Let’s Get Dirty…Again

[tschiraldi]

Once a year I send my pipes to be professionally cleaned. The first eight are done and ready to get dirty again. The rest will go out this Friday, then all will be ready for another great year of smoking! Do any of you follow a similar routine for keeping your pipes in good condition?

 

[VDL_Piper]

No but it’s a great idea. I also suspect that the vast majority of pipe smokers are such tight arses that this would seem abhorrent to them

 

[abecox]

I didn't even know there was such a service. But I am intrigued, I generally just do a pipe cleaner and a little alcohol if it's especially dirty. Wonder what the process is.

 

[irishearl]

No, but have sent in a number of pipes the past few years to be professionally reamed. Did wonders for these old one by returning the chambers to like new condition.

 

[tschiraldi]

I didn't even know there was such a service. But I am intrigued, I generally just do a pipe cleaner and a little alcohol if it's especially dirty. Wonder what the process is.

The stem gets cleaned and oxidation removed, the inside of the bowl and shank get cleaned as well as the mortise and tenon. The Briar gets a wax and buff.

 

[daveinlax]

I avoid having my pipe touched by a buffing wheel.

 

[warren]

I can't justify, in my mind, paying another person to do what I can do competently. Just makes no sense to me. But, if you like your pipe all cute and shiny? I say, "Go for it." It's your pipe treat it as you wish.

 

[tschiraldi]

I avoid having my pipe touched by a buffing wheel.

I’d never do it myself. I leave that to the pros. Wax and a soft buff don’t remove any material. The stems are done carefully by hand. I’ve lost stem logos letting the wrong people do it.

 

[tschiraldi]

I can't justify, in my mind, paying another person to do what I can do competently. Just makes no sense to me. But, if you like your pipe all cute and shiny? I say, "Go for it." It's your pipe treat it as you wish.

You’ve never seen me with sandpaper! I cannot do it competently myself. Blue Room Briars does mine. Any pipe you buy from them gets a free cleaning once a year, so all my Jesse Jones pipes get done free and I know they’re in good hands. If I’m going to spend good money on a pipe, I want to take care of it.

 

[Scottmi]

I’d never do it myself. I leave that to the pros. Wax and a soft buff don’t remove any material. The stems are done carefully by hand. I’ve lost stem logos letting the wrong people do it.

i've lost stem logos doing it myself!

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm fussy, so I do all of my own cleaning.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Blue Room Briars does mine. Any pipe you buy from them gets a free cleaning once a year

That I did not know, and is good to know.
But as far as ones not covered by such a service, I’m ok with doing my own.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I will take this into cosideration ,however ,here across the ponder its a bit more problematic procedure, since repair shops here, they are few and far away

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do all of my cleaning but I never use sandpaper.

 

[LeafErikson]

Those cleaned pipes look great! I would maybe use a service like this if it was local, but I would hesitate to send so many of my cherished pipes in one box to be at the mercy of the mail delivery service. I am a man of few pipes and 8 pipes would be most of the pipes I own. I have slowly moved away from pipes with vulcanite stems because acrylic stems are just so much less work. I only deep clean my pipes a couple of times a year and it's much easier and quicker with acrylic stems.

 

[Sig]

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.

 

[SSGT.]

Do any of you follow a similar routine for keeping your pipes in good condition?

No. But if that's your thing and you're happy with it I'm happy for you.

 

[Alejo R.]

The stem gets cleaned and oxidation removed, the inside of the bowl and shank get cleaned as well as the mortise and tenon. The Briar gets a wax and buff.

I do all of that myself. But it's a great idea if the service is available.

 

[Alejo R.]

I’d never do it myself. I leave that to the pros. Wax and a soft buff don’t remove any material. The stems are done carefully by hand. I’ve lost stem logos letting the wrong people do it.

I've never lost a stem logo because if the pipe is very dirty I wash it with soap and water, I never sand it.

 

[tschiraldi]

I

Those cleaned pipes look great! I would maybe use a service like this if it was local, but I would hesitate to send so many of my cherished pipes in one box to be at the mercy of the mail delivery service. I am a man of few pipes and 8 pipes would be most of the pipes I own. I have slowly moved away from pipes with vulcanite stems because acrylic stems are just so much less work. I only deep clean my pipes a couple of times a year and it's much easier and quicker with acrylic stems.

I went the other direction. I’m a clencher, and Ebonite is worth the extra effort for me.