Water Flush Cleaning Technique

[mawnansmiff]

"It never made sense to me because water does not remove tobacco tar."

It isn't just tobacco tar that gunks up a pipe, there are all sorts of nasties that build up over time. After a good regular clean with a pipe cleaner, do the hot water flush and you'd be surprised at what gunk pours out!

This method I learned from forum member John who I believe has convinced many on here about the merits of water flushing.

Regards,

Jay.?

 

[Chasing Embers]

But every time you separate the stem from shank a little more of the diameter comes off the tenon, producing Loose Tenon Syndrome

In thirty years I've never had it happen with a newly purchased pipe and estates with loose stems are easily fixed with heat.

 

[didimauw]

Yes I blast mine with hot water from the sink for about 15 seconds or so. Untill the gunk stops flowing out. I've done it with huge amounts of cake with no I'll effects.

 

[oscarsson123]

I never have thought about flushing warm water through the pipe. I always thought it was a no go area. I have a few pipes I will try it on. Thanks for the tip!

 

[saltedplug]

Uoops! Changed my mind. Flushers are the miscreants of the pipe world, given to this blasphemy, this atrocity here, and who knows what other foul deeds beyond it. Guess who's not coming to my dinner?: flushers. Why merely the sight of one might cause me to lose my dinner in a spectacular! spectacular! and spontaneous gastric stream, and if by chance the flusher commenced flushing, my displeasure, knowing no bounds, might similarly erupt over the bounds of civility and result in murder. Foul! Foul! Foul! they are, these denizens of the darkest deep, minions of Satan too easily led by the crimson tide of four-flushers in control of this board.

 

[BROBS]

Roll tide?

 

[saltedplug]

Why not.

 

[weezell]

 

[weezell]

 

[weezell]

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Roll tide?

War Eagle!

 

[BROBS]

War Eagle!

Suuuu-eeeeee?

 

[Papamique]

I have done both. I cleaned my pipes with water for a few years before I googled it and actually found one of these discussions on this board maybe two years ago. It was comforting to know I wasn’t alone.

Although I do still flush with water in certain circumstances and am in no ways against using it, I prefer potable alcohol over water or rubbing alcohol or pipe sweetener. Just a personal preference.

 

[bullet08]

I'm sure it works fine. However, since I dropped one of my pipes in a coffee mug full of coffee, I refuse to have my pipes take a bath. Took me forever to polish that pipe back to shine.

 

[Spinkle]

Can anyone comment on the process after the rinse is complete? How long does it take for the pipe to dry so that you can smoke it again? Do you dry it off with a towel? etc? Any insights on the second step would be appreciated as I have a few pipes I want to start doing this with.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Can anyone comment on the process after the rinse is complete? How long does it take for the pipe to dry so that you can smoke it again? Do you dry it off with a towel? etc? Any insights on the second step would be appreciated as I have a few pipes I want to start doing this with.

After wiping the chamber with a paper towel and running a pipe cleaner through it, it should be good to go. Briar isn't really absorbent at all.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Can anyone comment on the process after the rinse is complete? How long does it take for the pipe to dry so that you can smoke it again? Do you dry it off with a towel? etc? Any insights on the second step would be appreciated as I have a few pipes I want to start doing this with.

I usually wait overnight. They'll stay wet for a little while. I have smoked them right after.. You could get a gurgle. I'd say you should give it an hour.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Briar isn't really absorbent at all.

That's true, but some of the leftover build up may hold some moisture.

 

[BROBS]

I've cleaned many estate pipes with water and I've never felt they were fully dry until at least a week. Maybe more.

 

[ohfatty]

I had heard for years about water being a no-no. I was hesitant about over retorting, fearing drying out the briar. Well a year ago, I put an unsmoked (unusable stummel) in a jar of olive oil. I wanted to test Alfred Dunhills theory of oil soaking pipes. The other day, I removed the bowl from the oil and smashed it with a hammer. I did not want to saw it for fear the heat from the saw blade might affect how the cross section looked. Anyway, oil penetration was minimal. Only place where oil penetrated to any depth was where there were fills. In any event a little water isn't going to hurt anything.