Rim darkening

[ohin3]

Anyone know how to prevent and or clean rim darkening?

 

[pstlpkr]

Bob's method will clean any caking that occurs on the rim.

Q-tip and spit.

But, as for heat caused darkening... none that I'm aware of.

 

[hilojohnny]

If you're careful not to overfill the bowl with tobacco.....when you clean your pipe later that day, simply use a little spit and paper towel to clean any carbon that may have accumulated on the rim.

 

[igloo]

A little swipe of Burts Bee chapstick around the rim will cut down on this problem .

 

[cortezattic]

If you live north of the Mason-Dixon line, and that applies to you Phil,

use a Q-tip and lemon juice or vinegar instead of spit. (No offense all y'all.)

 

[igloo]

I realize that those who live north of the Mason Dixson after November have trouble with there spit freezing so no offense taken .LMAO

 

[cortezattic]

LOL, since this is a family-friendly site, I can't tell you what-all freezes in January!

 

[igloo]

I spent two winters on the navel base in Waukegan and you are right it would not be family friendly to discuss such matters .

 

[unclearthur]

Let's just say that the breeding cycle of brass monkeys is interrupted .

 

[ohin3]

Thanks for all the advice fellas. I pretty much confirmed what I thought was true: Spit works to remove carbon but nothing takes away darkening.
Cheers.
P.

 

[unclearthur]

Only topping the bowl (removing wood ) and that's pretty extreme!

 

[seakayak]

Spit on a Q-tip works best. Just don't be afraid to rub until the cotton is clean; and finish it off with a little olive oil.

 

[shutterbugg]

I find that Idgaf if my rims are darkened. The pipes smoke as good with darkened rims as without. And I'm not planning on selling them so I'm not worried about that. It gets me how guys bang on about how pipe smoking is so relaxing and then proceed to obsess compulsively over every little aspect of it.

 

[aldecaker]

I wouldn't let it get to you.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I find that using wooden matches for lighting stops the charing of the rim.

The question was regarding darkening, not charring. And any method of lighting can be used without scorching the rim.

Spittle and thumb rubbing will do it in many cases.

 

[sablebrush52]

Moisten the rim with a bit o spit BEFORE you apply fire. That minimizes the issue, if issue it is.

 

[dukdalf]

All this talk of saliva has me drooling for a fresh zombie-thread. The one about "thoroughly sanitized" estate pipes, perhaps ?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Great call, Mr. Dalf!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ha ha ha, I love it when men set around talking about how they love spit on their rim. Heck, just lick the rim. ummm...
Actually Sable, I learned a valuable trick from you, way back. You had mentioned coffee was more acidic than spit, or something like that. Now, I just dip my napkin in my coffee after each smoke and wipe the cake crawl off easy peasy.

 

[sablebrush52]

All this talk of saliva has me drooling for a fresh zombie-thread. The one about "thoroughly sanitized" estate pipes, perhaps ?

There is nothing sanitary about smoking. But a flame thrower can do wonders for ridding an estate pipe of germs.