The importance of cleaning your pipe

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nanotech471

Lurker
Dec 19, 2011
38
0
I just cleaned my Peterson Killarney 221 after about 2 months worth of smoking and my God does that make a difference. No bitterness or acidity. I just used some pipe cleaners and got rid of all the gunk that was in the pipe. Anybody else have any recommendation on how to keep my pipe clean... It's unfortunate that I'm an in debt uni student so I can't afford another pipe to keep in a rotation. Anyone have advice on how to clean and keep my pipe in working order? So that I don't damage the briar.. :|

 

jchaplick

Lifer
May 8, 2011
1,702
10
You can try extra hard to smoke it cool, and dry out your tobacco, also clean it after every use, and once a month or so, clean it with pipe cleaners and some non flavored alcohol, straight vodka, everclear, whiskey, rum, gin, whatever. then give it a week off to dry.
Also try picking up maybe a cob or two, possibly an estate. I myself am a sophomore in college, and have managed to get a fantastic collection going using very meager funds, just takes some research and sometimes some good pipe smoking friends

 

jchaplick

Lifer
May 8, 2011
1,702
10
Sorry forgot, also for a decent cheap pipe, look at mr brog pipes, they are made of pear, and mine smokes quite nicely. I have a review somewhere on it of you look it up

 

philip

Lifer
Oct 13, 2011
1,705
6
Puget Sound
Welcome to the forum Nanotech.

You are right. Keeping your pipe clean is important.
Here is an article by Bob Tate on Routine Pipe Cleaning. The video should be helpful.
I like to use Bacardi 151 on my pipes if you are old enough to buy it. I think it works great, but just about anything works.
Getting a corn cob pipe is a good idea. I bought one at the corner drug store for $5:00. Your regular pipe needs a rest to dry out at times. Most of us (but not all) will smoke a pipe one day and let it rest one day.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer
Oct 31, 2011
7,588
12,444
East Indiana
You can get a British Buttner reamer fairly cheap, it would help with bowl buildup. Also, they make pipe cleaners with bristles in them, these really scrub out the gunk in the draft hole and in the stem. I use Everclear in my pipes and it costs about ten dollars a bottle that will last me several years.

 

buster

Lifer
Sep 1, 2011
1,305
3
I run a pipe cleaner threw the stem every smoke. After about 3-4 smokes I take the stem off after the pipe is cool and give it a once over with a pipe cleaner. Then dip the fat end of a tapered pipe cleaner in some rum and run that threw the stem. Then dry it off before replacing stem into the pipe.
A bunch of pipe cleaners and one of those small bottles of booze like you get on an airplane and you are set. I smoke one pipe for a few weeks then give it a good cleaning and a long rest. Then smoke another pipe for a few weeks. I think I could get away with two pipes like that and be just fine.

 

nanotech471

Lurker
Dec 19, 2011
38
0
Thank's for the advice and the link guys, I'm really liking this forum :) Maybe I'll get my hands on a used Churchwarden :) If anyone is around the Toronto area, anybody know of some good tobacco shops?

 

tiltjlp

Can't Leave
Apr 9, 2011
396
2
Cheviot Ohio
Missouri Meerschaum corncobs are affordable, and smoke very cool and dry. If you go that route, read my Primer for care and new smoker tips. My Buyers Guide will give you information on the various cob models available.
http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=The_Complete_Corncob_primer
http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Missouri_Meerschaum_Corncob_Buying_Guide

 
Jun 26, 2011
2,011
2
Pacific Northwest USA
Pretty important nano.

invest in some pipe cleaners and:
Separate stem and bowl.

Wipe off outside of tenon with a bit of paper towel.

Twist that bit of paper towel up and get the inside of the tenon (if it's a filter type) and then inside the shank.

Pipe cleaner through the stem, then through the airhole into the chamber.

Double up the pipecleaner and ream out the shank and then dry ream the chamber with it.

Assemble pipe, spit shine the rim.
And for sure, spring for at least 2 Missouri Meershaum cobs.

 

smokenscotch

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 23, 2011
618
57
Welcome Nanotech. Great advice has already been given. I always run a pipe cleaner through, after every smoke. I don't know the names of any Pipe shops in the T.O area, however my cousin came by a few weeks ago with a tin of Samuel Gawith from a T.O shop so I know they have some. Maybe check with the LCDH cigar shop, they might carry some pipe tobacco. Good luck to you.

 

judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,529
40,509
Detroit
Welcome Nano. Yeah, run cleaners through it after every smoke. Don't stop until one comes out white. Bristle cleaners are wonderful.

And I second the advice to get a cob. You can smoke that while you rest your Pete.

 

chopz

Can't Leave
Oct 14, 2011
352
0
i don't use a pipe cleaner after every smoke, but at the end of the day, or the last time i'll be smoking that particular pipe in a day. i've found after one smoke most times the pipe cleaner comes out with hardly anything on it after just one smoke. maybe depends on what tobacco you're smoking. alcohol definitely not at every cleaning, since i like to drink at least one shot of whatever i'm using to clean the pipe and i'd turn into a drunk if i did so multiple times a day. and no i don't mean drink anything after it's gone through a pipe - that would be gross.

 

smokey422

Can't Leave
Nov 20, 2011
335
0
I run a pipe cleaner with the end dipped in Everclear through my pipes after every smoke. Every few smokes I will break them down and clean the mortise/tenon area. I also keep them reamed down to where they have just a minimum of cake.
Smokey

 
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