I think I am doing something wrong - cleaning

[zonomo]

I am trying to learn how to clean my pipe. I've seen on 2 youtubes that I should use saliva on a q-tip to gently clean the rim of the bowl. But when I do this to my Peterson, it looks like I am taking off the finish. Is this normal? What should I use to clean/polish the actual outside of the bowl? Thanks everyone.

 

[tbradsim1]

If it doesn"t do that on your other pipes, then it's the pipe not your cleaning method, I clean with a q-tip while smokeing, bowl is hot and it comes off easier. The old cajun

 

[numbersix]

I clean with a q-tip while smokeing, bowl is hot and it comes off easier.

Nice Bradley, good idea.

 

[jah76]

You sir obviously have acid for saliva.
I wait until later in the day before I clean any of my pipes after smoking them. I use a clean rag, like one for windows that doesn't streak.
If you bought it as an estate maybe you could contact the previous owner and see if THEY re-stained that bowl and that's why your getting excess stain off. That pipe looks like it's seen a few smokes. You wouldn't think it would still have excess stain on it. Any idea how old it is?

 

[zonomo]

But why is the finish coming off. I thought Petersons were better-than-usual quality. This is actually one of my fav pipes. Really a great smoker but I am concerned that i am messing up the finish. What can I use to polish the outside with?

 

[mrdoody]

i seriously doubt your saliva is taking the FINISH off. it's probably just a crudload of gunk on it. i've done that to some of my pipes (though not when they're HOT) and i'm always amazed at how much crud comes off - even when they look clean - and i know i'm not pulling finish off.
doody.

 

[zonomo]

hey mrdoody. its definitely the finish. the pipe has probably 5 bowls though. The q-tips are reddish, the same color as the finish. The pics dont do it justice but 100% positive its the finish.

 

[brewshooter]

I don't know, seems there is something about certain "red" finishes. I've heard a few people mention issues with them and when I cleaned and polished my pipes a while back a Savinelli with a reddish brown finish was the only one that bled into the polishing cloth.

 

[philip]

I don't know, seems there is something about certain "red" finishes.

This may comfort you... or not.

I'll Never Buy a Red Pipe Again
I think it's just excess stain. I wouldn't worry about it. Clean it up evenly all the way around and see what color you end up with.

 

[brewshooter]

Yeah, the stain on mine seemed to come off the most during the first polish.

 

[zonomo]

What polish do 'yall recommend?

 

[madmurdoc]

I thought I read somewhere that lower end Petes were dipped in finish to save time, so if it's coming off the inside of the bowl, wouldn't that be a good thing? I would think it would hasten the break in process.

 

[sparroa]

I've got a Grabow like that...

 

[topd]

During my smoke, if I see something accumulating on the rim, I touch a dab of saliva on it and do circles with

it on my leg/jeans. Your saliva isn't gonna hurt the pipe.... Smoke and have fun.

 

[zonomo]

madmur - its on the top of the rim, not on the inside. Just seems strange. Is $120 Pete considered a lower end pipe? i didnt know that but still learning.

 

[vaboatbuilder]

its not a super bad thing just inconvenient. It has no sealer on it so its rubbing off. the lack of sealer itll help the pipe breath.

 

[rayje589]

The first time I cleaned my mini briar it did pretty much the same thing. It took forever to 'clean' it all out and made me question the safety of smoking pipe varnish. The second cleaning was much cleaner so I don't know what was up with that.

 

[alingeorgia]

Don't worry about what your pipe looks like. Take a pipe cleaner, fold it in half, spread it out and scour the bowl. Take another and clean the stem & shank. Blow through it all. Good to go. Don't use a filter. Throw it away. Waste of time. Been smoking a pipe since the '70s. In my book the older and more decrepit your pipe looks the better. My pipe has the entire left side worn down from lighting and smoking it. I don't do the pipe thing to collect. I just enjoy smoking a pipe everyday at work or whenever.

 

[zonomo]

+1 allngorgia

 

[cajundad]

It all depends on personal tastes . If it gets too bad , I would restain it , or have a professional do it .