General Pipe Maintenance

[smokeytay33]

Hey all,
I have noticed that a lot of these topics are fairly specific. I would like some advice on general pipe maintenance and cleaning, since I am fairly new-ish to smoking. I have a few pipes from antique shops and eBay, and a lot have cake and a stale tobacco taste. They aren't in bad condition, however. Does anyone have tips on how to fix these problems? Also, can anyone share their typical cleaning procedures after an every day smoke? Tips for both stem and bowl are welcome and appreciated. If this topic is too general, I apologize. I am just trying to learn from more experienced smokers. Thanks!
Smokey Tay ::

 

[petes03]

For restoring antique store finds, here's what I do;
1) get yourself a good reamer, such as a Senior.
2) wet the inside of the bowl with alcohol to soften the cake slightly, then carefully ream to your desired thickness.
3) use a shank brush dipped in alcohol to clean the draft hole and shank. Then use bristled pipe cleaners, followed by fluffy ones until clean.
4) sanitize. The easiest way to do this is a salt/ alcohol or salt/cotton ball treatment. ( I have recently come to prefer the cotton myself)

To do this; remove the stem, then insert a fluffy pipe cleaner in the stem. Next, stuff cotton balls in the bowl (tightly) until the bowl is full. Set the bowl somewhere it will not get knocked over! Make sure the bowl is tilted forward slightly, and upright. Add some high proof alcohol of your choice ( very carefully ) making sure not to get any on the finish, fill completely without overflowing. Let it sit for at least 24 hours. Then remove the cotton balls and let the pipe dry for at least 24-48 hours.
5) for the outside of the bowl, I use a wash cloth dampened with saliva or water ( just damp, not soaked) and elbow grease! Then you can use either carnauba or beeswax, and more elbow grease to buff the bowl. ( I sometimes use a VERY small amount of extra virgin olive oil to coat the outside, then buff it out instead of the wax)
For the stem, here's what I do;
1) use bristled pipe cleaners, dipped in alcohol, followed by regular or fluffy ones, until they come out clean.
2) for an oxidized stem use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, dampened with saliva or water, and lots of elbow grease! After this, the stem will look very dull.
3) use toothpaste with fluoride and baking soda on a wash cloth, and more elbow grease. After a few minutes, you'll feel the stem start to smooth out.
4) after you've thoroughly polished with the tooth paste, use a clean, soft wash cloth and more elbow grease to buff the stem.
5) finally, coat the stem with extra virgin olive oil or obsidian oil, let it sit for a few minutes, then lightly buff with a clean cloth.
I know this sounds like a lot of work, and in a way it is, but you'll have fun doing it and it's very rewarding! My methods are not the only ones, but they work well for me! Good luck!

 

[buster]

After you get your pipes in good working order they are easy to maintain. Get that cake under control and clean the stem up. After that a paper towel to wipe out the bowl after a smoke will help keep the cake in check. I keep one of those little bottles of rum to dip a pipe cleaner in to run threw the stem once and a while. Every few smokes should do. I use good old chap stick( black label) instead of olive oil on the stem.

 

[petes03]

Buster is right. After the restore, basic upkeep is easy! Run a PC down the stem a couple times after each smoke, wipe the bowl out, wipe the stem and you're done! Occasionally, as Buster said, run a PC dipped in alcohol down the stem and always let the pipe dry and rest between smokes.

 

[burlpettibon]

How long before the sanitize step is necessary on a new pipe?

 

[rmason]

How long before the sanitize step is necessary on a new pipe?

Usually a very long time, I sanitize a pipe (once it is broken in) once every two months, but until it has been broken in don't worry about it.

~Ron

 

[burlpettibon]

Ok. Thanks. The last thing I want to do is ruin a 100+ dollar pipe through inexperience. One last question. At what point is a pipe officially "Broken in"? There seems to be some varying definition from person to person...

 

[rmason]

My definition will vary, but I always have found it to be when smoking your pipe and you get that ah-ha moment with your tobacco, and suddenly the true flavors come out. For the technical definition it would be when your cake is about at dimes thickness.

~Ron