Filters; No Filters; and Resting

[cosmicfolklore]

I am having difficulty in warming up to this idea of running water through my pipes.

Cosmic, you say you hit it with a jewelers cloth, but does the water cause you to need to apply wax or polish more often? I suppose if you it does you have to wait until they are bone dry, correct?

Wax is on the pipe to waterproof it. So, no, I do not have to wax my pipes, except maybe every few years.
I don’t put anything on the stems. Just hitting them with a jeweler’s cloth, keeps them shiny.

This process keeps my pipes looking good, smelling good, and tasting good.

Ever since John presented this water rinse idea on here, many of us took to it with no problems. But, many are still reluctant, and some people make up fake bullshit experiences to deter others from doing this.

But, I’m not proselytizing the idea. Just giving my account and process. If someone decides not to do it, I don’t have any issues. They’re’ your pipes.

But, if you have questions, there are many of us that do this in some form or other.

 

[sablebrush52]

I understand but the fact at my first post is true and remains.
Now that you mentioned the hot water rinse.... Few days ago I treated a stunk dunhill with salt and alcohol for 24 hours and then rinsed with tap water. It expanded and when I tried to insert the stem it stuck so I had to use the freezer method to be able to remove the stem. Then after days of drying only the bee's wax helped. Now it is as good as almost new.

Interesting. I’ve done hundreds of water flushes and never had that happen. Usually the stem to shank fit is unaffected, and with a couple of pipes, needs maybe a 15 to 20 minute wait before reattaching the stem. Never had one lose the fit.

 

[karam]

I do a water flush and reaming down to bare wood once every 6 months or so, the first smoke in a pipe treated this way is always caviar, really clean tobacco taste. Some here think if a blade of any sort comes in the same room as a pipe it will damage it beyond repair, black holes will form in the chamber and implode the universe etc. In reality it's all fine, briar is very sturdy.

On topic I rest my pipes for a day after smoking, and don't use any sort of filter in the few filtered pipes I have. Balsa is ok but I ran out 10 years ago and never used it again

 

[jpmcwjr]

I understand but the fact at my first post is true and remains.
Now that you mentioned the hot water rinse.... Few days ago I treated a stunk Dunhill with salt and alcohol for 24 hours and then rinsed with tap water. It expanded and when I tried to insert the stem it stuck so I had to use the freezer method to be able to remove the stem. Then after days of drying only the bee's wax helped. Now it is as good as almost new.

When I do a salt/alcohol or wet coffee grounds treatment, the stem stays in.

Same with hot water flush; stem stays in. (The rinse removes gunk from the stem as well.)

 

[jpmcwjr]

PS. Yes, pipe cleaner in the airway and paper towel in the chamber after a water flush.... but I often don't bother with that unless I want to smoke that pipe right away.

 

[PipeIT]

I can tell when I am dehydrated by being able to feel ridges in the soft part of the top of my mouth. If I ever run my tongue across the roof of my mouth and feel ridges, I start drinking more water. But, for the most part, I always have a glass of ice water at my side.

I am starting to be the same now, I rub my tongue around, to see if it feels nice and soft or rough and bumpy.

I also find drinking alkaline water to be helpful…

 

[bersekero]

Ever since John presented this water rinse idea on here, many of us took to it with no problems. But, many are still reluctant, and some people make up fake bullshit experiences to deter others from doing this.

....

But, if you have questions, there are many of us that do this in some form or other.

If you browse that thread you will see that at least two members had this swelling/expansion issue which resulted to a stuck stem.
I am a very busy man and I didn't come here to bulshit members or waste their time. I am here to ask and learn as you advised. So thank you very much for your time to share your expertise. I mean it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

If you browse that thread you will see that at least two members had this swelling/expansion issue which resulted to a stuck stem.
I am a very busy man and I didn't come here to bulshit members or waste their time. I am here to ask and learn as you advised. So thank you very much for your time to share your expertise. I mean it.

Two members, one of which was you, followed by Sigmund. In both cases, stem was left out, and moisture from salt and alcohol or other caused swelling of the mortise.

In all cases, leave stem in for the flush. Problem solved.

 

[bersekero]

Obviously I didn't read the salt-alcohol method carefully. Next time I will do as advised here and leave the stem in. Of course I will try the water flush also, again with stem in.
Thanks a lot everybody.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Obviously I didn't read the salt-alcohol method carefully. Next time I will do as advised here and leave the stem in. Of course I will try the water flush also, again with stem in.
Thanks a lot everybody.

I've never left the stem in but I also use cotton balls instead of salt. Alcohol has also been known to damage plastic and acrylic stems.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

....

If you browse that thread you will see that at least two members had this swelling/expansion issue which resulted to a stuck stem.
I am a very busy man and I didn't come here to bulshit members or waste their time. I am here to ask and learn as you advised. So thank you very much for your time to share your expertise. I mean it.

I’m sorry, there’s some confusion, new friend. I did not have anyone in this thread in mind, but was talking about other members in past threads who’ve had some mesmerizingly odd things happen when they flushed their pipes with water. I did not mean your post, which admittedly, I didn’t even read.

 

[bersekero]

I’m sorry, there’s some confusion, new friend. I did not have anyone in this thread in mind, but was talking about other members in past threads who’ve had some mesmerizingly odd things happen when they flushed their pipes with water. I did not mean your post, which admittedly, I didn’t even read.

I've never left the stem in but I also use cotton balls instead of salt. Alcohol has also been known to damage plastic and acrylic stems.

View attachment 351235

I did exactly this. Obviously I saw a picture like this somewhere here. This is the only pipe forum I am visiting anyway.

 

[bersekero]

I’m sorry, there’s some confusion, new friend. I did not have anyone in this thread in mind, but was talking about other members in past threads who’ve had some mesmerizingly odd things happen when they flushed their pipes with water. I did not mean your post, which admittedly, I didn’t even read.

No problem my friend. Thank you again.

 

[bersekero]

I did exactly this. Obviously I saw a picture like this somewhere here. This is the only pipe forum I am visiting anyway.

But my pipe is straight so quite a few quantity of alcohol went to the mortise and probably made it damp. I thought of putting the pipe at an angle to prevent this but then alcohol escaped from the bowl and there where the danger of damaging the finish. If I used less alcohol it wouldn't be enough to fill all the chamber.
So the mortise was damp for at least 24 hours.

 

[bersekero]

Update. I have just flushed a group 2 dunhill that I smoked few minutes ago and dry cleaned afterwards. Amazing how much gunk it still had. I wiped the chamber with paper towels and used tapered cleaners as well. The smell almost gone and looks dry and ready to smoke again.
Probably the salt alcohol is much more effective but the water flush is very easy and fast and can be done very often.
When I finished I gently twisted and removed the stem to see if there is a resistance and it looked good and not stuck. I know I didn't have to do that but I couldn't resist.
Thank you again.

Edit. Update no 2.
I am smoking the same pipe again right after the flush treatment. It smokes great oneral with better taste and draws better.

 

[Sigmund]

Two members, one of which was you, followed by Sigmund. In both cases, stem was left out, and moisture from salt and alcohol or other caused swelling of the mortise.

In all cases, leave stem in for the flush. Problem solved.

That is indeed true. They are filter pipes so I had to remove the filter. SInce I have used water on a few pipes but I make sure to just set them aside to dry. I have not tried a 9mm pipe with the stem reinserted. That may be a solution. Regardless one needs to keep in mind that a 9mm insert has a lot more surface area than a non filtered pipe. The same degree of swelling will have a larger impact. At least that is my working theory.

When I screwed up a pipe I was being impatient and stupid. Luckily the only damage was to the 9mm derlin piece. They cost about 25 cents. I was lucky that it broke clean on the glue joint. One of my pipe vendors sent me a new one with an order. Otherwise it would cost 10 bucks for a part that costs a quarter! I glued it back and its been perfect ever since.

SO my warning is if you run into resistance put the pipe down, walk away and forget about it.

 

[bersekero]

I am glad that I started this thread. It was really very enlightening. This is a great place with great people.