I recently picked up an estate and normally do an alcohol and salt cleaning and clean the stem with alcohol and pipe cleaners. I've put about 25 through this stem and they are still coming out brown! Is there a better way other than a retort? Right now I have a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol sitting in it for a while.
Cleaning inside of stems
- Thread starter Old Millwright
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Personally, I would use warm soapy water and a shank brush or bristled pipe cleaner. Some advise against alcohol on acrylic, others say its fine. To err on the side of caution, I go with water.
Alcohol on acrylic can cause microfractures in the material. I'd go with an overnight soak in lemon juice followed with whitening toothpaste on a bristle pipe cleaner.
H
HRPufnstuf
Guest
Baking soda paste on a brush. I have found baking soda very effective as a gentle cleaner. Rinse with warm water.
Try straw cleaning brushes! Like the ones you use to clean metal straws/kids bottles.
They’re sized appropriately, are decently more rigid (will work on a bent stem if you pre-bend the cleaner), and are washable/reusable. They’re similar to bristle cleaners with a little more “oomph”, minus absorption. I have used them with success when stems need a good scrubbin’.
They’re sized appropriately, are decently more rigid (will work on a bent stem if you pre-bend the cleaner), and are washable/reusable. They’re similar to bristle cleaners with a little more “oomph”, minus absorption. I have used them with success when stems need a good scrubbin’.
NO alcohol to clean an acrylic stem. A pipe cleaner with some baking soda, unscented dish wash detergent,or even soft scrub, will do.
My estate ebonite stems are given a first cleaning with a bristle pipe cleaner dipped in soft scrub, unscented mind you
It clears out the tars from smoking but also the oxidation that builds up inside the stem and the bit..
A little shank brush works fine too . I buy mine from a tea/coffee shop, they are made from very sturdy, but natural fiber and go a long time. Excellent jobbies.
My estate ebonite stems are given a first cleaning with a bristle pipe cleaner dipped in soft scrub, unscented mind you
It clears out the tars from smoking but also the oxidation that builds up inside the stem and the bit..
A little shank brush works fine too . I buy mine from a tea/coffee shop, they are made from very sturdy, but natural fiber and go a long time. Excellent jobbies.
