If I only had the skill! Nice work!I'm fussy, so I do all of my own cleaning.
Let’s Get Dirty…Again
- Thread starter tschiraldi
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I enjoy learning how to do things rather than use services, in many areas of my life.
Although as I've gotten older, I've gotten better at knowing when other demands on my life should take priority, and I should just hire someone instead of getting frustrated for days trying to learn a skill that I don't actually care much about, or acquiring tools I'll never need again.
But cleaning my pipes is definitely in the realm of tasks I wouldn't farm out.
Still, by way of full disclosure, I'm not pretending that I keep mine nearly as pristine as this, either. For most of my pipes, I probably prefer a rustic, well-loved look.
Although as I've gotten older, I've gotten better at knowing when other demands on my life should take priority, and I should just hire someone instead of getting frustrated for days trying to learn a skill that I don't actually care much about, or acquiring tools I'll never need again.
But cleaning my pipes is definitely in the realm of tasks I wouldn't farm out.
Still, by way of full disclosure, I'm not pretending that I keep mine nearly as pristine as this, either. For most of my pipes, I probably prefer a rustic, well-loved look.
The only time that I turn to a pro is if something needs an actual restoration, which is different from cleaning up a pipe.
Once I've cleaned up a pipe it's pretty simple to keep it that way, just wipe down the stem after a smoke so it doesn't build up mouth crud. At the end of a day's use,clean out the airway with pipe cleaners, wipe the chamber walls with a wad of paper toweling and every now and then do a water flush to freshen it up.
If the pipe isn't allowed to get grimy it's easy to keep clean.
Once I've cleaned up a pipe it's pretty simple to keep it that way, just wipe down the stem after a smoke so it doesn't build up mouth crud. At the end of a day's use,clean out the airway with pipe cleaners, wipe the chamber walls with a wad of paper toweling and every now and then do a water flush to freshen it up.
If the pipe isn't allowed to get grimy it's easy to keep clean.
I do the same, minus the water flush, but when stems start turning brown, it’s time to take them in.
That totally makes sense. I’m just a part time clencher.
I am a touch picky about my acrylic stems, with Savinelli making my favorite ones by far.
Keep practicing—-one of these days you’ll get the hang of it.I'm fussy, so I do all of my own cleaning.
Wouldn't be much of a pipe forum, if this picture didn't recirculate occasionally to remind us of what we have hahahaha
I bet you don't have a maid. I am also completely confused by this practice. I've cleaned every pipe I own and it's not really that hard or time consuming either. And even my oldest pipe I let get really dirty wasn't hard to clean.
Outside of the pipe cleaners I use daily I occasionally use my reamer. Recently the reamer was not enough to remove the carbon and I used my dreml with a sanding bit. I was really careful with the dreml. I can not say it is a good idea but for me this worked wonders. The trick is to not remove anything but excess carbon; you can easily ruin your pipe. I got mine perfect leaving some carbon but not too much.
I haven't had one of those since I quit making pipes over a decade ago.Even on a belt sander?
My own method, beyond basic cleaning at night after a smoke, is this:
Every 6 months, all pipes in my rotation are cleaned thoroughly. I use a rye whiskey and rag to clean inside the chamber; hot water and a shank brush to get inside the shank; Decatur cleaner to get inside the stem; and then clean the outside of the stem with something and polish the whole pipe with a cloth. It works well and keeps my pipes smoking cleanly, though I find I can never fully ward off oxidization on my vulcanite stems, but frankly, I don't try very hard. That's a minor detail to me.
Every 6 months, all pipes in my rotation are cleaned thoroughly. I use a rye whiskey and rag to clean inside the chamber; hot water and a shank brush to get inside the shank; Decatur cleaner to get inside the stem; and then clean the outside of the stem with something and polish the whole pipe with a cloth. It works well and keeps my pipes smoking cleanly, though I find I can never fully ward off oxidization on my vulcanite stems, but frankly, I don't try very hard. That's a minor detail to me.
Doesnt soundboard new, sounds about 8 years old and lightly used!I'm a weirdo.
I enjoy cleaning my pipes, guns and cars. I even do the dishes by hand around here. We have a brand new dishwasher, but I prefer hand washing them. The dishwasher has been used maybe 3x in 8 years.
I was with you until "hand washing". I clean my knives by hand. Anything else that can't go into the dishwasher is dead to me.I'm a weirdo.
I enjoy cleaning my pipes, guns and cars. I even do the dishes by hand around here. We have a brand new dishwasher, but I prefer hand washing them. The dishwasher has been used maybe 3x in 8 years.