Pipe Cleaners

[Akoni808]

Aloha all,

I’ve been smoking pipes for a few months now and I seem to go through pipe cleaners like crazy. I smoke a few bowls everyday, and will run three pipe cleaners through my pipe after every bowl. I’m not complaining as pipe cleaners are super cheap, but is this normal?

Also on a side note, I’ve just been using BJ Long pipe cleaners. Does anyone have any brand recommendations?

 

[OzPiper]

As many as it takes !

I have “normal” ones, bristle ones, thin ones, tapered ones and even coloured “craft” ones for my pipes with small bone tenons. I also have long ones for churchwardens, even though I don’t have one,

A dirty pipe results in a less than satisfactory smoke, so DON’T stint.

 

[OzPiper]

As many as it takes !

I have “normal” ones, bristle ones, thin ones, tapered ones and even coloured “craft” ones for my pipes with small bone tenons. I also have long ones for churchwardens, even though I don’t have one,

A dirty pipe results in a less than satisfactory smoke, so DON’T stint.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I only use one after each smoke but use both ends, disassemble the pipe, fold the cleaner in half, and use the doubled cleaner on the draft hole. I use BJ Long bristle cleaners, but use Q-tips on my meerschaum draft holes.

 

[mortonbriar]

You might find you need less than three per bowl over time, but regardless of how many it takes, smoking a clean pipe is worth the cost/effort.

 

[DanWil84]

I use about three per bowl. 1 during the smoke, 1 for stem and shank cleaning after the smoke and 1 folded together with the latter one for cleaning the bowl. I use what I have, but I favor the Grey package White Elphant ones and only buy those now.

 

[luigi]

I always buy 500 or 1000 cleaners which is usually cheaper then buying a few packs at a time.

 

[judcole]

BJ Long, and whatever it takes.

 

[Donb1972]

I use at least two, sometimes three. I prefer Brigham.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

The White Elephants are really good.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Yep, whatever it takes. I can't stand gurgling, so I often will run a cleaner through the pipe mid smoke as needed. Usually use one after the smoke, both ends, to swab out the stem. It makes me wonder how folks cleaned their pipes many years ago before the advent of pipe cleaners? For that matter, how long have pipe cleaners been around?

 

[Hillcrest]

Yep, whatever it takes. I can't stand gurgling, so I often will run a cleaner through the pipe mid smoke as needed. Usually use one after the smoke, both ends, to swab out the stem. It makes me wonder how folks cleaned their pipes many years ago before the advent of pipe cleaners? For that matter, how long have pipe cleaners been around?

Early 1900's per reborn pipes : history of pipe cleaners – rebornpipes - https://rebornpipes.com/tag/history-of-pipe-cleaners/

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I like Extra Thin Falcons for narrower airways, and White Elephants because the wires are stiffer. I've used tapered BJ Longs, but, I find they shed a bit too much.

 

[dunnyboy]

Try running some hot water through the stem after the pipe is cooled down. Blow out the stem to get rid of the extra water. One pipe cleaner is all it ever takes to come out clean. I then bend the pipe cleaner in half and push the folded end into the shank until it is visible past the draft hole and rub it back and forth. That usually all it takes unless the pipe is really dirty.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Water flushing will decrease your pipe cleaner usage, another advantage for that cleaning method. However, your approach is fine and costs about a nickel. If it's working for you, stay the course.

 

[bbqpiper]

Aloha all,

I’ve been smoking pipes for a few months now and I seem to go through pipe cleaners like crazy. I smoke a few bowls everyday, and will run three pipe cleaners through my pipe after every bowl. I’m not complaining as pipe cleaners are super cheap, but is this normal?

Also on a side note, I’ve just been using BJ Long pipe cleaners. Does anyone have any brand recommendations?

I use a pipe cleaner for every bowl. I love the Vauen blue/white pipe cleaners as they have no lint to deal with prior to pushing through a pipe. They can be hard to find though

 

[kcghost]

I just use one BJ Long 7" and it works for me, but as the guys are say use how many it takes.

 

[Akoni808]

Try running some hot water through the stem after the pipe is cooled down. Blow out the stem to get rid of the extra water. One pipe cleaner is all it ever takes to come out clean. I then bend the pipe cleaner in half and push the folded end into the shank until it is visible past the draft hole and rub it back and forth. That usually all it takes unless the pipe is really dirty.

Are the only advantages to this method saving a pipe cleaner, or does it get the stem even cleaner?

 

[captpat]

If you want a pipe cleaner with a little more backbone, I recommend White Elephant. They cost a bit more than BJ Long but I find they do much better at navigating bent pipes. The water method also works well and has the added advantage of cleaning the outside of the pipe at the same time.

 

[dunnyboy]

Are the only advantages to this method saving a pipe cleaner, or does it get the stem even cleaner?

Even though this method only uses one pipe cleaner, I don't do it to save pipe cleaners. It just gets the pipe as clean as I can get it without deep cleaning.

I should have mentioned that I scrape out all the dottle and blow out the pipe after smoking it. Then I run a bunched up paper towel around the chamber and blow out any remaining dottle. I let the pipe rest overnight.

The next morning is when I I run hot water through the stem (sometimes through the whole pipe but that's a topic amply discussed in other threads). I then blow the water out of the airway and dry the stem thoroughly with a paper towel. I don't want to put a wet tenon into the mortise. I use the slightly damp paper towel to ream out the chamber for a second time. I give a final blow through the pipe to get out any loosened debris and lint from the pipe cleaner.