Sorry to say but haven't done a good job of keeping the shanks clean of my pipes. I always run a pipe cleaner thru after each smoke but cleaning the shank is another story. I don't drink alcohol but found apple cider vinegar works very well. I went thru a full pack of cleaners dipping in the vinegar and scrubbing. Some of them had built up a cake in the shank as to where a Dill cleaner would barely pass through. There may be a better method but this worked for me. Hopefully I'll be more attentive in the future.
Cleaning the Shank
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That's a new one on me. If you're happy with the result, that's what matters.
No need to confess your sin on this forum. But, yeah.. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Now that you pipe is clean you may want to consider doing a periodic water flush to prevent buildup of oil and tars.
This might be particularly useful if you don’t have access to alcohol.
I gotta get off the internet. I thought the title was “Cleaning the Skank”
Nah, it's not the internet. It's the age. I keep misreading stuff after turning 50.
Buy Isopropyl Alcohol. Cheap and effective.
Vinegar is acidic and may not be the best for the Briar, whereas Isopropyl alcohol is flavorless and evaporates quickly, and alcohol works very well for absorbing residual oils.
I use the below pictured brush to clean the shanks on my pipes.
It depends on how anal you are about the cleaning process 
Brushes, as suggested by @ray47.
A strong torch helps
If there is a lot of "concreted" gunk, using drill bits (manually !) or a set of small jewellers' screwdrivers will save you a lot of time, pipecleaners and alcohol.
After I loosen the gunk, I use brushes while flushing with hot water.
Then finish with alcohol-soaked cleaners and q-tips.
Brushes, as suggested by @ray47.
A strong torch helps
If there is a lot of "concreted" gunk, using drill bits (manually !) or a set of small jewellers' screwdrivers will save you a lot of time, pipecleaners and alcohol.
After I loosen the gunk, I use brushes while flushing with hot water.
Then finish with alcohol-soaked cleaners and q-tips.
Warm water flushing while the pipe is still warm has made the deep cleaning with a pile of pipe cleaners, paper towels, and q-tips, mostly unnecessary for me.
Do they use different things to 'denature' (i.e. prevent you drinking) isopropyl alcohol? And if so how do you find one that won't flavor the pipe?
I used to use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning but found it made my pipes taste bitter for awhile. Now I use Everclear even though it's more expensive. Thanks for any info, I didn't do well in chemistry!
Hi Romaso,
Isopropyl is not denatured . It is chemical alcohol and cannot be drunk. it will poison you . Blind you etc.
It also does not flavor your pipe unless you are really impatient
After the cleaning I rest my pipes for 24 hrs. any possible alcohol odor is then gone.
So, if your pipe tastes bitter after a cleaning , it is probably not because of the iso alcohol.
Could be old ghosting , or insufficient cleaning . When the last alcohol dipped pipe cleaner comes out really clean, let it evporate entirely and then run a pipe cleaner dipped in a good quality whisky, cognac, or rum through the shank
and ( again ) let it evaporate.
Ocassionally I manage to obtain 95 % grain alcohol. It is expensive , cleans just as well and the smell
is quite agreeable.
Cheers !
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You can’t go wrong with Everclear.
Types and strengths of alcohol are not universally agreed upon here on the forum, but few will challenge the safety and effectiveness of Everclear as a cleaning agent.
I personally will only use drinkable alcohol, if and when, alcohol is needed for cleaning.
Thanks! I've been using the 95% grain alcohol, but if isopropyl works just as well then I'll switch to that.Hi Romaso,
Isopropyl is not denatured . It is chemical alcohol and cannot be drunk. it will poison you . Blind you etc.
It also does not flavor your pipe unless you are really impatient
After the cleaning I rest my pipes for 24 hrs. any possible alcohol odor is then gone.
So, if your pipe tastes bitter after a cleaning , it is probably not because of the iso alcohol.
Could be old ghosting , or insufficient cleaning . When the last alcohol dipped pipe cleaner comes out really clean, let it evporate entirely and then run a pipe cleaner dipped in a good quality whisky, cognac, or rum through the shank
and ( again ) let it evaporate.
Ocassionally I manage to obtain 95 % grain alcohol. It is expensive , cleans just as well and the smell
is quite agreeable.
Cheers !
Now, do you know anything that would chemically remove the sulfur from vulcanite stems?
After every smoke I use anywhere from 2-4 fluffy tapered cleaners on the stem and then 4-6 tapered bristle cleaners on the shank and the mortise. Don't forget the mortise. Once I feel the pipe is clean, I put it back in the space it came from and let it rest a day or two. I never smoke a dirty pipe. Why waste good tobacco for the sake of a few pipe cleaners. Once a year or so I use my Everclear, bring out the shank brushes and then do a deep clean. I am totally anal about my pipes being clean and I love smoking a fresh pipe every day. I want my tobacco to taste as good as humanly possible.
Not really, though there are liquid deoxidizers you can soak the stems in for 24 hrs.
See the pipe repair and maintenance section !
Like you I did not do well in chemistry
No, because isopropanol is toxic to drink anyway. Ethanol is grain (drinking) alcohol, and it is usually denatured with a little methanol if it’s not being sold for drinking. If it’s not denatured it’s subject to liquor taxes, regulations, etc.
I am with a lot of the guys - I am anal about wanting to smoke a clean pipe. I clean every time and use a bristled pipe cleaner. It will take about four- in the shaft and stem. I use a cheap drinkable alcohol, whatever is around. I have never found Everclear!! Every pipe may occasionally get the salt cleaning! Occasionally I have bought an estate and have been amazed by the filth- how could the previous smoker use the pipe like this!!! (Also, how could a decent seller sell it to me like this!!)
Hope I’m not the first to do this, but my water rinse has evolved to my using a little bit of dish liquid on my pipes. It rinses clean and does a better job than water alone with no trace of having used it. Pipes smoke like brand new.