Some Tips Please.
- Thread starter Bosnian piper
- Start date
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It really depends on how dirty your pipes are. I never really let mine get crazy, so maybe ream that cake down. A little PGA (190 proof) to swab out the draft holes using some pipe cleaners. And, maybe a good buffing with a cushy soft towel.
But, some might require much more work and skills.
But, some might require much more work and skills.
If you have a lot of crusties in your pipe bowls (cake), it may require a tool to remove the excess. A lot of people use a knife. I highly recommend the investment in a tool to do the reaming. It will give an even removal of cake and minimize the chance of damaging the pipe.
After each smoke, I wipe out the bowl with a paper towel. This is usually enough to mitigate cake accumulation.
Cleaning is done with the highest proof alcohol you can find. Some prefer only food grade, but i use isopropyl alcohol and just make sure it dries well.
After each smoke, I wipe out the bowl with a paper towel. This is usually enough to mitigate cake accumulation.
Cleaning is done with the highest proof alcohol you can find. Some prefer only food grade, but i use isopropyl alcohol and just make sure it dries well.
Stretch those little fingers and head on over to Google. There's gotta be a million articles and a million more videos...
I know but this forum is filled with people who've been smoking for years and last I heard google never smoked pipes
I can't give you any advice on reaming the bowl, other than to be careful. None of my pipes have gotten to that point, and it makes me nervous as the possibility of damage exists.
The most important thing you can do is make sure to put a pipe cleaner or two through after every smoke. Your own spit is the most unsanitary thing about the pipe, and the shank/stem hole getting clogged is your most immediate functional issue. Just get that moisture out and clear the path.
Some rubbing alcohol to clean off and sanitize the stem and pipe bit if you use one.
Bowl cake accumulates at such different rates based on your habit. The moisture of your tobacco and the presence of casings will effect it, as well as dry time between smokes. If a pipe gets used once every two or three days, it should be able to go years without reaming.
I know that doesn't exactly answer your question, but it's all I've got and they're good habits to cut down on how frequently you need to do deeper cleaning
The most important thing you can do is make sure to put a pipe cleaner or two through after every smoke. Your own spit is the most unsanitary thing about the pipe, and the shank/stem hole getting clogged is your most immediate functional issue. Just get that moisture out and clear the path.
Some rubbing alcohol to clean off and sanitize the stem and pipe bit if you use one.
Bowl cake accumulates at such different rates based on your habit. The moisture of your tobacco and the presence of casings will effect it, as well as dry time between smokes. If a pipe gets used once every two or three days, it should be able to go years without reaming.
I know that doesn't exactly answer your question, but it's all I've got and they're good habits to cut down on how frequently you need to do deeper cleaning
Be careful not to use alcohol on an acrylic stem since it can be damaged that way. Soap and water are best for thoses.
Carefully remove the stem. Scrape the excess black stuff from the inside of the bowl. Be careful not to scrape the wood. Wipe out the bowl with a towel. Clean with pipe cleaners including the stem. Flush the inside of the bowl with warm water. Try not to drench the outside of the pipe. Dry the stummel immediately with a towel, and finish with pipe cleaners. Put the stem back on. Set it aside for a day or two to let the pipe dry.
smartest thing I've read on the internet in a while.
I ream the chamber and yes if the cake is thick it's worth spending the money to get a decent reamer. And don't worry too much about damaging the pipe. Just don't worry about getting every bit out or about going fast. Also perfection isn't needed. Then the rest is alcohol of at least 80 proof (40% by volume) or higher to dip pipe cleaners in and just use those until they aren't coming out nasty. Get all the inner surfaces this way. If the stem is acrylic then don't use alcohol just water on the stem.
And the only way to damage a pipe reaming is to try and do it fast and to try and get every speck of cake out of the chamber. (still pissed that people made it sound like surgery levels of be careful instead of don't be a freaking idiot who never picked up a simple tool before).
And the only way to damage a pipe reaming is to try and do it fast and to try and get every speck of cake out of the chamber. (still pissed that people made it sound like surgery levels of be careful instead of don't be a freaking idiot who never picked up a simple tool before).
I've used the old soak oxidized stems in a solution of Oxy Clean for a couple hours then buff with a soft cloth.
It works fairly well.
It works fairly well.