Despite my best efforts to protect the rim on my pipes it darkens. I am careful when I light my pipe and often use a soft flame lighter. I see so many others with well used pipes and they have a pristine rim. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
How to Keep Pipe Rim from Darkening?
- Thread starter REO
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Underfill you pipe a little. That helps. Wipe the rim after every smoke.
I have a piece of soft carpet stretched and mounted to a section of 2x4 that I will rub the rim of my pipe on to keep them clean. I noticed this works when I rubbed my pipe on the carpet in the living room... which did not please Mrs. Cosmic, so this is why I mounted a piece to a section of scrap lumber.
However, without a little effort, you just won't keep the part of the pipe spotless in which all of the smoke will roll across. Packing and stuff, etc.. just doesn't do it.
Now, when I buy a pipe, I avoid rims with decorative inlays or decorative caps over the rim. Sandblasts are my preferred pipes, so that I don't have to be as particular with them.
However, without a little effort, you just won't keep the part of the pipe spotless in which all of the smoke will roll across. Packing and stuff, etc.. just doesn't do it.
Now, when I buy a pipe, I avoid rims with decorative inlays or decorative caps over the rim. Sandblasts are my preferred pipes, so that I don't have to be as particular with them.
Yes, a blond top is nice but a lot of hassle.
It's nearly impossible to burn a rim with one of these.
A trick I learned from members in my pipe club: spit(!) and rubbing with a paper towel. It works.
I did it with some pipes. And then I decided I liked them better as they were before...
I did it with some pipes. And then I decided I liked them better as they were before...
Darkening doesn't have to be from lighting the pipe. Just having smoke constantly rolling over the edge of the rim is enough to slowly start to build up thin layers of soot and carbon.
If you smoke a pipe enough, near impossible. And not worth the effort.
They should come predarkened so I dont try!
I second spit. And I have found if I use a bit of spit and a paper towel after every smoke it does keep the rim pretty clean, but I don’t bother any more
Spit does work but I don’t mind darken rims so much. To me they are part of the pipes history. My Dads and Grandpas pipes still wear their smoking history. I do wipe the rims to keep things from getting out of control but I don’t remove everything.
Spit is ok but some black coffee on the paper towel is better (IMHO). Wipe down every couple of bowls. If really bad a buff stick to remove tar then wipe down and re-wax.
A lower pack, careful lighting (I use a pipe zipp like RustiePyles suggested), an even smoke and some after care on the rim as others have suggested does the trick. As with most things pipe related patience and care go a long way.
Agreed, but I just wipe that off with my thumb after every smoke.
I agree with all that's been said above, but this stood out to me.
"Often" is not "always".
But unless you're actually charring it with a non soft flame, I like the spit/moisture and a good twist or rub on an appropriate jacket cuff or rag that I keep around for similar purposes of pipe cleaning...
My bad habit is to tilt the pipe downward while lighting, which leads to scorching toward the back of the rim. When I actually hold the pipe level, it feels like I'm pointing it upward, but that helps a lot. Waxing the rim is a good practice, too, and the wax acts as a sacrificial layer.
Another good practice is to start the lighter away from the pipe and bring it closer to the tobacco only after you start to draw, and then pull it away before you are done drawing. I learned that one from @Chasing Embers , and am still working to make it second nature.
P.S. Maybe once I learn how to keep my rims pristine, I'll start looking into the fancy pipes!
Last edited:
If you exhale through the bowl alot ('breath method'), all that heat and smoke will penetrate into the briar, and no amount of scrubbing will completely remove it.
I have one Peterson that’s their ‘natural’ finish. As you probably know it’s their top tier smooth pipe finish and very light in color. The bowl of this pipe was left untreated. I don’t know if being untreated has been a factor but over the course of 20 +/- bowls of Virginia flake the entire exterior has noticeably darkened. At some point soon I’m going to give it a Murphy’s soap treatment and then a coat of wax. But ultimately it’s going to do what it wants to do.
As far as the rim goes, I pack the bowl a nickels thickness below the rim or chamfer. To clean, spit and a q-tip works for me. Don’t rub hard, just gently work the saliva and the residue will come off. Even then, it’s not going to look new. I’m more worried about rubbing through the finish than getting the rim perfectly clean.
As far as the rim goes, I pack the bowl a nickels thickness below the rim or chamfer. To clean, spit and a q-tip works for me. Don’t rub hard, just gently work the saliva and the residue will come off. Even then, it’s not going to look new. I’m more worried about rubbing through the finish than getting the rim perfectly clean.
Basically it’s impossible to avoid some rim darkening. The wood will darken slightly from being heated. The only way to avoid that is to not smoke the pipe, ever.
Aside from that, keeping the rim clean of lava is pretty straightforward. Spit and a rag, cold coffee and a rag, do the job.
Aside from that, keeping the rim clean of lava is pretty straightforward. Spit and a rag, cold coffee and a rag, do the job.
A word on lighting instruments: None will prevent the lava from forming from just smoking the pipe. Zippo inserts are preferable to none, but are no better than matches or soft butane lighters.
f you actually char the briar, you aren't paying attention at all. Scorching- depends on the definition- can be removed if it hasn't damaged the briar.
f you actually char the briar, you aren't paying attention at all. Scorching- depends on the definition- can be removed if it hasn't damaged the briar.