Everclear and Cotton Ball Soak

[Briar Lee]

I just got in 400 cotton balls for $4, and I’ve packed up a couple of pipes with them using 190 proof Everclear, filled up to the rim.

The Lee had a ghost of cured hams and the Imperial grade Yello Bole had been smoked since Harry S Truman threatened to kick a reporter’s azz that made fun of Margaret’s singing.

Let’s see what they look like tomorrow morning.

If I’d used sea salt, the Yello Bole would be black tomorrow morning and the Lee would be red, from leeching out the dye.

Let’s let the cotton soak up the nastiness, instead.

This is supposed to avoid the danger of cracked pipes, from the salt.

 

[Hunter1]

Good to know. I have been picking up and looking at used pipes in stores. Now I know how to clean them.

 

[Briar Lee]

Four more hours to soak, and we’ll see how nasty the cotton balls are.

 

[pappymac]

I prefer the cotton balls/everclear over seasalt/everclear when I deep clean estate pipes.

 

[Briar Lee]

I prefer the cotton balls/everclear over seasalt/everclear when I deep clean estate pipes.

This is my first time trying 190 proof Everclear and cotton balls to deep clean, instead of high test Everclear and sea salt.

I’m thinking about trying using 80 proof vodka and cotton balls as a follow up on the really nasty Yello Bole.

60% water and pure ethanol would take longer to evaporate than 10% water and pure ethanol, besides being many times cheaper.

Anyone ever try vodka?

 

[didimauw]

I prefer cotton balls due to it being easier, and...well less salty. However I'm lazy and forget I'm cleaning pipes, and the cotton sits for very long times. Sometimes it's hard to get all the fuzz out afterwards. So make sure you keep an eye on them!

Obviously you are cause you started a thread on it with updates. Haha

 

[Briar Lee]

Not what I call amazing results.

The cotton balls were bone dry, 26 hours later.

I’m bringing out the cheap 80 proof vodka.

190 proof might evaporate before it penetrates the briar.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Most times folks don't need to use alcohol at all, but some like it as they feel it's manly.

 

[Briar Lee]

Most times folks don't need to use alcohol at all, but some like it as they feel it's manly.

I’ve actually smoked both pipes.

I’m amazed.

The ghost is utterly gone from the Lee and the Imperial smokes clean, cool, and sweet.

Come to think of it, I’d used the salt treatment several times on the Imperial about a year ago, and the Lee was virtually new.

What cotton balls and Everclear seem to do, is “sweeten” a pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Regular use of hot water flushing does the same.

 

[Briar Lee]

Regular use of hot water flushing does the same.

I can see how.

The reason that a barmaid used to clean the ashtrays with a wet rag regularly in in the old honky tonk bars, was the residue from tars and resins would stink, otherwise.

What sours a pipe is rancid smoke.

What sweetens it is cleaning by flushing.

Water might be better.

 

[AJL67]

I’ve actually smoked both pipes.

I’m amazed.

The ghost is utterly gone from the Lee and the Imperial smokes clean, cool, and sweet.

Come to think of it, I’d used the salt treatment several times on the Imperial about a year ago, and the Lee was virtually new.

What cotton balls and Everclear seem to do, is “sweeten” a pipe.

I actually picked up a couple eye droppers and use those to moisten the cotton balls, easy to keep it from going all over, the first one i tried the cotton ball and ever clear on i dripped some alcohol on the bowl, amazing how fast that stuff takes the finish off, glad i used a basket pipe for the test run.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

I have used noniodized salt and Everclear since the early 1980's. No issues whatsoever. It worked for made in Ireland Erinmore and Mixture 79 from the same time period, the two, by consensus, worst ghosters out there.

Glad to hear other things work. Way too much paranoia about ghosting. If it happens, it is extremely easy to handle

 

[justscience]

Hot water flushing is useful for recent residues, but alcohol is more effective for the gunk of years past. No, I don't own a gun or a big pickup.

 

[Briar Lee]

Tonight I cleaned and water flushed both the Lee and the Imperial, and then decided to pack both full of hot, fresh wet coffee grounds.

Look at the nastiness a scrubbing pad removed from the old, neglected Yelo Bole.

When I’m done grapeseed oil will restore the original luster,,,for awhile.

 

[craig61a]

By the thread title I thought someone was packing their sack in cotton and alcohol…

 

[Sobrbiker]

No, I don't own a gun or a big pickup.

You say that like it’s a bad thing…

I was gonna freshen my dad’s collection that hadn’t been smoked for going on fifty years with cotton and everclear, but mama had no balls and we had salt so salt it was.
Biggest take away I saw is that the briar seemed drier-taste was nearly the same.
I’ll try cotton next time.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I used plain paper towels in my most recent alcohol treatment. I think the medium isn't very critical, just as long as you provide something for the yucky stuff to wick into as the alcohol evaporates.

 

[captpat]

I use kosher salt and 91% alcohol as the high octane Everclear is not available in my area. One advantage to salt is that it's easy to treat the mortise at the same time. IME the mortise is often yuckier than the bowl. Using kitty litter in a small plastic bowl makes it easy to position the pipe so that alcohol doesn't run where it's not desired.