Using Rubbing Alcohol to Sweeten a Sour Pipe.

[Beast]

Title edited for caps. Rule 9 on title formation.

Hello everyone, after reading several threads on dealing with a sour pipe, I soaked my briar pipe in rubbing alcohol for almost 24 hours. I had run out of pipe cleaners and as a result it had gotten very nasty. However after soaking and rinsing it no longer has any sour smell, but I haven’t smoked it yet as it is still drying. I did notice nearly all the cake had dissolved and the remainder had gotten lose and come out with minor tapping. I understood that wouldn’t happen. Any thoughts on why? I smoke primarily aromatics and shouldn’t take too long to regrow a nice cake though so it isn’t an issue just a curiosity.

 

[bullet08]

Cake is a carbon build up. As to how hard that build up was, I don't know. But, you soak that in alcohol for 24 hrs, I would imagine they will come off.

 

[Winnipeger]

Do you mean you submerged your pipe in rubbing alcohol? I'd think that would destroy the finish.

 

[Beast]

Do you mean you submerged your pipe in rubbing alcohol? I'd think that would destroy the finish.

Not submerged, just filled the bowl with rubbing alcohol and placed it in a stand to keep the pipe upright.

 

[Beast]

Cake is a carbon build up. As to how hard that build up was, I don't know. But, you soak that in alcohol for 24 hrs, I would imagine they will come off.

Oh that makes sense. From what I had read online it suggested that wouldn’t happen, however other posts said it would. It sure smells better now at least.

 

[georged]

Rubbing alcohol contains a lot of water plus assorted scents and other stuff.

Not something you should soak a pipe in.

Much better ---

Fill the bowl with activated charcoal granules (commonly sold for fish tank filtration), then fill THAT to the top with any type of pure (solvent) alcohol using a eye dropper, and allow to sit for a couple days.

It will dissolve the yuck into a solution that's wicked up by the charcoal and stays there.

Dump out the charcoal when it's dry.

Fresh pipe-ness awaits.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I wouldn't use rubbing alcohol but I've stuffed the bowl with cotton and saturated it with Everclear, then let it sit for a day. Worked fine.

 

[Beast]

Rubbing alcohol contains a lot of water plus assorted scents and other stuff.

Not something you should soak a pipe in.

Much better ---

Fill the bowl with activated charcoal granules (commonly sold for fish tank filtration), then fill THAT to the top with any type of pure (solvent) alcohol using a eye dropper, and allow to sit for a couple days.

It will dissolve the yuck into a solution that's wicked up by the charcoal and stays there.

Dump out the charcoal when it's dry.

Fresh pipe-ness awaits.

I’ll keep this in mind for next time. Would this method work for Meers and Cobs as well? Luckily the pipe in question is just a cheap beater briar and nothing special.

 

[georged]

I’ll keep this in mind for next time. Would this method work for Meers and Cobs as well? Luckily the pipe in question is just a cheap beater briar and nothing special.

I don't know. Never used it on anything but briar.

 

[craig61a]

 

[jpmcwjr]

I wouldn't use rubbing alcohol on anything!
If charcoal is hard to come by, used coffee grounds often works. Let it dry (several days) and rinse out with hot water.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've used rubbing alcohol to good affect on estates but some places like SPC use denatured alcohol. That's actually kind of scary.

 

[didimauw]

View attachment 175914

Patient #8 probably knows.

Anywho, people use charcoal similar to the salt alcohol method eh?

 

[craig61a]

I've used rubbing alcohol to good affect on estates but some places like SPC use denatured alcohol. That's actually kind of scary.

I don’t know whether they do or not, but denatured alcohol is mainly ethyl alcohol with methyl alcohol (the heads) added as the denaturing agent. And once it’s evaporated there’s not much danger.

 

[bullet08]

I haven't used rubbing alcohol. Actually, tried to use Everclear. Wasn't sure what to do with it, and wasn't sure if I was ruining the finish. So drank it and never used on pipe.

 

[stearmandriver]

I can vouch for the method of stuffing the bowl with cotton balls and then soaking them with everclear. When the alcohol evaporates, the cotton is almost black with tar leached out of the pipe... and the pipe smells and tastes brand new. Lots of different techniques though.

 

[georged]

Anywho, people use charcoal similar to the salt alcohol method eh?

Same process, but safer.

Salt expands, and has been known to crack the shank when enough of it gets in there.

Charcoal doesn't expand. (Or form a block that needs to be chipped out, for that matter. It pours out as easily as it went in.)

 

[Chasing Embers]

I don’t know whether they do or not, but denatured alcohol is mainly ethyl alcohol with methyl alcohol (the heads) added as the denaturing agent. And once it’s evaporated there’s not much danger.

Post in thread 'Estate Smell, What Is It?' Estate Smell, What Is It? :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/estate-smell-what-is-it.39716/post-35344674

 

[captpat]

I typically use Kosher salt and 91% isopropyl alcohol, I'd use Everclear but I live in a location where it's not available. I've never had the salt solidify, nor did it swell enough to cause me worry about cracking the bowl or tenon, I don't pack it hard to start with, just gravity fill.

 

[hyperstar]

I use my wife's cotton pad and 95% alcohol to clean my pipes.

Step 1: Use a round tip tweezers picking up a cotton pad, cleaning out left over tobacco and ashes in pipe chamber carefully.


Step 2: Stuff 1-3 cotton pads in pipe chamber. Then, spray in 95% alcohol until the bowl is full.


Step 3: Leave it for 30 minutes. Remove all the cotton pads after 30 minutes. You may notice the cake is soften by alcohol. I usually scrape the cake off with a dull pocketknife.

This method is for cleaning very dirty pipe. I only do it almost once a month. Depending on how dirty my pipe become. Every time I'm done smoking my pipe, I would skip step 3. Instead of soaking alcohol for 30 minutes, I just rub the pipe chamber with cotton pad & alcohol.

Be careful not to get any alcohol on the pipe's exterior, as this may damage the finish. Any spills should be wiped up immediately.