Post-Bowl Stickiness and Smell

[Monssen13]

This seems to occur with aromatics, but after I have a bowl, the inside is sticky. It (the pipe) also has a sweet and dank smell that I can pick up halfway across the room when left out to dry. Is this normal, and do I need to do anything different?
Thanks-

 

[Chasing Embers]

Twist up a paper towel and use it to ream the chamber.

 

[OzPiper]

What pipe are you smoking ?

If it is a briar with an acrylic stem, you can safely do a hot water flush.
Then dry the chamber with a trusted paper towel

 

[Monssen13]

Twist up a paper towel and use it to ream the chamber.

I did a few times, seemed to have helped. Should one do this till no residue comes out? I’m not particularly concerned about building extensive carbon cake.

 

[Monssen13]

What pipe are you smoking ?

If it is a briar with an acrylic stem, you can safely do a hot water flush.
Then dry the chamber with a trusted paper towel

Briar with vulcanite. It’s an army mount though, not sure if that makes a difference as far as flushing it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Should one do this till no residue comes out?

Yes

 

[Monssen13]

Yes

Will do, thank you!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Will do, thank you!

Very welcome.

 

[proteus]

I would suggest, in addition to a full and proper cleanout with grain alcohol as suggested, to smoke some burley to season the pipe before smoking heavy aromatics. I've found personally smoking a burley like old joe blue when a pipe is new helps season the burley a bit. If you are not a fan of straight burley blends or Virginia burley blends you might also try a lighter aromatic to season say Mac Baren Scottish Blend which is a very light aro blend of black cav, Va and burley; not a full blown aromatic or sticky sugary sweet.

 

[OzPiper]

Briar with vulcanite. It’s an army mount though, not sure if that makes a difference as far as flushing it.

Hot water can bring out oxidation if the vulcanite is old or of poor quality.
Just remove the stem prior to flushing.

New vulcanite stems that are not oxidised should be fine

 

[sablebrush52]

I did a few times, seemed to have helped. Should one do this till no residue comes out? I’m not particularly concerned about building extensive carbon cake.

Try moistening a wad of paper toweling with alcohol and wiping out the chamber. Then scrub out the airway.

 

[Sigmund]

Is your tobacco goopy?
Some are too wet.
If your bowl is that wet try drying your tobacco some.
People like it different levels of dryness. I like where its still flexible but it doesnt stick together when squeezed

The easiest way to not have a wet bowl is to not put too much wet stuff in it. Wet stuff also burns hotter.

 

[stewartu]

Going forward, let your tobacco dry some before smoking.

Many tobaccos, particularly aromatics, are simply too wet. Most have propylene glycol added to keep them moist. This can make them wet and goopy. It can also make your smoking experience gurgly and goopy. Many of us here prefer drying our tobacco before smoking. Some even put a bowl’s worth in the microwave for a few seconds to drive off moisture.

 

[Monssen13]

I appreciate all the help and comments-a good clean and some burley is in order. Thanks everyone.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Maybe my technique is partly to blame, but sometimes Virginias leave a little sticky residue after they're done, as well. I just brush out all the ash and unburnt tobacco and allow it to dry. I also air out freshly-smoked pipes in my shop rather than the living room.

 

[olkofri]

Careful with the water there: depending on the stain/staining process they used you can remove the stain when flushing it.

What you experience is, upon the whole, normal. That's why we're s'posed to clean the pipes after each smoke: hold it upside down and tap the rim on a chunk of cork; then take off the stem and use a pipe cleaner to clean the bore, following it by cleaning the bore of the stummel; then bend the pipe cleaner and use it to wipe the bowl; then use the spoon on the Czech tool to remove all the tobacco/dottle/ash stuck to the chamber's walls; then spit inside the pipe and use a paper towel to scrub the inside of the bowl—repeat until the towel comes out clean; then wrap a corner of the paper towel around the pick of the Czech tool and carefully clean/ream the opening of the bore at the bottom of the chamber; then, finally, put the pipe back together and set it on the stand to air for a while.

It's not at all unlike cleaning a gun after you've been to the range.