Does no one else use rum or whiskey to clean their pipes?
Using Rubbing Alcohol to Sweeten a Sour Pipe.
- Thread starter Beast
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Why waste that stuff when 95% of cleaning can be done by hot water.
No reason not to except that “dark” spirits leave a residue after evaporation.
It’s not a problem as it should burn off
"Denatured" alcohol varies greatly by region and manufacturer, as does "rubbing" alcohol. Some of them are perfectly fine for pipe cleaning, some would be terrible.
If it fully evaporates, it should be ok even if it's toxic, in theory. For example, I wouldn't recommend drinking acetone, but I know several people that use 100% acetone on pipes. Some components aren't toxic, but will leave a horrible taste, like bittering agents.
I use 91% isopropyl "rubbing alcohol" (only other ingredient is distilled water) in pipes sometimes, but more often use whatever strong liquor is in the house, like this $11 "vodka" my wife bought.
If it fully evaporates, it should be ok even if it's toxic, in theory. For example, I wouldn't recommend drinking acetone, but I know several people that use 100% acetone on pipes. Some components aren't toxic, but will leave a horrible taste, like bittering agents.
I use 91% isopropyl "rubbing alcohol" (only other ingredient is distilled water) in pipes sometimes, but more often use whatever strong liquor is in the house, like this $11 "vodka" my wife bought.
From time to time, you bet. I have a dark rum that I occasionally use. It works great.
I run a pipe cleaner from bit to bowl soaked in it. Then drop in 1/2 teaspoon of it into bowl, cover with my hand and shake it. Dump it out through shank and swab it all clean and dry and leave it set overnight. Perfection.
Other times I use 95% everclear. I like this method better than a hot water rinse or rubbing alcohol. Why? Why not!
Some folks have almost an obsession with alcohol, and I am not talking about alcoholics!
And others like to play in the water daily. I take an occasional dip from time to time, and I’m not talking about chewing tobacco!
This is one of my favorite topics to cover when it comes to this hobby. It should be one of the few times pure, objective reasoning can come into play. We're talking about chemicals and their reaction to organic material (namely, carbon deposits left behind by tobacco and briar wood). This should be something that can be answered fairly empirically. Not by me, mind you; I'm a liberal arts major, so I'm well out of my depth.
fwiw, I'm a 90% alcohol and cotton guy for the chamber, a good shank brush for the shank, and Decatur stem cleaner for the stems. I find this three piece combo does the job. But is it optimal? Is it truly good for pipes? I don't know!
I don't say this disrespectfully, but some people's reasoning will make me raise my eyebrows. The whole "if I can't drink it, I won't use it to clean my pipes" thing, for example, baffles me. I can drink a shamrock shake, but I wouldn't use it to clean my Petersons. And there aren't many cleaning chemicals that I can think of that I would drink regardless what they are used to clean. I mean, I can't be the only one who finds it funny that some people will act as if you're a fool for cleaning pipes with anything that isn't some gas station booze that a hobo wouldn't even use to get good and pissered with.
Dumb jokes aside, does anyone have a link to something empirical on this? I'd love to educate myself on the matter further, but most articles on the matter seem to be the writer proselytizing their preferred method more than anything else.
fwiw, I'm a 90% alcohol and cotton guy for the chamber, a good shank brush for the shank, and Decatur stem cleaner for the stems. I find this three piece combo does the job. But is it optimal? Is it truly good for pipes? I don't know!
I don't say this disrespectfully, but some people's reasoning will make me raise my eyebrows. The whole "if I can't drink it, I won't use it to clean my pipes" thing, for example, baffles me. I can drink a shamrock shake, but I wouldn't use it to clean my Petersons. And there aren't many cleaning chemicals that I can think of that I would drink regardless what they are used to clean. I mean, I can't be the only one who finds it funny that some people will act as if you're a fool for cleaning pipes with anything that isn't some gas station booze that a hobo wouldn't even use to get good and pissered with.
Dumb jokes aside, does anyone have a link to something empirical on this? I'd love to educate myself on the matter further, but most articles on the matter seem to be the writer proselytizing their preferred method more than anything else.
@Beast I haven’t read all the replies, don’t use rubbing alcohol next time
Buy a bottle of Everclear 151 proof, to clean/deep clean. It’s also good with q-tips to clean carbon off of a pipe lighter too.
Buy a bottle of Everclear 151 proof, to clean/deep clean. It’s also good with q-tips to clean carbon off of a pipe lighter too.
I enjoy your thoughtful, informed, reasoned, and articulate posts. If I may ask, what is your profession?
I'm a case manager at a jail. The short version is I help inmates with reentry, and build relationships with community resource providers to help make reentry possible. I appreciate the kind words! If I am articulate, it's probably because I just read a lot. Working at a jail does demand good communication skills, but of a different sort used here.
“Empirical”…….You haven’t been here very long. This forum is the land of the contrarians!
I think I read somewhere in USA, by Fed law, "rubbing alcohol" has to have something poisonous to discourage human consumption.
Water is often called the universal solvent, but it’s not the best solvent for everything.
We are all creatures of our upbringing, and the story of the death of J W Ray (a distant kinsman of my father’s mother) in 1937 took all the taste I ever had for trying moonshine or other poisonous alcohol away forever.
At the dying boy’s bedside was the famous Walking Preacher of the Ozarks Guy Howard, who managed to slip through the woods to warn Rolf England just one drink of his bad liquor would soon kill the Ray boy, and the night riders were preparing to ride to make England pay for such wickedness with his life.
(My friend JC pointing out the ruins of the Ray cabin where J W Ray died, and the night riders came to England’s cabin to find he’d slipped away across the line to Benton County, where law enforcement was rigorous against vigilante Justice)
Rolf England’s cabin still stands, and he died of old age.
For more of the story, read the book.
We are all creatures of our upbringing, and the story of the death of J W Ray (a distant kinsman of my father’s mother) in 1937 took all the taste I ever had for trying moonshine or other poisonous alcohol away forever.
At the dying boy’s bedside was the famous Walking Preacher of the Ozarks Guy Howard, who managed to slip through the woods to warn Rolf England just one drink of his bad liquor would soon kill the Ray boy, and the night riders were preparing to ride to make England pay for such wickedness with his life.
(My friend JC pointing out the ruins of the Ray cabin where J W Ray died, and the night riders came to England’s cabin to find he’d slipped away across the line to Benton County, where law enforcement was rigorous against vigilante Justice)
Rolf England’s cabin still stands, and he died of old age.
For more of the story, read the book.
Haven't read this whole thread, but.... Rubbing alcohol. Never! It's got additives. If you must use alcohol make it grain alcohol from the liquor store. Costs more but won't ruin your pipes.
I like this idea. I’m too paranoid I’d ruin the finish on a pipe to use alcohol. Water should be safe as long as the pipe dries well, right?
Water is the safest. If the pipe has been smoked to the bottom- ie, it's dry in the heel- you can hot water flush, paper towel dry, then load up and enjoy another bowl right away.
Enjoy!
Care with
Hot water can bring oxidation to the surface
Care with older estates with vulcanite stems.
Hot water can bring oxidation to the surface
My main reason for not using water.