Favorite alcohol for pipe cleaning/sweetening

[Sobrbiker]

I use Everclear, but just started by rehab’ing my father’s collection.

I have a friend that makes ‘shine that swears that Everclear actually adds flavor to make it harsher.

I will probably swap over to a airline bottle of Bacardi 151 soon (I use the airline bottles like I do bottles of gun cleaning solvent since I’ve been clean and sober for 27+yrs).

 

[Briar’s Echo]

I too use Everclear. I received a bottle of 95% for Christmas. Great stuff.

 

[Papamique]

since I’ve been clean and sober for 27+yrs

That’s awesome! Congrats!

 

[instymp]

I thought Bacardi 151 rum was discontinued.

 

[Grangerous]

I thought Bacardi 151 rum was discontinued.

Perhaps they should re-label any remaining bottles as “Pipe-Sweetener”.

I stick to dish liquid which is by design to make clean.

 

[TheWhale13]

Perhaps they should re-label any remaining bottles as “Pipe-Sweetener”.

I stick to dish liquid which is by design to make clean.

Do you really use dish liquid?

 

[5star]

I like to sip Wild Turkey 101 on the rocks when cleaning a bunch of my pipes (but only after 5pm).



Mac

 

[Zeno Marx]

I only asked about the soap because the only experience I've had with soap in my pipes was many years ago when my brother-in law washed one of my pipes with soap and it then tasted like soap (not Lakeland), nothing I did could remove the taste and I had to throw it in the trash. What kind of soap do you use?

My first choice would be Bacti-Stat AE. I like it the best, but it is a specialty soap and not readily found. I only know of it because it was gifted to me. Dawn isn't far behind, and most folk have some in the house. I've used both Dawn and Palmolive dishwashing soap. If you have a really cruddy pipe, Dawn is probably your best bet.

 

[Grangerous]

Do you really use dish liquid?

Yes! Of course!

Put the liquid in the bowl with hot water and your finger. Let the water run through the pipe and the stem. Rinse it well. You’ll be surprised how clean and how easy. Pipe cleaners to the tight places and dry with a twist of papertowel.

Not only easy but fast and nothing but clean!

And smoke it right away if you please! Briar doesn’t absorb water like you’ve been told.

 

[Peterson314]

I use hot water 95% of the time. When I decide to scrub out my pipe with alcohol, I use vodka.

 

[Zeno Marx]

And smoke it right away if you please! Briar doesn’t absorb water like you’ve been told.

Right. On one of these here pipe boards, I think someone experimented with running briar through a full dishwasher cycle and then cut the pipe in half on a band saw to see how deeply the water had penetrated/how much water the wood had soaked up. After a 2-hour cycle, the water had barely penetrated the briar. Maybe 1mm into the briar? It was eye-opening.

When I scrub a pipe with water, I'm maybe doing it for a maximum of 15 minutes. More likely 10 minutes or less. And I'm not using scalding hot water like a dishwasher does. I let the pipe sit overnight to dry, but I trust that it could be smoked immediately thereafter.

 

[Lees65GTO]

My first choice would be Bacti-Stat AE. I like it the best, but it is a specialty soap and not readily found. I only know of it because it was gifted to me. Dawn isn't far behind, and most folk have some in the house. I've used both Dawn and Palmolive dishwashing soap. If you have a really cruddy pipe, Dawn is probably your best bet.

I'll have to try using that method, on one of my older pipes first. Maybe I have missed out on a good cleaning method all these years.

 

[Searock Fan]

I don't use alcohol on my pipes, but it you must, make it "grain alcohol" like Everclear.

 

[Duke of Erinmore]

No name 70% isopropanol, bought in 5 litre fuel containers from eBay

 

[Searock Fan]

No name 70% isopropanol, bought in 5 litre fuel containers from eBay

You have to be kidding! That's toxic!

 

[Duke of Erinmore]

You have to be kidding! That's toxic!

Thank God my pipes don't know that

But there seems to be a real difference in cleaning habits - here in Old Europe everyone uses the stuff.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Highest proof clear spirits that I can find, since Everclear isn't available here

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Also cleaning your pipes immediately after smoking them also helps keep them in "tip-top" condition!

 

[ThermionicScott]

You have to be kidding! That's toxic!

Sure, if you drink it. Using tiny amounts to clean a pipe and then letting it evaporate off before smoking -- nothing to worry about.

Didn't your mom used to clean the thermometers with rubbing alcohol before taking your temp as a kid?

 

[Bushido]

Great topic. I use Captain Morgan spiced rum to wipe the mouth piece and clean airway after each smoke. Leaves a great flavor for the first few minutes of the smoke, then disappates.