners and even Q-tips will have those pipes cleaned up quickly. They probably won't even need a reaming.
A cotton ball or two inserted in the bowl and then soaked with alcohol will work wonders. You want to make sure that the alcohol doesn't get on the finish, as it can damage or completely remove it. Make sure and set the pipe so that the alcohol can't run out the shank either. You can insert a pipe cleaner in the shank while the pipe is soaking and this will help.You can repeat this soaking as many times as you like and until the ghost of previous blends is gone. Follow this up by cleaning the shank and mortise area with plenty of alcohol soaked pipe cleaners and Q-tips.
I've found that the best, and cheapest pipe rest for cleaning pipes is an egg carton. Just remove the top.