How do I keep Perspex translucet stems clean

[crashthegrey]

It's not an evening until we get a thread closed.

 

[aldecaker]

:rofl: That's a winner attitude, right there.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I also don't want toothpaste on the inside of my stems. Minty fresh breath.

Once rinsed, the smell is gone.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Never said the whole thread was against me. Yes, toothpaste does work, but isn't that because it is abrasive, if only slightly? It is also terribly time consuming, at least when I tried it back in the 90's. I will repeat something I said above - it just might be that there is no dead solid perfect solution to this problem, just as there is no method to remove oxidation from Vulcanite stems that does not involve loss of material.

 

[Chasing Embers]

just as there is no method to remove oxidation from Vulcanite stems that does not involve loss of material.

Ever tried using a lighter and a wet paper towel? This one shined up with Barkeeper's Friend and toothpaste.

 

[fnord]

Oldgeezersmoker:
You're playing to a tough crowd tonight. The responders are all good guys - some of the best around, in fact. But, opinions are like like assholes and bellybuttons, Lord knows we've all got a few. If your system works for you then keep a taut line and stay the course.
I still give gunked out stems a mild soak in a diluted chlorine bath before they're well washed, hit the wheel and micro meshed to a final sheen. Don't like it? Then don't buy my burners when they hit the tertiary market. I certainly won't give a damn and it'll be their loss enjoying a great smoking chunk of briar
Fnord.

 

[sablebrush52]

Well,I guess that settles that.
I started using the Smoker's Haven solution when I was around 30, am now 68, and never at any time have had the slightest issue. If any one wants to come to my home with a microscope and a non destructive means of testing, we could look at my pipes. But I am too close to the grave to stop doing what has worked. I have trouble also envisioning what would "fail." If I smoked Vulcanite stem pipes and removed oxidation using "forum approved" methods, every single one of which involves some loss of material, I suspect I would have had something "fail" over the same time period.
One thing that might be cause for legitimate concern with alcohol, though, and by extension I suppose with the acetone - alcohol mixture, would be soaking the stems. I have heard of people doing this with alcohol, but I have never gone that far with what I use. I just put a pipe cleaner in the bottle about halfway, then run it through the stem. Pipes that I have purchased new never take more than one cleaner. A really badly stained estate Perspex GBD, maybe several, but usually just two or three. Evaporation is pretty much instant.
YMMV, but maybe this is just a case of nothing in this world is dead solid perfect. I will settle for something that has worked almost all of my adult life time.

Now, now, don't get your depends in a bunch because someone disagrees with you. I can't help what happens when alcohol molecules interact with acrylic molecules. I didn't cause it. But when I get some good info from others, people actually knowledgeable about their topic, I learn something and pass it along.
By the way, where the material can fail is at the tenon join, where the stress is the most acute. And, yeah, I've had to replace a few acrylic tenons. And, no, there weren't overly tight. They just suddenly gave way.
So when I learn about the pros and cons of an approach, I consider them, and if I find the balance a little better by taking different approach, that's the approach I'll take. Soap and water works great. I'll try the toothpaste on a particularly stubborn stem and see how that does. Just because most cleaning methods are a little destructive doesn't mean that they're equally destructive.

 

[ashdigger]

This is why I'm having all of my pipes fitted with reed stems.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Thank You'All for Your input in regards to my query. Much appreciated, Greets,P

 

[bent1]

I use an automotive paint polishing / rubbing compound on a fluffy pipe cleaner, saturating the cotton in the compound, working in & out of the draft hole. I follow up with a lean pipe cleaner & clean dish water, then rinse with fresh water.
I use either

or McGuiars Diamond cut 2.0

 

[chilly65]

I think that this forum has been unduly harsh on Dan (oldgeezer). He merely stated what has worked for him, and people have dumped all over him. I have known Dan for about 40 yrs, and he has forgotten more than most people here have ever known. He is kind, belligerent, loyal, and a wealth of knowledge.
I am proud to call Dan my friend.
As the owner of probably 100+ old GBD, many of which have Perspex stem. By the way, Perspex is just a trademark for plexiglas.
For years I have used Denatured Alcohol to clean my pipes. It works better than any other type of alcohol I have used, and is less expensive. At times I use isopropyl alcohol. I have several times seen crazing or fractures in clear Perspex stems. Greg Pease and I have discussed this several times.
If one runs an alcohol cleaner or the 1/2 acetone 1/2 alcohol solution through the stem, I think it will be fine. If one has a Perspex stem that has years of tar buildup, I have found that toothpaste or lemon juice works well.
Most of which is posted on this forum is opinion. I think we should respect these opinions and not dump all over the poster.
Mike Hagley

 

[elpfeife]

I like Old Geezer. :worship:

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Dear Mister Ben1 and Chilly65,Thanks for this added information.

 

[crashthegrey]

I think that this forum has been unduly harsh on Dan (oldgeezer).

I guess it is all perspective. I don't see anyone "dumping" on him. People are harsher to each other on a regular basis, as many on this forum take things with a grain of salt and agree to disagree often. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't see any real negativity to Dan. Not everyone has to agree with him.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

He is kind, belligerent, loyal, and a wealth of knowledge.

Belligerent but kind about it. I can live with that.
Most objections seen to be about using alcohol with lucite/acrylic/plexiglass. Those objections might be sound,but I have no experience using alcohol by itself except to determine that it is not anywhere near as effective, quick, and simple as the alcohol/acetone solution I have used for years. Statements about how alcohol molecules react with acrylic __might not__be at all relevant to an alcohol/acetone solution, The same might be said for acetone by itself, but again I have never tried that on anything pipe related. I only had one course in organic chemistry over 50 years ago and dropped that at the last possible minute rather than flunking, but I seem to remember that it was possible for solutions of chemicals to have properties diifferent than their components. I can only speak from experience.
Keep it up, Chilly 65, and I might one day forgive you for sandbagging me on that L 3 Ser Jacopo

 

[crashthegrey]

Acetone and alcohol do not change upon mixing. But I am guessing that the way in which you use it is key, with the exposure limited as you described. I still like it better than toothpaste, personally.

 

[aldecaker]

"I still like it better than toothpaste, personally."
Oh, me too. That acetone really gets the gumline sparkly.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I asked this question mainly because I just had gotten my GBD Prestige Canadian from smokingpipes.com this very pipe has perspex stem fitted and the overall condition exceeded my expectations, pretty impressive looking pipe shall I say.