OK--here's my discipline: after I smoke a pipe, I run a cleaner through it, then clean the bowl with a folded cleaner. I also coat the stem with Obsidian Oil.. After1 hour (or later, as circumstances dictate,) I wipe off the stem, take the pipe apart, and thoroughly scrub the airway with Everclear and a bristle pipe cleaner, drying it off with a regular pipe cleaner of the appropriate size. Then I rub the bowl with a polishing cloth, and return the pipe to its place in the rack. Fussy? Maybe, but I've had some of these pipes for fifty years, and this seems like a good way to treat an old friend. They afford me many hous of pleasure and have mellowed and matured along with me, only getting better.
Do I ever vary the cleaning routine? Sure-- if I'm away from home and need to smoke one pipe three or four times before cleaning it, or too busy to clean at the moment. In such a case, the pipe gets a thorough cleaning at the first opportunity--and yes--even my corncobs.
Do I ever vary the cleaning routine? Sure-- if I'm away from home and need to smoke one pipe three or four times before cleaning it, or too busy to clean at the moment. In such a case, the pipe gets a thorough cleaning at the first opportunity--and yes--even my corncobs.