Request For Tips on Cleaning a Pete System

[captainsousie]

I'm cleaning up an estate Peterson System and I'm having a bear of a time getting the system reservoir clean. I've been working at it with q-tips and bristle pipe cleaners but what feels like 100 q-tips later, they're still coming out black. Any tips on how to speed up the process or am I in for a very long weekend cleaning?
Thanks

 

[ghost]

I'm eager to see an answer to this, as I always assume a system pipe will use up a ton of q-tips. It would be nice to shave some time off the process...

 

[4dotsasieni]

Are you sure you're not getting varnish? Some of my Petes shed varnish the first couple of smokes. You shouldn't need more than two pipe cleaners through the draft hole (with the stem removed) and two more through the stem to do a thorough cleaning after each smoke.

 

[captainsousie]

Yeah, I'm sure. This is a grubby old estate pipe...my favorite kind. Thanks though.

 

[captainsousie]

Update: My wife solved the problem. When I told her about it she went to the kitchen and pulled out the dollar store bottle brush and told me to use the little brush on the end of the handle. I assume it's called a nipple brush 'cause that's what we used it for with the bum lambs. Worked like a charm. Wifey to the rescue she says.

 

[rigmedic1]

Thanks for the tip! I will add one to my pipe cleaning kit. Q-tip stock is gonna drop like rock when word of this gets out, lol.

 

[jah76]

+ for the missus. Its the other way around at my house. She steals my pipe clears and shank brushes for dishes.

 

[ghost]

Excellent, thanks for the tip!