My New Favorite Pipe Thing!

[monty55]

I use the long pipe cleaners for churchwardens and longer stem pipes, but wipe out the chambers after scooping, with a paper towel. I'm not so tidy as to worry about soiling my hands on a used pipe cleaner, especially when it has dried. I often get a couple of uses out of one, and then toss it. I don't build cake either; a significant minority on Forums doesn't. No big issue, just my way; you get less temporary ghosting, and it maintains the diameter of the chamber, and obviates reaming.

I have always had long churchwarden pipe cleaners, but these are not that long. They're 9", longer than a normal pipe cleaner by only 3" which is just long enough to do as I described above.

 

[Reggie]

Isn't it funny how the smallest things can bring a smile to a piper's face.
In my last order from SPC I bought a few bundles of Long's Extra Absorbent 9 inch pipe cleaners. Well, because for some of my pipes the standard length just barely has enough sticking out of the stem to put a bend in it to do the rotation cleaning move.
But, what I have found since using these gems, is that there is plenty of pipe cleaner to clean the stem/shank, turn it around and do it again with the clean end (and not having to get your fingers nasty from the first end) ... and best of all there is plenty of clean pipe cleaner left in the middle to make a loop and clean the bowl! I can do with one pipe cleaner what I used to do with 2 or 3! Now I use these for ALL my pipes! Keeps my fingers cleaner and saves $
Eurika!

Thanks for posting. My fingers stink!

 

[Streeper541]

Somebody just gave me an old Kaywoodie with a bowl caked up similar to that one.

 

[anotherbob]

That's wierd! Must be the Carter hall.

people do claim it's good for building cake. Got that recommendation half a million times per new pipe.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I still use a single regular pipecleaner for the stem and shank of a Churchwarden, just run it down both sides of the stem and then do the shank last since it's always the dirtiest.
To clean the bowl I use a Q-tip dipped in Alcohol.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

Somebody just gave me an old Kaywoodie with a bowl caked up similar to that one.

View attachment 127292

Looks closer to a quarry than a bowl!

 

[didimauw]

people do claim it's good for building cake. Got that recommendation half a million times per new pipe.

I have a hard time keeping the cake down with my Carter Hall. It's a blessing and a curse.

 

[anotherbob]

I have a hard time keeping the cake down with my Carter Hall. It's a blessing and a curse.

haven't smoked that one yet. Sounds o.k.. But not quite my cup of tea.

 

[scout19d3]

The other trick is to keep a pair of scissors on hand, snip that dirty half inch off the end and run a pass through again! (I am talking about pipe cleaners here!)

This.
I have a small pair of dykes that I keep with my tray for this very purpose

 

[monty55]

This.
I have a small pair of dykes that I keep with my tray for this very purpose

View attachment 127434

Yes, but if I did that with regular size cleaners on some of my pipes there wouldn't be enough pipe cleaner left to go all the way to the bowl and still have anything to hang on to. Which was the reason for purchasing the 9" cleaners.

 

[FredB]

reminds me of what a teacher said about teaching the same thing year after year. It was always thrilling because the subject was always fresh and exciting to their students. There is always going to be someone who doesn't know and can find your wisdom helpful. Always well until pipes go

Thanks for posting. My fingers stink!

Simple. Just have the misses clean your pipes along with the laundry.

 

[anotherbob]

Simple. Just have the misses clean your pipes along with the laundry.

no thanks so she can do both wrong. She doesn't even flip clothes inside out and uses too much detergent. No thanks on both accounts more so the pipes. Cause sometimes I just don't wanna do laundry.

 

[Searock Fan]

people do claim it's good for building cake. Got that recommendation half a million times per new pipe.

There's an old saying that the cake in your pipe should be about the thickness of a dime. Cake wants to expand faster than briar, so too much cake and you run the risk of a cracked bowl.