Spirits and Bowl Cleaning

[jaybird]

I've seen a few videos where whiskey was used to clean the bowl. What are some of the spirits you have used to clean your pipe? One fella used salt and a cleaner designed for pipes...could you use kosher salt and brandy or scotch?
Just wonderin'.

 

[schmitzbitz]

When it comes to spirits, the higher the proof the better - if you have access to Everclear (Clear Springs, Moonshine, etc.) or overproof (151 proof) spirits they will work the best. Otherwise, I would recommend using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. I would recommend picking up a medicine dropper, as it will allow you to ensure you don't get any of your chosen spirit on the finish (potentially causing damage).
Some people use salt, however, I find that simply filling your bowl with a cotton-ball or two works, and doesn't leave as much of a mess to deal with. If you go with salt, I've heard that rock salt is the way to go over kosher; couldn't tell you why, it's just what I've heard - either way, I would avoid anything iodized. I also like to stick a fluffy pipe-cleaner down the shank when I'm performing an alcohol cleaning, I am always surprised at how much gunk it picks up.

 

[weezell]

Home made MOONSHINE,that will do the trick!

 

[romeowood]

I use an ad hoc mixture of Polish rectified spirits (96% alcohol), Bombay Sapphire gin, and honey for my regular cleaning & sweetening routine (to great effect, I might add), and straight rectified spirits for thorough cleaning & retort use. Salt will never go in my bowls now that I've refined the retort process.

 

[jaybird]

I was thinking brandy or scotch...heck, even Canadian rye! It's not like Canadian rye is drinkable. lol

 

[cyndi]

For the salt - make sure it's non-iodized salt. We prefer cotton balls here, too, but if you go for salt iodine is a no-no.

 

[jaybird]

I think I'll skip the salt. The idea of using just doesn't seem appealing. I'll go with brandy and cotton balls.
Nothing beats a pipe and brandy or maybe whiskey, or maybe wine...perhaps port, or even sherry...no brandy, vodka, eh...gin.
Whatever, it all goes pretty well together.

 

[ernst]

I am producing my own wine and I am destilling the remainder from the pressed wine and destill it.

This gives me 40 litres of alcohol with a strength of 80%

I add just some drops into the pipe which is filled with large grains of sea salt.

That works fine if I remove a large part of the coal with a reamer.
For just smoothing the taste I use medicine graded coal, fill it in the pipe and than I put the pipe into the kitchen oven which is set to 70C for 5 hours. Before I remove the mouth piece.

Use the chance when the wife is out
Ernst