Water And Pipe Cleaners
- Thread starter piperatthegatesofdawn
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
Hmmmm. Dunno 'bout dat!
Another benefit for me is that if you've just finished with a bowl, and it's "piping hot" you can run hot tap water through it immediately, no need for cooling as the temp of the water is close to the temp of the shank and bowl.
Another benefit for me is that if you've just finished with a bowl, and it's "piping hot" you can run hot tap water through it immediately, no need for cooling as the temp of the water is close to the temp of the shank and bowl.
Ok, after my last smoke this morning at 2:30 am, I'll bite.
BUT before I do I must know...
For the warm water flush, does it have adverse effects, as far as dry time, with a cake in the bowl? Or is this for those who keep no cake?
I had issues before, from years of smoking nothing but Carter Hall. My cake never hardened, and turned gross. Now that I smoke "real" (* see cosmicfolklore *) tobacco these days, that doesn't happen.. However yes I can ream it, yadda yadda I know this.
Just curious.
BUT before I do I must know...
For the warm water flush, does it have adverse effects, as far as dry time, with a cake in the bowl? Or is this for those who keep no cake?
I had issues before, from years of smoking nothing but Carter Hall. My cake never hardened, and turned gross. Now that I smoke "real" (* see cosmicfolklore *) tobacco these days, that doesn't happen.. However yes I can ream it, yadda yadda I know this.
Just curious.
Didi- No issues with cake, or no cake. However, if the cake is soft, I've heard of it loosening up with hot water. Probably a good thing, as loose cake is more likely to break while reaming, leaving an uneven cake. Also, the water flush removes ash from the chamber, which will promote a hard layer of cake. BTW I am of the school the hotter the better.
I use saliva to clean the bowl. So I guess I'm already using water.
I might be willing to put my worst briar to this treatment. I'm almost a convert.
Now, one of my pipes DID come with a manual, wherein the manufacturer explicitly indicated DO NOT GET THEM IN CONTACT WITH WATER. No, they don't sell pipe fresheners or other treatment paraphernalia; the reason they gave was that they use carnauba wax for the finish and such wax doesn't take kindly to water.
I might be willing to put my worst briar to this treatment. I'm almost a convert.
Now, one of my pipes DID come with a manual, wherein the manufacturer explicitly indicated DO NOT GET THEM IN CONTACT WITH WATER. No, they don't sell pipe fresheners or other treatment paraphernalia; the reason they gave was that they use carnauba wax for the finish and such wax doesn't take kindly to water.
Ok so sitting in my hotel room I went for it. And the pipe used was my favorite pipe. Not a test subject, the pipe I use daily.
It seemed to smell better right away. But the real test will come when I get off the train and get the chance to smoke it. . The only cake that flaked off was the lava on the rim of the bowl. Also noticed that the fills, were more noticeable by touch. And no soggy pipe, after the pipe cleaner and paper towel wipedown.
It seemed to smell better right away. But the real test will come when I get off the train and get the chance to smoke it. . The only cake that flaked off was the lava on the rim of the bowl. Also noticed that the fills, were more noticeable by touch. And no soggy pipe, after the pipe cleaner and paper towel wipedown.
Olk: What pipe mfg?
Sure, don't get it on the outside if you're worried about the wax. If I've had a pipe recently buffed, I am careful, too. But those pipes lose their luster, so they get water all over after a bit.
Sure, don't get it on the outside if you're worried about the wax. If I've had a pipe recently buffed, I am careful, too. But those pipes lose their luster, so they get water all over after a bit.
Ok so it worked. I'm officially a convert now as well. And I like the term used, "Neutral". That's the perfect way to describe it. And yes, the outside of the bowl became very dull, and almost seemed to dry out slightly. Other than that it smoked much tastier.
I've now done this with most of my pipes, and I'm a convert too. I can't see doing it after every smoke because I'm lazy, but it'll be at least a once a week thing. Besides all the many advantages already mentioned, big plusses for me are: softens up the bad, soft cake for wiping out, leaving only the good, hard stuff behind; takes off wax, which I detest, and which the prior owners of many of my pipes apparently loved way too much; it seems to actually speed up resting/drying out after smokes, which I suppose is probably a byproduct of cleaning out residual tars and oils. After wiping them out and drying them off, I give them a quick swipe with a paper towel with a spot of mineral oil on it and put 'em in the rack all nice and squeaky clean and shiny. Beautiful!
The only "bad" thing that happened so far is that I had a shank extension on a Stanwell second (Danish Sovereign) turn from black to a kind of splotchy gray. I think it's made out of some sort of rubber, and the heat from the hot water discolored it. No oxidation-removal tricks are working on it. So, I guess back off the hottest water when rinsing pipes with cheapo shank extensions. I think I paid 15 bucks or something for the pipe, and it's never been a favorite, so I'm not heartbroken about it. Other than that, no problems whatsoever - all my stems look the same or better than they did before.
The only "bad" thing that happened so far is that I had a shank extension on a Stanwell second (Danish Sovereign) turn from black to a kind of splotchy gray. I think it's made out of some sort of rubber, and the heat from the hot water discolored it. No oxidation-removal tricks are working on it. So, I guess back off the hottest water when rinsing pipes with cheapo shank extensions. I think I paid 15 bucks or something for the pipe, and it's never been a favorite, so I'm not heartbroken about it. Other than that, no problems whatsoever - all my stems look the same or better than they did before.
Well, it has to be a female goat in heat, though.....
Try- On the extension shank- will mineral oil not work?
Try- On the extension shank- will mineral oil not work?
Nah you gotta try the oven cleaning method. Similar to how you clean clay pipes. Throw the briar in the oven at 450° for about 3 hours. Afterwards there's nothing left in the bowl! And there's nothing left outside the bowl! And theres nothing left OF the bowl! And no longer a pesky stem to clean constantly. So much less work doing it this way.
:crazy:
:
:
:crazy:
:
:
Thanks. Interesting line they have.
Sure, don't get it on the outside if you're worried about the wax. If I've had a pipe recently buffed, I am careful, too. But those pipes lose their luster, so they get water all over after a bit. Otherwise, I think MacQueen is being precious about their finishes. Wax on a briar is merely an aesthetic choice. Some feel that wax can impeded a pipe's drying, but it's immaterial to me. Some of my pipes are waxed, some are not.
Sure, don't get it on the outside if you're worried about the wax. If I've had a pipe recently buffed, I am careful, too. But those pipes lose their luster, so they get water all over after a bit. Otherwise, I think MacQueen is being precious about their finishes. Wax on a briar is merely an aesthetic choice. Some feel that wax can impeded a pipe's drying, but it's immaterial to me. Some of my pipes are waxed, some are not.
Buy a buffing wheel for a hand drill and some fine grit buffing compound. Don't use much pressure, you can remove the oxidation and shine that stem up. Apply a drop off Obsidian oil from time to time to maintain it.
- Status