Removing Ghosts

[Sigmund]

Of the two pipes I worked on the best was coffee plus alcohol. The wet coffee grinds did well but I can still get a hint of a ghost at the end of a bowl. I will either treat it again or make it a lat pipe. I need to designate a few pipes for heavy English blends.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I always follow George's method, no exceptions.
Activated charcoal pellets and alcohol.

 

[RonB]

I always follow George's method, no exceptions.
Activated charcoal pellets and alcohol.

I had some follow-up questions on getting rid of ghosting:

1. Are the activated charcoal pellets the same as those sold for use in an aquarium? Or maybe it should be ground powder?
2. Any opinions on whether charcoal is better than coffee grounds?
3. Is unused ground coffee superior to used coffee grounds?

I have two nice Savinelli Autograph pipes that have a Lakeland ghosting that I have been unable to remove so far with the alchohol and coffee grounds or alchohol and kosher salt.

Thanks!

 

[Pipke]

1. Are the activated charcoal pellets the same as those sold for use in an aquarium? Or maybe it should be ground powder?
2. Any opinions on whether charcoal is better than coffee grounds?
3. Is unused ground coffee superior to used coffee grounds?

Here is George Greg Pease's article: G. L. Pease Tobaccos - Articles & Essays - http://www.glpease.com/Articles/Spot.html

I have two pipes in the garage for deep cleaning. The salt method worked, but I'll follow up with the coffee grounds. Great thread!

 

[khiddy]

Here is George Pease's article: G. L. Pease Tobaccos - Articles & Essays - http://www.glpease.com/Articles/Spot.html

I have two pipes in the garage for deep cleaning. The salt method worked, but I'll follow up with the coffee grounds. Great thread!

I don't know this George Pease, but Greg Pease has made some fantastic blends.

 

[Pipke]

I don't know this George Pease, but Greg Pease has made some fantastic blends.

Fixed

 

[Zeno Marx]

I believe most of a ghost is in the shank (upwards of 90%, if I was guessing). 3 rounds of tube brush, Dawn dishwashing soap, and warm running water will likely do the trick in a total of less than 10 minutes. At least 48 hours drying time. Don't fear the water. Briar is tough stuff. The only damage it has done to my pipes is having to re-wax them. I do try to avoid getting the soap bubbles on the outside of the pipe, but it can't 100% be avoided. I worry less about the soap than when I used 91% isopropyl alcohol or spirits. It's been a game changer for me, getting over the taboo of water going near the wood.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I too have a stubborn pipe embedded with the aroma of Lakeland.
I did the salt treatment, did a LOT of alcohol..... still stinks.
We don't drink coffee around here.
Do you think the neighbors will think its weird if I ask for some used coffee grounds?

Local coffee shop won't ask too many questions. I use very finely ground coffee, mainly cause I drink a lot of espresso drinks.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I had some follow-up questions on getting rid of ghosting:

1. Are the activated charcoal pellets the same as those sold for use in an aquarium? Or maybe it should be ground powder?
2. Any opinions on whether charcoal is better than coffee grounds?
3. Is unused ground coffee superior to used coffee grounds?

I have two nice Savinelli Autograph pipes that have a Lakeland ghosting that I have been unable to remove so far with the alchohol and coffee grounds or alchohol and kosher salt.

Thanks!

1. No idea.
2. Grounds are better in that they are immediately available.
3. Used and damp/wet grounds are what I use. Dry grounds - used or new- would seem to do nothing.

 

[Sigmund]

I used already brewed espresso grounds. Its what I had and it seemed wasteful to use new.

 

[RonB]

Here is George Greg Pease's article: G. L. Pease Tobaccos - Articles & Essays - http://www.glpease.com/Articles/Spot.html

I have two pipes in the garage for deep cleaning. The salt method worked, but I'll follow up with the coffee grounds. Great thread!

Thanks for this link!

 

[RonB]

I believe most of a ghost is in the shank (upwards of 90%, if I was guessing). 3 rounds of tube brush, Dawn dishwashing soap, and warm running water will likely do the trick in a total of less than 10 minutes. At least 48 hours drying time. Don't fear the water. Briar is tough stuff. The only damage it has done to my pipes is having to re-wax them. I do try to avoid getting the soap bubbles on the outside of the pipe, but it can't 100% be avoided. I worry less about the soap than when I used 91% isopropyl alcohol or spirits. It's been a game changer for me, getting over the taboo of water going near the wood.

Thank you. I may try this followed by the coffee grounds or charcoal.

 

[Sigmund]

I shoved the sopping grounds in the shank too.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I had some follow-up questions on getting rid of ghosting:

1. Are the activated charcoal pellets the same as those sold for use in an aquarium? Or maybe it should be ground powder?
2. Any opinions on whether charcoal is better than coffee grounds?
3. Is unused ground coffee superior to used coffee grounds?

I have two nice Savinelli Autograph pipes that have a Lakeland ghosting that I have been unable to remove so far with the alchohol and coffee grounds or alchohol and kosher salt.

Thanks!

1. It's not pellets actually; it's the "grain" type, used in aquarium filters. It is widely available.
So no ground powder; it will make a mess.
Fill the bowl with the AC grain and alcohol. The alcohol will evaporate within 24 hrs. and leave a clean odorless bowl.
The AC has taken the odd smell, is bone dry now and can be dumped. You can of course repeat the treatment.
2. No mess, like with salt or coffee ground. And no change of your bowl being ghosted with salt, or CG.
Vinegar and cotton balls work fine too !
After many years of experimenting the AC has proven to work best and cleanest.
I hope this makes sense; I'm tired and my English is wonky
As stated before; usually the ghosting is mainly in the shank.

 

[RonB]

1. It's not pellets actually; it's the "grain" type, used in aquarium filters. It is widely available.
So no ground powder; it will make a mess.
Fill the bowl with the AC grain and alcohol. The alcohol will evaporate within 24 hrs. and leave a clean odorless bowl.
The AC has taken the odd smell, is bone dry now and can be dumped. You can of course repeat the treatment.
2. No mess, like with salt or coffee ground. And no change of your bowl being ghosted with salt, or CG.
Vinegar and cotton balls work fine too !
After many years of experimenting the AC has proven to work best and cleanest.
I hope this makes sense; I'm tired and my English is wonky
As stated before; usually the ghosting is mainly in the shank.

Thanks!

 

[jpmcwjr]

1. It's not pellets actually; it's the "grain" type, used in aquarium filters. It is widely available.
So no ground powder; it will make a mess.
Fill the bowl with the AC grain and alcohol. The alcohol will evaporate within 24 hrs. and leave a clean odorless bowl.
The AC has taken the odd smell, is bone dry now and can be dumped. You can of course repeat the treatment.

I am of the school to avoid alcohol in pipes unless other methods have failed. "Least invasive before aggressive treatment."

2. No mess, like with salt or coffee ground. And no change of your bowl being ghosted with salt, or CG.
Vinegar and cotton balls work fine too !

In all instances, a hot water flush will remove salt, coffee grounds, charcoal etc. so there's no muss nor fuss.

After many years of experimenting the AC has proven to work best and cleanest.
I hope this makes sense; I'm tired and my English is wonky
As stated before; usually the ghosting is mainly in the shank.

Have you given wet coffee grounds a real chance? Or the hot water flush all on its own?

 

[forloveoffreedom]

OP spoke of sanding after using the coffee grounds and no one else has mentioned sanding. Do I understand that sanding isn’t needed and just the grounds de-ghost lakelands and that cherry cologne in my estates? Wow, I’ve probably salted and OH’d a dozen times to no appreciable success. Great thread!

 

[jpmcwjr]

OP spoke of sanding after using the coffee grounds and no one else has mentioned sanding. Do I understand that sanding isn’t needed and just the grounds de-ghost lakelands and that cherry cologne in my estates? Wow, I’ve probably salted and OH’d a dozen times to no appreciable success. Great thread!

"Least invasive before aggressive treatment." Applies to sanding the chamber, too. Why sand if the problem is fixed?

 

[forloveoffreedom]

"Least invasive before aggressive treatment." Applies to sanding the chamber, too. Why sand if the problem is fixed?

Absolutely agree, just verifying since it seems everyone was having success without sanding. Fantastic!

 

[RonB]

I was not having success with just the coffee grounds and alcohol treatment which is why I will try the charcoal next. I also did a little sanding but probably not enough to make a difference.