The Importance of Pipe Sweetening

[Beowoulf]

This is my third or fourth time trying to take up the pipe smoking practice. In the past, I quit for various reasons - one of them being how vile the pipe smelled after smoking. That and the smell of the pipe "juice" and the pipe "gunk". Well, this time around, I have the forums like this one and You Tube and I have learned a lot of things. I have now taken up the habit of thoroughly cleaning my pipes with brandy after each smoke. What a difference it has made! I can be found now, occasionally, sniffing the pipe bowl and the stem just because I like the smell so much! Thanks for all the advice, you guys (and gals).

 

[Coreios]

Glad you're able to fully enjoy your pipe finally.

 

[OzPiper]

In my first incarnation as a pipe smoker in the pre-internet ‘70s I used to huff&puff with resulting hot and wet smokes with evil smelling and tasting dottle

Only solution I could think of was letting the pipes dry really well between smokes.
Never realised you could or heard of cleaning the mortise and shanks out with alcohol.

Like you, the Forums have been a revelation and really transformed the pipe smoking experience for me.

 

[Zack Miller]

Yeah. I need to stop being so lazy.

 

[anotherbob]

I certainly don't clean my pipes with brandy every time but also noticed they get less nasty when rotated and smoked more gently. But I do love the way the pipe tastes those couple smokes after an alcohol clean

 

[Yadkin1765]

I think it's not only the cleaning, but the "three or four" efforts to get into it. You're becoming well practiced.

 

[sigaholic]

Brandy…….thanks I will give it a try

 

[PipeIT]

You should use a Neutral Spirit, like Everclear to clean with.

If your pipe stinks as bad as you say, then this could be a few things that you need to look at.

You’re smoking to fast.

If you smoke to fast, you build up moisture.

When you build up moisture for a long period it can smell and you can also taste it.

The pipe shape, or quality could be lending to a lot of moisture build up.

You’re not cleaning while smoking.

You need to make sure you dry your tobacco somewhat crisp, light it slowly and evenly, don’t torch it up in a big glowing ember.

Sip and smoke slowly, also let the pipe go out and let it cool down before relighting.

And to start with, until you find what you like, every 1/4 of the tobacco you smoke in a chamber, then run a few cleaners through the pipe, don’t wait till it starts tasting bad.

Have fun..,

 

[tklee]

Mmm.... thanks bro. I think I should give it a try too!

 

[Briar Tuck]

Rum works too. That's what I use.

 

[DeerparkDays]

This is my third or fourth time trying to take up the pipe smoking practice. In the past, I quit for various reasons - one of them being how vile the pipe smelled after smoking. That and the smell of the pipe "juice" and the pipe "gunk". Well, this time around, I have the forums like this one and You Tube and I have learned a lot of things. I have now taken up the habit of thoroughly cleaning my pipes with brandy after each smoke. What a difference it has made! I can be found now, occasionally, sniffing the pipe bowl and the stem just because I like the smell so much! Thanks for all the advice, you guys (and gals).

Hey Beowoulf. What’s your process for using the alcohol, please? I’m guessing you dip the pipe cleaner in it and then run it through?
Many thanks, Adam.

 

[dunnyboy]

I used to dip pipe cleaners in Hayman's Old Town Gin to swab the airway but was informed that alcohol might craze acrylic stems. I'm not sure whether this is really something to worry about but, since I started using the hot water flush technique I read about on this forum, I have not gone back to alcohol and haven't needed to. Now I'm forced to drink the stuff!

 

[ADKPiper]

I'm glad that you are enjoying pipes this time around.
But admit that I'm mystified why you would. I can imagine that others might find my pipes and smoke foul. But if I found the stink offensive I can't imagine that I'd want to smoke.
Personally I clean them to keep them drawing well and to eliminate the tars that effect the taste negatively.
At this point I really don't even notice the smell of my pipes. Of course I've probably gotten used to them.

 

[Deano]

I use whatever pipe sweetner is available. I use it on a pipe cleaner in the stem and shank. Ive never used anything in the bowls but have enough pipes that they get plenty of drying time.

 

[OzPiper]

Hey Beowoulf. What’s your process for using the alcohol, please? I’m guessing you dip the pipe cleaner in it and then run it through?
Many thanks, Adam.

Dip cleaner in alcohol (I use a clear spirit) and run it through the shank and mortise and repeat until the cleaners comes out clean.

I do the same with vulcanite stems
DO NOT use alcohol with acrylic stems as it may damage them

Stuff a cotton ball in the chamber and fill with alcohol
Leave for a few hours
I find cotton balls a lot less messy than using salt

Be careful NOT to get the alcohol on the outside of the bowl as it can strip off the finish.

PS. NOT necessary unless the pipe smokes sour or start to taste rank and foul.
Often a water flush can address those issues if it is mild

 

[midwestpipesmoker70]

I used to use everclear but now I just use rubbing alcohol. Other spirits contain sugars and could leave them behind. If you have a pipe that smokes wet I suggest inserting the pipe cleaned and letting it sit like that over night. As soon as one of my pipes has a bad smoke or two I clean with alcohol. But in the end it is what ever works for you. Pipe smoking is one of the greatest adventure I have ever been on.

 

[Beowoulf]

Hey Beowoulf. What’s your process for using the alcohol, please? I’m guessing you dip the pipe cleaner in it and then run it through?
Many thanks, Adam.

First I swab out the bowl with a twisted up Kleenex. Then I dip a pipe cleaner in the brandy and swab out the stem and the shank. Then I use a Q-Tip dipped in brandy to swab out the the mortise. Next I take a Kleenex wetted with saliva and rub the hell out of the rim. Then I use a Connoisseurs silver jewelry polishing cloth and clean and polish the whole pipe. For me, it has become a regular part of the whole smoking experience. And the smell is divine!

 

[kcghost]

It is amazing how much gunk a simple pipe cleaner will remove.

 

[mso489]

I use a paper towel as a slight abrasive to polish the stem and the briar including the brim, and then I wipe out the chamber with enough vigor to keep cake from forming but maintaining the needed thin carbon layer. This removes any but Lakelands level ghosting, maintains the diameter of the chamber, and eliminates the wear and tear of reaming so I don't even own a reamer. I always use a pipe cleaner to clear the airways. Any vigorous cleaning routine will keep pipes in good shape. Also, a rotation of eight pipes to infinity will give them plenty of rest and time to dry out. I seldom use polish or wax to eliminate residue. I only use liquids for deep cleaning, but the brandy or rum sounds like a nice touch to exorcise any sour odors. Interestingly, the whole routine cleaning takes only a few minutes.

 

[yanoJL]

I was listening to an older episode of the pipes magazine podcast this evening. The guest was a briar pipe repair specialist who is often asked to do ream & cleans for his customers. One piece of advice he shared that caught my interest was about cleaning the mortise. Apparently gunk can build up there, and with time become firm enough to be resistant to soft pipe cleaners, or entirely passed-over if using pipe cleaners only in the airway.

He recommended using a wooden toothpick (never anything metal) to get in that space and work that gunk loose.

He seemed experienced and knowledgeable enough, so I just thought I'd share this step which I personally have been neglecting in my cleanings.