Pipe Cleaners

[monty55]

I used to use about 3 normal pipe cleaners for each smoke. Then I discovered Long's 9" pipe cleaners sold through smokingpipes.com
Now I can used both ends for two cleanings, then bend the middle into a loop and clean the bowl. All with one pipe cleaner.
Whatever it takes to keep your pipes clean is the way to go.

 

[Pipeoff]

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 have purchased B J Long in past direct from factory in Rochester, NY. Must buy large quantity all types.

 

[sablebrush52]

BJ Long are fine for most uses. If I need to clean a very narrow opening, like the airway in a Kaywoodie stinger, Dill's work better as they're thinner. While elephant are excellent in certain circumstances where I need a much stronger steel spine.
Clean between bowls and it won't take much to clean the airway at the end of a day. Let sediment build up in the airway for a couple of days and it could take the better part of a package to return the airway to cleanliness.
I't good to have at least a few thousand pipe cleaners on hand.

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

I usually only use 1 or maybe 2. If the pipe is well broken in, I find I rarely have to use one during my smoke. A newer pipe might take me 3 though. 1 for gurgling during the smoke, 1 for after the smoke which is also likely to be bent and used on the draft hole as well, and a final one dipped in your favorite high proof alcohol such as vodka or everclear. Since the alcohol pulls out moisture, the pipe dries out faster. I know some people that rinse with water run an alcohol soaked cleaner through at the end for this reason as well.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

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 only use one pipecleaner to clean two pipes (both packed at the same time and smoked consecutively).
The main job of the pipecleaner is mostly just to transport sterilizer (alcohol) throughout the stem and shank. The pipe shank doesn't need to be kept spotless, just free of debris and bacteria.

The one place where I would benefit from using more pipecleaners is mopping up gurgle while smoking.

 

[Akoni808]

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.

I didn't know that running water through the entire pipe was an option. I will have to find those threads. Thanks!

 

[Akoni808]

I only use one pipecleaner to clean two pipes (both packed at the same time and smoked consecutively).
The main job of the pipecleaner is mostly just to transport sterilizer (alcohol) throughout the stem and shank. The pipe shank doesn't need to be kept spotless, just free of debris and bacteria.

The one place where I would benefit from using more pipecleaners is mopping up gurgle while smoking.

Is it necessary to run alcohol through after every bowl smoked? Does not the smoke itself safeguard against bacteria?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I buy them by the gross, so no worries for me. I’ll use as many as it takes.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Is it necessary to run alcohol through after every bowl smoked? Does not the smoke itself safeguard against bacteria?

We've all heard about some people happily smoking their pipe every day for years on end with no problems, but pipes definitely can go sour.
It's a good question what the exact requirements are to sour a pipe, apparently you've been doing just fine thus far and it may never happen to you, but alcohol will definitely prevent it from starting.

 

[Akoni808]

I buy them by the gross, so no worries for me. I’ll use as many as it takes.
View attachment 139796

What are the advantages of the tapered pipe cleaners?

 

[Akoni808]

We've all heard about some people happily smoking their pipe every day for years on end with no problems, but pipes definitely can go sour.
It's a good question what the exact requirements are to sour a pipe, apparently you've been doing just fine thus far and it may never happen to you, but alcohol will definitely prevent it from starting.

That's good to know. I don't want to be stuck with a soured pipe. thanks!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

What are the advantages of the tapered pipe cleaners?

For me, the regular ones are just too small to clean the stummel side of the draft. And, the bushy ones are too thick for the stem side. The tapered ones are the best of both worlds, IMO.

 

[mso489]

I smoke about a bowl a day, sometimes three, sometimes none. I've found one pipe cleaner per smoke will usually suffice, and occasionally I can get two smokes out of one pipe cleaner, if it has dried out between uses and isn't too dirty or foul. I'm not being over thrifty, and I only do this if the pipe cleaner is reasonably clean. If it needs three, I do that. I prefer regular pipe cleaners, though right now I'm using up some tapered ones.

I have churchwarden pipe cleaners for those pipes, and bristle pipe cleaners when the airway feels a little restricted, and to clean up minor oxidation on the bits. I like BJ Longs, but haven't compared that many. They seem sturdy, flexible enough, and relatively low lint. It does feel good to have a stock of pipe cleaners, and I have to stock up some, probably from my local independent pipe shop that I don't patronize enough.

 

[Akoni808]

We've all heard about some people happily smoking their pipe every day for years on end with no problems, but pipes definitely can go sour.
It's a good question what the exact requirements are to sour a pipe, apparently you've been doing just fine thus far and it may never happen to you, but alcohol will definitely prevent it from starting.

One more question. What sort of alcohol would you recommend? I've had a small amount of bourbon and other whisk(e)ys dry up in a glass before and I know that there is residual after the alcohol and liquid has evaporated. Is there any concern of this being left over in a pipe?

 

[Akoni808]

I smoke about a bowl a day, sometimes three, sometimes none. I've found one pipe cleaner per smoke will usually suffice, and occasionally I can get two smokes out of one pipe cleaner, if it has dried out between uses and isn't too dirty or foul. I'm not being over thrifty, and I only do this if the pipe cleaner is reasonably clean. If it needs three, I do that. I prefer regular pipe cleaners, though right now I'm using up some tapered ones.

I have churchwarden pipe cleaners for those pipes, and bristle pipe cleaners when the airway feels a little restricted, and to clean up minor oxidation on the bits. I like BJ Longs, but haven't compared that many. They seem sturdy, flexible enough, and relatively low lint. It does feel good to have a stock of pipe cleaners, and I have to stock up some, probably from my local independent pipe shop that I don't patronize enough.

I wish there was local pipe tobacco stores I could support here on O'ahu and pick up some, but there really isn't any that I know of.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

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.

They really don’t seem to “shed” as well.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

One more question. What sort of alcohol would you recommend? I've had a small amount of bourbon and other whisk(e)ys dry up in a glass before and I know that there is residual after the alcohol and liquid has evaporated. Is there any concern of this being left over in a pipe?

More of a hopeful expectation!

 

[OzPiper]

One more question. What sort of alcohol would you recommend?

I use a clear peach brandy (eau de vie) because I like the smell it leaves behind, and I have bottles of the stuff.
But any clear spirit eg vodka or gin is good. But others use whisky/whiskey

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

One more question. What sort of alcohol would you recommend? I've had a small amount of bourbon and other whisk(e)ys dry up in a glass before and I know that there is residual after the alcohol and liquid has evaporated. Is there any concern of this being left over in a pipe?

If you don't care about ghosting then proof is all that matters, if you do then of course there's Vodka.

If there's a lot of tax on alcohol in your area then Isopropyl Alcohol is the best answer, it's also odorless and harmless to your health in small quantities (unlike Methanol which is highly toxic, you might also find alcohol denatured with Methanol but personally I would avoid it).

 

[bullet08]

BJ Long. Usually 1-3. Depends on how messy I was.