Pipe sweetener or grain alcohol?

[dhizzy]

I've read the threads and watched videos on cleaning your pipe. Bob's video was very helpful but I am still unclear on one thing; Do pipe sweetener and grain alcohol do the same job? Or is pipe sweetener used seperately or on a more often basis? Pipe sweetener seems to be much cheaper is why I ask. Thanks folks.
Dave

 

[strugglingthinker]

Well, I keep both around, but in my area, grain alcohol is cheaper. I can get a nice sized bottle of Everclear for about $6, while the sweetener is in a MUCH smaller bottle and costs $3. I tend to use the Everclear most often (every other smoke) and the sweetener (which is flavored) about once every 5 or 6 smokes.

 

[cyndi]

I guess it depends on where you live and the availability of liquor. We live in moonshine country and a gallon of Everclear is about $15. I use it every 3rd bowl and my pipes taste GREAT!

 

[aussielass]

So Cyndi & Struggling, when you say "you use it", do you mean the cotton ball soaked in alcohol in the bowl overnight, or just a wipe out with paper towel & running through an alcohol stem cleaner every few smokes?

 

[cyndi]

I keep a flask full of Everclear on top of my tobacco cabinet and I dip a tapered pipe cleaner in it, then run it through the stem and shank after taking the pipe apart. I hardly ever use it in the bowl unless there is some sort of big nasty in it. I have a Stanwell with a super wide shank that I have to double up the pipe cleaner to get all the crevices, but that's the only pipe that gets special consideration.

 

[aussielass]

Ah, thanks so much for that, t'was something I'd been wondering, and now I know what the experts do, I can rest easy

 

[cyndi]

:-D As for big nasties, the Alpha that had a spider move into the bowl got a good swabbing. I know our wolf spiders are nothing like Aussie spiders, but dang!

 

[drsam]

I was at one time using Bee pipe sweetner to clean my pipes. Since it is no longer sold I make my own using everclear with a bit of honey mixed in...that is all that Bee p.s. was. this works very well for me. I have also used a German honey based liqur caled "Barenjager" but it is only 70 proof. about 1/4 of this mixed with 3/4 everclear makes a good cleaner and sweetner.

 

[aussielass]

Oh dear god, for the love of all things holy, if I got a spider in any of my pipes it would be flung as far as I could fling it, never to be in my hoose again!!!
An 80yo sheep herder's spittle ... I can cope with the thought of possible remnants of that no matter how well sterilised, but the hairs off a spidy's legs? Never, not in a gazillion years.

 

[buckeye]

Ever clear is illegal in Ohio so i use 151 proof vodka.been using it for years.

 

[dhizzy]

So they will do the same thing it is jst a matter of preference I guess? @ buckeye, they sell it at Jungle Jim's. Is that 151 vodka you use cheaper? They are charging 15.95 for a fifth.

 

[bambam]

Who makes 151 Vodka??????????

 

[matchstickman]

Whenever I give my pipes an alcohol cleaning, I just use regular Bacardi Rum. The taste that it imparts on the pipe is very pleasant, it is cheap and readily available in my area, and I find that it does just as good a job as the Everclear.

 

[Strike Anywhere]

I use 91% Isopropyl Alcohol.

 

[markw4mms]

I use Everclear/Golden Grain.

 

[buckeye]

not sure what i payed for it.i fifth goes a long way.i was told at the state store it could not be

sold in Ohio.its made by galen`s.

 

[colorduke]

We can't buy everclear in PA,so i just use pipemaster clean&cure a little bottle goes a long ways for me.

 

[tobakenist]

In the UK 99.9% Isopropanal is the cheapest and best cleaner and sweetener, can get this on ebay by the litre at very low cost and delivered to your door, after a few hours drying it leaves hardly a trace of any taste, you would be amazed at how much crud this will find with just one dip with a pipe cleaner, I use this with the retort method when restoring any old pipes and it works great, in between major cleans I just run a pipe cleaner through using Deniclean cleaning liquid for pipes, this is an excellent sweetener, I am not one for wasting good Wiskeys and Bourbons ect. though I have done this when away on holiday and it works great but not as good as Isopropanal as a cleaner.

 

[yohanan]

I dont use pipe sweetner, I bought some brebbia pipe sweetner and it caused my pipe to taste like a tube of tooth paste, I just use 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, I seems to do a pleasant job and I have no problem with aftertaste when I use it. ::

 

[jship079]

Grain