Cob Cleaning

[05venturer]

How and How often to the cob smokers here clean your pipes? I just run a few cleaners with alcohol thru them and a paper towel soaked in alcohol inside the bowl when I feel the need and have the time. So far seems to be working but wondering if anyone else has any other methods that work for them?

FYI, I normally smoke anywhere from 5-12 bowls a day in one pipe and then switch to another pipe the next day.

 

[metalmilitia]

I just run a cleaner through the stem to revive the black char. 5-12 bowls a day? a man after my own heart

 

[reichenbach]

Alcohol in the bowl? I would think that would add a level of moisture that you wouldn't want especially after 5 to 12 bowls. How many pipes in your rotation? I ask because I only had 5 pipes in mine while doing the same thing (pertaining to work load) while resting them on the weekends with briars and 3 of the 5 cobs came down with soggy bottom syndrome. I'm going to pipe mud them when they are dry but it's been 2 months now and I'm still waiting. I am a clencher, however, and I end up with a lot of saliva down into the pipe so that might be (probably is) a big part of my problem.
But to answer your question, I usually have to chip clean the draught hole with the poker on my Czech tool then use pipe cleaners. It's gets the usual alcohol treat about once a month but it's been a while because I am have tired/lazy.

 

[05venturer]

to be clear i put some alcohol on the paper towel and wipe out the bowl then use another paper towel to dry it when deep cleaning

 

[reichenbach]

Ok, gotcha. Like I said, I've had issues with moisture build up (as stated above) so I was wondering. Have you ever had a soggy bottom cob issue? Curious about the time frame. Two months seems an awful long time.

 

[05venturer]

Only soggy bottom bowl problem I had was a cob I purchased thinking I was buying a MM Cob and it ended up being a Chinese POS cob pipe. Never had a problem with my MM Cobs

 

[cortezattic]

I'm not a big fan of cobs, but if folks enjoy them they should smoke them.

Two observations, which are both a matter of opinion:

• 1) Alcohol is hygroscopic, and readily takes up moisture. So it doesn't contribute to the problem, it solves it.
  
  2) Moisture accumulating in the pipe is far more likely to come from condensation than drool -- even for clenchers.
  
  ...get a new cob and try to force saliva into the stem -- intentionally. Not so easy to do.

...my 2¢

 

[wilson]

That's more cleaning than I do with my cobs, then, again, I don't smoke 12 bowls a day. Mostly I just run a cleaner through the stem and wudge (new word I learned from another post) the bowl with a paper towel. Eventually, I'll use some alcohol on the stem, but certainly not after every smoke.

 

[nsfisher]

Other than a cleaner tru the stem, I never clean cobs and I smoke em everyday

 

[radio807]

Other than a cleaner tru the stem, I never clean cobs and I smoke em everyday

Same here, swab the stem and I'm done with the cleaning. The nastier cobs get the sweeter they smoke.

 

[petes03]

My cobs never get an in-depth cleaning like my briars do. I run a cleaner through the stem and to the rack it goes. I've never had any issues with them.

 

[werdna]

2) Moisture accumulating in the pipe is far more likely to come from condensation than drool

This has been my personal experience too.
My cobs get a pipe cleaner through the stem, and a quick wipe of the bowl with a paper towel at the end of the day. I smoke 5-6 bowls per day, with a three day rotation for cobs. Though I also get in one brier pipe full each day.

 

[reichenbach]

Interesting. Thanks guys, I always learn something on this forum, even when I am being resistant to learning.

 

[pipingruotsi]

I do pretty much the same thing. Pipe cleaner through the stem and pretty much don't do anything to the bowl until the cake gets in the way of the tamper. Then I sand the cake down some with sandpaper.

 

[magicsmoke7]

I just got a MM cob at the NASPC show in Dublin so thanks for all the info! Good posts.

 

[pipingruotsi]

While on the topic of cobs, guys, does anyone use the medico filters that come with them? I always take mine out, preferring the more open draw.

 

[05venturer]

Usually no filter, if I do use one its a Balsa filter

 

[Perique]

Like Mr Fisher, I smoke a lot of cons. And like Mr Fisher, mine get only a couple pipe cleaners through the stem. I'll also fold the cleaners in half and wipe out the bowl. That's it.

 

[nsfisher]

Like Mr Fisher, I smoke a lot of cons. And like Mr Fisher

Mr. Fisher would be my Father or Grandfather, I am Fisher or Michael. hahahahahaha

 

[dennisfbird]

where does one get balsa filters?