The Pipecleaner Debate

[cosmicfolklore]

...well not so much a debate as a question. I know that we've had a few discussions about these things over the years, but I keep seeing B.J. Long Regular cleaners recommended to folks. I occasionally will get a pack given to me, with a new pipe, or just thrown in with a tobacco order, or someone just tosses a pack at me over the years. But, these things are so thin that they only really work on a couple of factory made scruff pipes with tiny draft holes that I don't really use that often because they are like drinking a soda with a coffee stirrer. My handmade pipes all are drilled out at such a diameter that these regular pipecleaners never even touch the walls of the draft or stem, even doubled over is not muych of a cleaning for me. They may be good on just the button of the stem, but useless for keeping a stem and draft properly clean, IMO.
Do you guys really use these? Do you feel that they adequately wipe down the inside walls of the stem? I use both the BJ Longs Extra Fluffy and tapered. The tapered allows me to clean the draft on most of my pipes (sometimes doubled at the thick end) as well as use the small end to clean the button. Then a Fluffy allows me to clean the draft on the stummel really well. Do you guys just not worry about getting the draft cleaned thoroughly? Maybe I am just being too OCD, but if I don't give m y pipe a thorough pipecleaner wiping, my pipes will stink.
I don't like the scratchy ones, because I feel like those are causing ruts inside the soft stem material that will cause turbulence and possibly might make a nice pipe into a gurgler. And, even on the BJ Longs, I will always run a finger over the end part to make sure it wasn't crimped when the machine cut it, and possibly scratch inside my stems also. Usually just pinching the end with my finger will straighten out a crimped pipecleaner.
I also will ream my pipe chambers with a paper towel also, but I understand why cake lovers don;t do this, but regular pipecleaners? Really? Do these even touch the walls of your stems?

 

[jitterbugdude]

I use BJ Longs and they work well. I only have Meers and cobs (with Ebonite stems). So the real question is: What type of pipe cleaner do you use for your hogged out pipe stems?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Tapered and Fluffy BJ Longs. Do you feel like the pipecleaners are actually touching the sides of your stems? To me it is like throwing a hot dog down a hallway, ha ha.

 

[tbradsim1]

+1 Mike for the Extra Fluffy, Q-Tips wet with spit inside shank, then same on rim, I cut ends of fluffy with small wire cutters. Small cleaners are reserved for smaller diameter pipe bits and shanks. Most Meers take the small ones for the bits, Fluffy for shank

 

[texmexpipe]

I tend to use the regular ones during the course of a smoke. I don't smoke very wet but sometimes certain blends need the help. As for cleaning and really getting in there I agree that the tapered and extra fluffy work best. But I don't deep clean but a few times a year unless I need too.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

+1 Brad, for Q-tips. I keep a bundle of them in my pipe bag also.
Texmex, so if you aren't adequately removing the sludge from inside the shank and stem, do you deep clean fairly often? Maybe every month?

 

[condorlover1]

I use the long soft ones as they are (a) a perfect fit for ancient pipes (b) unlikely to cause any of my stems or mouth pieces to break. The OTC cleaners sold in drug stores are just ghastly and I will not have them anywhere near my pipes.

 

[bigpond]

I use the regulars exclusively and have no issues. I make a wide fold to clean mortises but for stems I simply move the cleaner around a bit to hit the whole stem. This keeps my pipes clean enough that I never have to deep clean after the point of purchase. It takes me about 2-3 minutes tops to clean post-smoke and I used perhaps 2-4 pipe cleaners/smoke. I dunno how this compares to others.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've uses the bristled ones exclusively for years with no ill effect.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I guess I just like to feel the resistance along the side walls as I clean them. I'm sure that my ex-wife's new husband thinks the same thing. he he. ::

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I've uses the bristled ones exclusively for years with no ill effect.

There is probably no fact in my fears that I may be scratching up the inside of my pipe stems. I think that I avoid these just out of over-rationalizing. But, I will use a doubled over bristled cleaner with some alcohol when I deep clean the shank.

 

[skraps]

I buy the BJ Long Extra Long. They are the same diameter as the regulars, but they are 8 in. length I believe. The standard "regular" cleaners never make it to the bowl with the average length of my pipes being 7 in.

 

[shutterbugg]

I use the regulars. Considering they come out brown and gunky I've no reason to doubt they're doing their job. I use the long ones on my Bings.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I use 'em all, but prefer the fluffy well made ones. If it's not gross I'll let it dry in a box in my supply drawer and reuse. Q-tips to clean and dry the mortise, sometimes a doubled over pipe cleaner. Hot water run through chamber and airway, then towel drying the chamber is my preference, but doesn't get done that way over half the time as I am outside or away smoking, not in the kitchen.
I don't believe that the scouring type of bristle can score the airway such that it causes much turbulence such that it creates condensation in the amount to be a problem. In any event I don't worry 'bout that; I am worried The Cubs will lose the next game.

 

[fitzy]

I use the regulars but sometimes need to double them up. I'll have to give the fluffy one's a shot. I never use the bristles.

 

[clickklick]

Xtra Fluffy for me. Except on some really restricted machine made airways . . . which come to think of it, I really have stopped smoking those altogether.

 

[northernneil]

I have and use all styles of pipe cleaners; extra fluffy, regular, tapered and bristled. They all have a different purpose in the cleaning process. The fluffy cleaners are for the stem / mortise cleaning (bristles doubled over for deep cleaning), tapered for the tighter airway stem / mortise cleaning, and lastly, regular and bristled cleaners doubled over to clean the inside of the bowl.
I tend to avoid the bristle cleaners in the beginning, until a pipe is well broken-in. I find the regular and fluffy cleaners work great until you have a little extra cake built-up, that is when the bristled cleaners come out.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I do like the BJ longs, as many of my pipes are between 6.5 and 8 inches. Plus, on a short pipe you get 2 uses out of each cleaner

I do want to try the fluffies for some of my bigger stummels.

 

[hmhaines]

I had issues with getting pipe cleaners into a too-small draft hole with my old Peterson, so I have stuck with the regulars. The regulars do the job well for me, but perhaps that's because I don't appear to have any really big draft holes.
Also, the scratchiness has bothered and worried me as well. That Pete didn't pass a pipe cleaner wothout the stem getting scratched, so I've become paranoid about ruining the inside of the stems on my briars. Taking care of the flubbed ends is a small precaution that has a tiny potentional to maybe do some good, so I bend them straight if I can.

 

[ophiuchus]

I use Long's of different flavors, though I think they shed lint like hell. I use the regulars on my Falcons, for the most part, and fold them to clean out MM cobs sometimes; I prefer the fluffier ones otherwise.
Count me in the group that don't like the bristles.