Water Rinse Cleaning
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Well, try it for yourself. ?
I'm not an advocate for the water flush like some. I really don't care either way what you do with your pipes, but, it's not like you're taking your pipe and submerging the thing for hours or days at a time. You turn your faucet on, barely i might add, and run water through the bowl and shank. Like it's been stated before, briar is very dense. I wouldn't let this whole water in the pipe thing keep anyone up at night.
The Viking boats mostly were used in salt water, big difference. And wood treatment products are mostly used on more pourous, soft woods. It bothers me not that you don't agree with the water flush technique but at least get your stories straight when dissing it. I've been using it for 2 years now on $300 to $500 pipes with zero negative experience. I realize old myths and traditions die hard. Many people feared the horseless carriage and electricity when first introduced.
Exactly. I’m really not trying to push anything on anyone, but a little water through the bowl and stem isn’t going to do anything to the integrity of the wood. If the water is really hot, I could see how it might strip or dull a wax finish, and I probably wouldn’t try water on horn stems, but the briar will not be harmed by warm tap water, and neither will any finish that I’ve encountered so far (though I have certainly not seen it all).
If I’d have had different results I’d say so. ?
This is easy. If you don't believe in it, want to do it, or think it doesn't make sense - don't do it. But to argue the merits of not doing it when others so clearly find it helpful and beneficial makes you look.... obtuse.
I have yet to read one person who did this thing regularly write about how it absolutely ruined a pipe. Rather, I read ridiculous and copious amount of statements to the contrary.
In the face of evidence to the contrary - direct testimony and pictures of how a briar pipe was ruined, diminished, or made less smokeable because of water rinses, - it is best to probably not argue so strongly against it. It would be better to simply say, "Although there is no empirical evidence that suggest water baths are harmful to pipes, I refuse to take my vaccination."
Leave it at that.
I have yet to read one person who did this thing regularly write about how it absolutely ruined a pipe. Rather, I read ridiculous and copious amount of statements to the contrary.
In the face of evidence to the contrary - direct testimony and pictures of how a briar pipe was ruined, diminished, or made less smokeable because of water rinses, - it is best to probably not argue so strongly against it. It would be better to simply say, "Although there is no empirical evidence that suggest water baths are harmful to pipes, I refuse to take my vaccination."
Leave it at that.
I turn the faucet on full force and flush for about thirty seconds. Warm but not hot water. I like to see the water geysering out the top of the bowl, I think that will help loosen more of the ash.
I’m pretty sure that Vikings were more concerned about water coming in between the boards than the effect of water on the beautiful grain of the boards.
Right on. The few times I've done it I set the water to where it never flows over the top, buy steadily through. And here is good to know that going full force doesn't affect it any different
I usually run my finger around the chamber under running water, just to be sure to get any of the more stubborn stuff out.
So historical references about the centuries long battle of protecting wood from water, all the while everyone is setting flame to embers inside their wooden pipe and that's ok.
If a little water is such a problem, I'm surprised there's no such discussion on the fact you are putting fire to it. Wood houses burn all the time. Wooden forests burn regularly. I use scrap briar as kindling to get rid of some of it during the winter time in my stove (guess what, briar burns just fine against the myths out there that it's somehow fire retardant).
Water won't do anything except maybe mess up your finish if you get sloppy on the water. The wood will be just fine.
If a little water is such a problem, I'm surprised there's no such discussion on the fact you are putting fire to it. Wood houses burn all the time. Wooden forests burn regularly. I use scrap briar as kindling to get rid of some of it during the winter time in my stove (guess what, briar burns just fine against the myths out there that it's somehow fire retardant).
Water won't do anything except maybe mess up your finish if you get sloppy on the water. The wood will be just fine.
Frankly, I was skeptical of water cleansing and it was about a year before I gave it a try.
Now, water cleansing is firmly ensconced among the methods I use to keep my favorite pipes in tiptop condition. I like the freshness I get after a water cleanse. None of my pipes has suffered in the least.
A pipe that can take exposure for 45 minutes to 2 hours of superheated steam can withstand a minute of warm water running through it.
I still use alcohol from time to time, but when I want to really freshen and neutralize a pipe, water does a better job for me.
Now, water cleansing is firmly ensconced among the methods I use to keep my favorite pipes in tiptop condition. I like the freshness I get after a water cleanse. None of my pipes has suffered in the least.
A pipe that can take exposure for 45 minutes to 2 hours of superheated steam can withstand a minute of warm water running through it.
I still use alcohol from time to time, but when I want to really freshen and neutralize a pipe, water does a better job for me.
"They're" not embarrassed, they don't exist. However, if water flushing isn't for you, no problem at all. There are other suitable options for cleaning a pipe. Unlike you, I have thousands of experiences with using the water flush method and the positive, factual results to speak from.
What amazes me is someone who would apply alcohol to their briar would have concerns about water. SMH
I’m familiar with that recommendation and it mostly doesn’t work, or does so for a few minutes.
Different pieces of briar respond differently to immersion in water. Some of my pipes fit back together almost immediately after I‘be completed clean, some need a few minutes, one or two 20 minutes.
Ever pipe has retained its fit. No problems with tenon/mortise fit.
@olkofri had the end of a wood stem crack on a Vauen Auenland.
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