Cleaning Your Cobs

[NJJesters10]

I've seen a lot about cleaning briar but not cobs. Mainly "don't run them under water" and "they're disposable".

That being said, I have been running a pipe cleaner through the stem and then wipe out the bowl after each smoke. For those who do a deep clean on their cobs, what process do you follow?

Thanks in advance,
Walter

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Water... They are most certainly not disposable (anymore than a briar...). Some folks on here have had cobs that have lasted decades.

For deep cleaning, I use Everclear, but normal after smoke cleaning, it's hot water. Been doing that on my oldest cob for 3 years now. No detrimental effects that I can see.

 

[tklee]

I seldom do deep cleaning on my cobs if compared to my briars. I only clean the stem, and use tissue to wipe the chamber, that's all. Coz I found that there are less carbon gather in the cobs chamber if compared to briar.

On my briars, yes. Not very frequent deep cleaning, coz after every smoke, I use pipe cleaner to clean inside the stem, the mortise and the draught hole. And I use wet tissue to wipe inside the chamber clean, so that carbon don't build up fast. If there's carbon, I'll use reamer to ream off the carbon.

 

[OldWill]

I have never "deep cleaned" my cobs, just pipe cleanered them. No, they do not build much cake, so I find little need for it. In 52 years, I have had only one cob "failure", as I burned through the bottom plug, but I have never had one go sour.

 

[FurCoat]

Same with the pipe cleaner and wipe the bowl with a paper towel. About once a year I'll deep clean with Everclear. Basically, I treat my cobs as I would my briars.

 

[ray47]

After running a pipe cleaner thru the stem and shank I use a gun bore brush (pictured below) to clean the bowl.

 

[indoeuro]

A thorough hot water rinse after the last smoke of the day, making sure to run a pipe cleaner through the stem and around the inside of the bowl to hasten drying. "Deep" clean once a month with liquor and a couple of pipe cleaners.
In both cases, leave the stem off overnight after cleaning so the interior of the shank and the mortise have a chance to dry. This will help extend the life of your cobs and keep them smoking sweetly.

 

[NJJesters10]

Thanks for all the advice I appreciate the input

 

[B.Fee]

For me it's paper towel and pipe cleaner after every smoke. I ream the bowl as needed.

 

[anotherbob]

I've seen a lot about cleaning briar but not cobs. Mainly "don't run them under water" and "they're disposable".

That being said, I have been running a pipe cleaner through the stem and then wipe out the bowl after each smoke. For those who do a deep clean on their cobs, what process do you follow?

Thanks in advance,
Walter

wow you need to not listen to closely to those people. A cob is no more disposable then a briar. I've never had to deep clean a cob either though. I do run a pipe cleaner and wipe out the chamber. Though honestly if I get neglectful about it, doesn't seem to get nasty the same way a briar can.
Oh and one of the main reasons a cob is cheaper, is the material is cheaper and easier to come by.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

wow you need to not listen to closely to those people. A cob is no more disposable then a briar. I've never had to deep clean a cob either though. I do run a pipe cleaner and wipe out the chamber. Though honestly if I get neglectful about it, doesn't seem to get nasty the same way a briar can.
Oh and one of the main reasons a cob is cheaper, is the material is cheaper and easier to come by.

Good point. Cob is a wonderful material for smoking. My cobs were the ones in the $30 price range. I don’t treat them any differently than the ones made from wood.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I put my cobs on the roof once a year and let the north wind work his cleaning magic.

 

[anotherbob]

Good point. Cob is a wonderful material for smoking. My cobs were the ones in the $30 price range. I don’t treat them any differently than the ones made from wood.

I like briar better, but my opinion does not change the fact that a cob is a solidly good pipe that is anything but cheap and disposable. In fact every smoker should have at least one.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

I like briar better, but my opinion does not change the fact that a cob is a solidly good pipe that is anything but cheap and disposable. In fact every smoker should have at least one.

My briars can be disposed of as well…lol! ?

 

[anotherbob]

My briars can be disposed of as well…lol! ?

not mine.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

not mine.

Bless your heart. ?

 

[anotherbob]

Bless your heart. ?

oh hey I know what that means. The PA equivalent is I really love/like/other term of endearment but....
But the way I look at it, if it's disposable why keep it.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

oh hey I know what that means. The PA equivalent is I really love/like/other term of endearment but....
But the way I look at it, if it's disposable why keep it.

I’m just kidding, but if I really had to, I could throw away a piece of wood as easily as a corn cob. I’d more likely give it away or stop using. I’ve found this applies to most things in my life.

Carry on friend….?

 

[jpmcwjr]

I've seen a lot about cleaning briar but not cobs. Mainly "don't run them under water" and "they're disposable".

Running hot water down a bowl and out the stem has been fine in my experience. 10-20 seconds is how I do it.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Running hot water down a bowl and out the stem has been fine in my experience. 10-20 seconds is how I do it.

Good to know.