How Do You Clean These Lines?

[mikethompson]

There is some crud stuck in these grooves on a Bulldog I'm cleaning up. I was hoping that Murphy's and the toothbrush bristles would clean it out, but no.

I don't want to use the end of a push pin as it might scratch, but is there a trick to cleaning these grooves? I've never really come across this before.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Plastic dental picks.. perhaps a toothpick.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The wood inside those grooves looks unpolished, so I wouldn't worry too much about scratching it. I mean, don't dig it out aggressively, but a little scratching wouldn't show up nearly as well as it would on a polished surface.

But, I say that to just better answer your question. As a bulldog collector, I just don't let those little dirty details bother me, but that's me. It is usually darker inside there than the rest of the pipe, because of the polishing, so it doesn't stand out.

 

[burleyboy]

Not that it is the same, but I had great success with an electric toothbrush on rusticated pipes. So, if you have an electric one, maybe that'll do the trick.

 

[mso489]

Those are called bead lines. I'd try the plastic toothpicks, something softer than the wood. Some of those have little feathery ends that might help.

 

[madox07]

A thick stock business card or a playing card ... worked for me, but it truly depends on how thick that gunk is.

 

[python]

I use dental floss to clean the groves on my Bulldog and Rhodesian pipes. But with that crud, you may need to use something a little more aggressive like a dental pick or a small "O" ring removal tool.

 

[BROBS]

I use toothpicks.

if the line is very fine I have to sharpen the end on a piece of sandpaper.

 

[craig61a]

Yeah, little plastic dental things as was mentioned...

 

[bullet08]

never clean the bead lines. more crap it accumulates, more character it adds to the pipe. or that's what i tell myself. you can probably use a corner of folded napkin or paper towel, but if it's not polished to begin with, i don't know what good it will do.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I'd try a string with a bit of toothpaste on it. A string of the right size (diameter to fit the grooves), then you wrap it around, work it back and forth, cleans most of the groove at once. Rinse and repeat.

Good luck!

 

[ssjones]

I'm not a fan of dental picks, etc. I use a heavy piece of monofilament fishing line (similar to Pythons dental floss).

 

[jpmcwjr]

Wouldn't something with a bit of abrasion (cotton string, with or without tootpaste) work faster than monofilament or dental floss?

 

[python]

I'm not a fan of dental picks, etc. I use a heavy piece of monofilament fishing line (similar to Pythons dental floss).

That's a great idea! I never thought of that, sounds like it will work like a charm! ?

 

[ssjones]

Wouldn't something with a bit of abrasion (cotton string, with or without tootpaste) work faster than monofilament or dental floss?

Possibly, but I've not yet encountered one that needed more than heavy mono to remove the crub. (Fly line butt leader material works well)

 

[Bengel]

Toothpick (wooden) always worked for me.

 

[AlabamaDan]

Is it possible that the groove is just roughly finished to begin with?

 

[BROBS]

It’s usually chunks of sawdust, polish, and/or crap.

 

[Sonorisis]

Looking at the picture you included in your post, it appears that what you are calling "crud" is actually the broken grain of the wood. If that is, in fact, the case, then I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Any picking or poking will only lead to more torn grain. If, however, you are dead-set on smoothing it out, I'd suggest Crocus Cloth abrasive -- or some other fabric backed sanding material. With a fabric abrasive sheet, you can tear it in any width you need. Start with a scissors to get the tear the correct width, then just rip the sheet along the weft to get a strip of abrasive that is the exact width of those grooves on the pipe. Put the pipe in some kind of vice and go at it like you're shining your shoes.

 

[AlabamaDan]

Looking at the picture you included in your post, it appears that what you are calling "crud" is actually the broken grain of the wood. If that is, in fact, the case, then I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Any picking or poking will only lead to more torn grain...

That's what I was thinking..