Shank Brush, Soap, and Water = Deep Cleaning
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Chasing Embers- A minor point, but since we're getting scientific: The xylem and phloem do move nutrients and moisture throughout a tree, however, this is restricted to the outermost living tissue, which is surprisingly thin, even in very large trees. I studied forestry a long time ago, but I'm quite certain of this point.
It is why you can kill any tree by girdling it, which is to remove a complete ring of bark, including the xylem and phloem. In many trees, this is about a 5-10mm deep cut. The rest of the wood that actually makes up the structure of the tree is dead.
We would need to assess how much of the dead structure (likely the entirety of your pipe) remains effective at transporting water after cellular decay.
I'm not attached to the answer. It's just like comparing apples to oranges if you toss the argument of xylem and phloem being used to transport water/nutrients. Timing may be critical.
All that aside, it seems like those who have tried it have reported that within some reason that is pretty logical, there is no ill-effect. My pipes are also a testament to this. Low cost, higher cost, it didn't matter. I know what a wet pipe tastes and feels like. It's not the case. I even tossed in my meerschaum for good measure (and that is a huge can of worms left mostly unopened) to no ill effect. If you soak your meer and let it sit for hours or many long minutes... who knows. But a quick wash did nothing.
Again, as has been said, it's not like you would wash them after every smoke. This is really overthinking it to the extreme.
Suds up! It may feel like a walk on the wild side, but it's really no big deal.
It is why you can kill any tree by girdling it, which is to remove a complete ring of bark, including the xylem and phloem. In many trees, this is about a 5-10mm deep cut. The rest of the wood that actually makes up the structure of the tree is dead.
We would need to assess how much of the dead structure (likely the entirety of your pipe) remains effective at transporting water after cellular decay.
I'm not attached to the answer. It's just like comparing apples to oranges if you toss the argument of xylem and phloem being used to transport water/nutrients. Timing may be critical.
All that aside, it seems like those who have tried it have reported that within some reason that is pretty logical, there is no ill-effect. My pipes are also a testament to this. Low cost, higher cost, it didn't matter. I know what a wet pipe tastes and feels like. It's not the case. I even tossed in my meerschaum for good measure (and that is a huge can of worms left mostly unopened) to no ill effect. If you soak your meer and let it sit for hours or many long minutes... who knows. But a quick wash did nothing.
Again, as has been said, it's not like you would wash them after every smoke. This is really overthinking it to the extreme.
Suds up! It may feel like a walk on the wild side, but it's really no big deal.
Okay, we're on the same page. I did forestry and soil testing for ten years in a protected National Forest. Were a pipe made from trunk or branch wood I would be on complete agreement, but root burls, sort of "tree tumors" are still actively, though more slowly, part of the root system.
Wiping a wet finger just part way around a paper cup: dry! Around a glass: dry! Besides it's not an unsmoked pipe to be cleaned. And as mentioned, the xylem and phloem are long gone in a seasoned briar burl.
Chasing- I hadn't considered that a root burl may still be active. It's a good point.
My background was in a little bit of engineering until I switched over to cartography. It was less hands on with a reduced chance to go play in the forest, but more flexible if you needed a mobile work space.
But, seriously, I have a hard time concluding that a quick wash once every month or two is going to harm a pipe. I even went as far as to dry mine in an oven (carefully) because the sun was not out and where I'm at right now has somewhere like 85% humidity. In normal conditions, I can't see that being necessary. Regardless, they are bone dry.
I started smoking my meer more because I noticed my briars were getting too moist from the ambient humidity. After washing and drying, they smoked like a dream again.
I was actually thinking about buying or rigging up a pipe dryer. I'm a bit surprised that invention has not re-emerged, considering the underlying concern of moisture in pipes that come to the surface in discussions like these.
My background was in a little bit of engineering until I switched over to cartography. It was less hands on with a reduced chance to go play in the forest, but more flexible if you needed a mobile work space.
But, seriously, I have a hard time concluding that a quick wash once every month or two is going to harm a pipe. I even went as far as to dry mine in an oven (carefully) because the sun was not out and where I'm at right now has somewhere like 85% humidity. In normal conditions, I can't see that being necessary. Regardless, they are bone dry.
I started smoking my meer more because I noticed my briars were getting too moist from the ambient humidity. After washing and drying, they smoked like a dream again.
I was actually thinking about buying or rigging up a pipe dryer. I'm a bit surprised that invention has not re-emerged, considering the underlying concern of moisture in pipes that come to the surface in discussions like these.
"No, no way I'm getting in one of those horseless carriages". "Hell no! If man were meant to travel at 200 miles an hour God would have given us wings. No 'airplanes' for me! "Put a cold cuppa Joe in a little box to heat it up?" No how. It's a sauce pan every time."
Heh! Then the microwave to dry! Then the radiation unit to kill germs. Now that's a modern method.
No need...my dishwasher is highly advanced...it's got one of them newfangled heated dry cycles.
Actually, I don't see any meaningful difference with what was described in the OP.
The Pipe...so far ahead of its time.
I'll have to leave that to one of the space-age whiz kids on here...too high-tech for me, but surely I won't be the only one to make the leap to using the DW.
I'm stuck all the way back here in 1859, without plumbing. I have a well and an outhouse. What's a dishwasher? Does the dishwasher have his own shop, sort of like the baker? I'll hop in the horse and wagon and head to town to see if I can find him. I've plenty of dishes he can wash.
Chasing- Maybe there is an untapped market. Could just be a matter of making one look interesting and new.
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