Help! Cleaned My Favorite Pipe with 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

[cortezattic]

I like frozenchurchwarden's observation. Isopropyl alcohol is used in treating wounds. How can trace molecules of anything in it be so terribly harmful -- especially after evaporation?

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

More to came, In past I have used pure clean Acetone to remove dipstain both in mortise and chamber-and in some occasion I had used it in removing lousy manufacturer varnish coating from the bowl surface,actually I liked the efficiency of this liquide,nonetheless,I doubt If I would use this stuff again in removal of chamber inner coating off,

 

[spurgeon12]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Just to clarify: I used 70pct isopropyl, which has chemicals in it. Could it still be the dip stain? Or the chemicals? Or both?
I have not had a chance to pick up any rum (or extract) yet but will. I ran hot water through it and left it apart for a couple of days. Still fits. I'm smoking it now and the bad taste has lessened but it's still there. Hoping it goes away after a few bowls and some rum.

 

[mikestanley]

I had a Peterson from the Sherlock Holmes series. I was never able to get the taste out of that pipe.
Mike S.

 

[yaddy306]

Just to clarify: I used 70pct isopropyl, which has chemicals in it.

Just to clarify, what "chemicals" do you think are are in 70% isopropyl alcohol?
Where I live, it's 70% isopropanol and 30% purified water.

 

[yaddy306]

Isopropyl alcohol isn't denatured, as it doesn't have to be. It's not for human consumption.
You're thinking of ethanol, which needs to be denatured to avoid being taxed by being unpalatable. That's where denaturants come in to play. But we were talking about isopropanol not ethanol.
See Wikipedia:. "Denatured alcohol is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad tasting, foul smelling or nauseating, to discourage recreational consumption."

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I use iso all the time on my pipes because I'm lazy and only clean them after *inaudible mumbling* smokes or so. It's fine and will evaporate off. Any off taste is stain, remnants of dinner in your teeth, or your imagination. It's not the iso.

 

[instymp]

Smoke it till its gone.

 

[bluegrasspipe]

I usually use moonshine

Chasing I will need you to send me a couple of jars of that Kentucky stuff, for ahem.. Cleaning pipes..

 

[lochinvar]

I usually use Graves 190 proof, it smells clean and is cheaper than Everclear. I stopped using Isopropyl when I noticed that some smelled more acrid than normal (I think product from CVS was the worst, but WalMart was bad too). Just get the big bottle, it never goes bad and it is great at getting out ink.
The last new Peterson I bought, I think I cleaned on it intermittently for about three days until I got the finish out of all the little crevices inside. That kept the funky tastes at bay.

 

[bluegrasspipe]

I'll have to check out Graves 190, as I use Everclear, which I feel works fine when I am cleaning an estate pipe, then when it's clean I use a light pipe cleaner of good bourbon to sweeten it just a bit.

Chasing, I am still in the market for some of that good Kentucky mountain "Cleaner" :lol:

 

[smokertruck]

Bacardi 151 has been discontinued at least in ontario canada - they are on a pilgrimage to CLEAR OUT ALL THE OVER-PROOFED " SPIRITS ".

bought the next lower proof rum - used isopropyl in the past didnt leave taste but thought rum would do better as i prefer rum to " isopropyl".

by the way in canada that bacardi 151 bottle had a " flammable " notice on the bottle - only in canada EH !

 

[olkofri]

Doesn't absinthe have 75% too?

 

[spurgeon12]

The rum extract method worked. Thank you sumusfumus!! The first smoke after the extract clean I could still taste a little bitterness for a few pulls, but the pipe has been completely restored as far as my memory serves. My McClelland Matured Cake tastes delicious again in this Peterson. Thank you all for your input. Hope I can make some contributions to this community going forward.

 

[nevadablue]

Somebody here said "smoke the hell out of it"

 

[jorchamp]

Graves Grain Alcohol leaves a sweeter taste. No chemical aftertaste. A little goes a long way and does the job. Natural product

 

[mikestanley]

How many states make grain alcohol available? I haven’t seen it in Ohio since college in 1981 and I don’t want to talk about that night! Lol

Mike S.