Disinfecting Estate Pipes

[fordm60]

Hello gentleman,
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Thank you,

Robert.
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[mayfair70]

(edited)
Scrubbing the outside stem and button with a soapy old toothbrush will lift dirt and germs from the surface, suspending them in an emulsion, which is then cleared away by rinsing in water. Applying alcohol internally with a pipe cleaner and externally to the button area (sparingly on vulcanite) is a good extra step to kill germs, remove tars and neutralize some ghosting. I generally wash the whole pipe externally with soapy water and washrag then rinse and towel dry. I scrape the inside of the bowl to remove cake then give a light sanding leaving a layer of carbon. Pipe cleaners and alcohol do the rest.

 

[emosupremo]

Listerine? Otherwise, how about cetylpyridium chloride as in a mouthwash (many of which also contain denaturants for its ethanol...never use methanol which is toxic). I would not put this in the bowl but cetylpyridium chloride (or benzalkonium chloride) are cationic detergents that (usually) you see combs at barbershops floating in. Granted, Vulcanite is not stainless steel but plastic combs are closer in molecular makeup and surface properties.
I believe the USP says that ethanol concentrations above 16 percent (it depends very much on pH) is required for ethanol to be a PRESERVATIVE. I don't know how that translates into being a SPOROCIDAL (spores are real hard to kill).
BTW, after Hurricane Sandy the news told us not to use pure bleach but dilute 1:10...it was more effective antimicrobial when diluted. Just wanted to through that out there. More is not better.

 

[briarbuda48]

Walker Pipe Repair is great and do most of my work. I own over 100 pipes, 90 of them estates and many cleaned up myself, I only use Everclear to disinfect, Murphy’s oil soap and a tooth brush to clean the outside and Zymol detail to polish it up.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Moonshine on the chamber, airway, and mortise. Soap and water on the stem. Alcohol can cause microfractures in acrylic stems.

 

[pipesticks]

If you do choose to use bleach, keep in mind that bleach has an expiration date. It will still work for keeping your undergarments white, but forget about it for disinfecting purposes such as purifying water, killing bacteria, etc.
And boiling stems is also not a great idea unless you want your bent stem to turn back into a straight stem. Works great for softening stems to rebend them though. I do it all the time. I hate the radical bends on cob stems, so I buy the straight replacement stems and bend them the way I want it. You can also change the bend of a bent cob stem but that is trickier and you risk pinching off the airway unless done with care.

 

[pipesticks]

The problem I have with bleach is, sure, it will deoxidize a stem, but it also pits it if soaked too long. Try Oxyclean for the soak....works great....no pitting and saves a lot of elbow grease sanding.

 

[dottiewarden]

Fill and spark is my method, soon I ghost it with my own particular taste in tobacco selection. As for health issues, I guess it's a risk I'm willing to take, as all pipe smokers are refined gentlemen. Keep in mind, I don't always use condoms either.

 

[Chasing Embers]

all pipe smokers are refined gentlemen

Okay, I'm offended. :rofl:

 

[dottiewarden]

Are you suggesting I'm sadly mistaken?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Heavens no. :rofl:

 

[uperepik]

I could not imagine using bleach, I used oxyclean a few times but I swear I can still smell it on those pipes long after, now I just get on with the sanding and forgo the soak. I cannot believe I have never thought of a drill bit (thanks sable), that would definitely make initial airway crude cleaning quicker.