“do it because I find that the first couple of bowls on bare wood are pure bliss, super clean tastes.”
I absolutely agree, a clean pipe just tastes better. Pure, fresh tobacco flavor, untainted by stale build up.
(Genuine) Questions for the Water Flushers
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I absolutely agree, a clean pipe just tastes better. Pure, fresh tobacco flavor, untainted by stale build up.
Chuck,
What changed this for you? I’ve always wanted to know why so many old timers allowed a very thick cake. I’m intrigued. It has to be a flavor preference for some.
When I water rinse I first remove the stem. I'm going to clean out the mortise so there's no point to keeping the stem attached.
I clean out the pipe with pipe cleaners and a wad or two of paper toweling for the bowl before I start the water rinse.
Then I set the stream of warm water at a trickle, such that it fills the chamber without overflowing while the water drains from the end of the shank. I'll let the water run for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. I again clean out the chamber with wadding, which removes a lot of soft cake, and thoroughly scrub out the shank and mortise.
Then I set the stummel aside to dry
Acrylic stems are washed in warm water with pipe cleaners that have been dipped in unscented dishwasher gel, and scrub out the airway and slot. Then I thoroughly rinse the stem.
Vulcanite stems are cleaned with alcohol.
If I'm aiming to spiff up the vulcanite I'll give them a polish with Simichrome and finish with Paragon wax.
After a few minutes (for the most part) I reassemble the pipe and it's good to go.
Latakia ghosts are almost impossible to remove, but I have successfully done so by adding a boiling alcohol flush (or two) to the line up of cleaning techniques.
So far, no problems of any kind with using water to clean out my pipes.
I clean out the pipe with pipe cleaners and a wad or two of paper toweling for the bowl before I start the water rinse.
Then I set the stream of warm water at a trickle, such that it fills the chamber without overflowing while the water drains from the end of the shank. I'll let the water run for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. I again clean out the chamber with wadding, which removes a lot of soft cake, and thoroughly scrub out the shank and mortise.
Then I set the stummel aside to dry
Acrylic stems are washed in warm water with pipe cleaners that have been dipped in unscented dishwasher gel, and scrub out the airway and slot. Then I thoroughly rinse the stem.
Vulcanite stems are cleaned with alcohol.
If I'm aiming to spiff up the vulcanite I'll give them a polish with Simichrome and finish with Paragon wax.
After a few minutes (for the most part) I reassemble the pipe and it's good to go.
Latakia ghosts are almost impossible to remove, but I have successfully done so by adding a boiling alcohol flush (or two) to the line up of cleaning techniques.
So far, no problems of any kind with using water to clean out my pipes.
No worries. I step in all sorts of situations myself. For me, it comes with age.
For me, I find it creates a cooler bowl when I smoke.
I have doubts, as tap water contains a lot chlorine and calcareous waters, in my city. I mean, I could create bad flavors and ghost smoke?
Actually, chlorine and chloramines both evaporate fairly quickly leaving little to no aroma after a relatively short time. They can interact negatively with vulcanite to some extent.
I keep it fairly simple, It takes just a couple of minutes.
After each smoke I just rinse with water that isn't scalding hot for maybe 10-20 seconds warm enough to break up debris. Dry the exterior and then spiral a paper towel down into the base of the bowl. I blow any moisture out of the stem and run a second towel down which usually comes out clean. That's it. I've not tried to remove ghosting with this method but I love how clean they smoke the next time around. I don't remove the stem every time, maybe every 6 to 10 smokes.
After each smoke I just rinse with water that isn't scalding hot for maybe 10-20 seconds warm enough to break up debris. Dry the exterior and then spiral a paper towel down into the base of the bowl. I blow any moisture out of the stem and run a second towel down which usually comes out clean. That's it. I've not tried to remove ghosting with this method but I love how clean they smoke the next time around. I don't remove the stem every time, maybe every 6 to 10 smokes.
I don't have any full bent pipes but if I did, I'd likely remove the stem before flushing. The water flush with a wipe down helps create a thin and very hard layer of cake. You'll still have to ram occasionally but may 1/4 as often. I don't think water flushing would prevent a ghost from a Lakeland or very strong aromatic but it may diminish it some.
I'll second Hoosier here; I complete the pipe-shame triple crown of being an aromatic/Lakeland smoker, a Latakia smoker, and a full convert to the ?water flush ?. I have not found water flushing to be a curative for the presently ghosted.....it more reduces the pace and scale of gettin' ghosted. And even then....that's when you flush before all the tar/oil/wet dottle dries or absorbs.
I don't remove the stem on anything I can pass a cleaner on. I take off the stem when I can't, most times. I find that if I flush relatively soon to a smoke wrapping up.....the mortise stays pretty clean without extra deep cleaning. More leisurely timing on water flushing still does a nice job reducing oder/off tastes.....but you do have to get after the mortise on a break-down clean more often. Everybody's mileage may vary....just my experience.
Chur Chur everyone for their responses. I got what I came for ??
Be sure you get all the water out. Especially if you have system pipe.
Man, I've been a bit inactive of late, but this thread feels like home again.
I rinse mine out with hot tap water right after smoking, while the tar is still soft from being warm. Like @hoosierpipeguy said, it’ll still form a really thin, dense layer of buildup over time, but you won’t have ash and shit trapped in it. I’d say it’s similar to the effect of dry paper towel reaming, but better, more effective.
Keeps ghosting to a minimum. I find that I can smoke pretty much anything that isn’t Latakia or aromatic in my briar pipes without any ghosting or carryover as long as I rinse the chamber out well after each smoke. Aros and Lat get smoked in my meer or dedicated pipes.
Keeps ghosting to a minimum. I find that I can smoke pretty much anything that isn’t Latakia or aromatic in my briar pipes without any ghosting or carryover as long as I rinse the chamber out well after each smoke. Aros and Lat get smoked in my meer or dedicated pipes.
I think we should crowdfund an autoclave for our resident pipe scientist @mikethompson to perform some tests.
A sanitized pipe is a fresh pipe.
A sanitized pipe is a fresh pipe.
A pressure cooker would suffice as a makeshift autoclave. You’d have to rig up something to hold the pipe above the water.
Add a few Brussels sprouts and I’m in.
Water flushing improves the smoke. Salt and alcohol overnight restores the smoke.
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