Why do you clean rim soot?

[Waning Embers]

Chasingembers, I was waiting for a butt rim laugh!

I was honestly trying to be good, but was never any good at it. :mrgreen:

 

[cosmicfolklore]

- these Bic lighter can be leathal to pipes,,

IMO, those pipe lighters that bend the flame down into the bowel are way more lethal to pipes. They char the inside of the chamber walls.

For me and my high end pipes, I only ever use Bic lighters ever. You just hold the lighter half an inch above the bowl and draw the heat (not necessarily the flame) down into the bowl with my breath. This is how I've always seen men light their pipes, be it match or lighter. The return puff is flames jumping up out of the bowl a few times, without ever having had the flame dip down to the bowl. Never ever get char on my rims. YMMV.

I consider those piece of crap pipe lighters to be the biggest lie of the whole hobby. IMO.

 

[Waning Embers]

BTW, put one of MM's amber stems on a cob. Over time, they darken too. Love that look ad well. :wink:

 

[mcitinner1]

It's just wrong to let built up soot stay on the rim of a briar pipe. :crazy:

 

[tdehart]

Maybe you're onto something paulie66scandinavian - I've used my Zippo Pipe Lighter most of that time and I wonder if the rim has built-up so quickly because of the not so clean burning butane. When I have them, I use matches too but usually it's my Zippo.

 

[warren]

Habit, I suppose. Dad taught me to take care of my stuff and it'll last longer. Pride of ownership enters into it I suppose.

 

[shutterbugg]

I don't clean off the rim soot because Idgaf about it. Pipes are not "a hobby" for me, just a vessel to contain tobacco for smoking purposes. Keeping the smoke tube clean and unobstructed by tar and crap, and keeping the cake thin and even so as to not crack the bowl, those are things I'm willing to spend time with.

 

[mcitinner1]

Habit, I suppose. Dad taught me to take care of my stuff and it'll last longer. Pride of ownership enters into it I suppose.

My Dad is the same way. He's 87 and can still work a garden. My parents both quit cigs in '64. I didn't quit until 31 months ago. My gardening is just a good blueberry patch in the making now.

 

[davet]

I clean my rim so I don't leave marks in my underwear.

What are you doing to get soot on your rim ? 8O Never mind, I don't want to know :rofl:

 

[checotah]

I don't clean mine, not as a general rule, that is. Once in a while, I might tackle any given pipe. My father didn't, neither of my grandfathers did, so I just didn't get into the habit. Shucks, wasn't until I saw the subject mentioned on this here internet thingy that I even thought about it. By then I'd been smoking about 40 years, and it's a little late to start a new habit.

 

[cobguy]

Isn't she beautiful?
Thanks for the responses - it's great to hear everyone's opinions.

She is ... that is a well-loved Cob! ::

 

[jmatt]

I clicked this thread for the sole purpose of posting this joke:

I clean my rim so I don't leave marks in my underwear.

Duane beat me to it. Nicely done sir.

 

[Waning Embers]

What are you doing to get soot on your rim ? Never mind, I don't want to know

I thought soot was just a euphemism. How was I to know? :rofl:

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

All Right, my special thanks goes to Mr, Cosmic,Ineed to rething this matter over, me too, I have seen many experienced pipe smokers using them Bic lighters and only and the way you've been telling- that is the way I ought to practice with my cheaper end pipes ,truly these specific pipe lighters can give you an illusion being a safe and harmless to pipe rings no matter you are using them,but obviously are not,but cant help going back with my peterson pipelighter,since it is on its way,and shame those are pretty expencive ones but not so like IMC Old Boy lighters

shall I send it back to tobacconist?Hardly,Nevertheless extrem Precautions would be taken with them, Grazias to all

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

The only time I clean the rim of my pipes is when I'm giving them a deep cleaning which is maybe once a year. I leave the char/soot there mostly. Sometimes I might give it a wipe if there is heavy char on the rim but that's only a quick wipe with a bit of saliva and a paper towel. I like the look of a well used pipe. With that said the char/soot on my pipes is minimal so to me it's not a big deal.

 

[philobeddoe]

My briars look more or less unsmoked externally, after dozens even hundreds of bowls of tobacco have been smoked in each of them, save for a few bite marks on the stems. I let the inside of the bowl carbonize and allow no cake whatsoever on the inside of the pipe. The only pipes I own, that have any external discoloration at all, are the odd estate pipe that I wasn't able to get fully cleaned up. You can call me anal or obsessive, but I just try to take care of my belongings.

 

[ray47]

I also wet the rim with a bit o spit before applying flame, which helps prevent singeing the rim. (posted by sablebrush 52).
I learned ^^^^^^^^this from an old timer when I first started pipe smoking. Works great everytime.

 

[jerwynn]

First, more soot on the rim makes it easier for Santy Claus to get in.
Second, cobs, I let be. Briars get cleaned after each smoke, and at least rims, if not all the stummels, get carnauba waxed each time.
Third, I don't EVER let Everyclear/GrainAlcy get anywhere NEAR the exterior of good briar pipes! The stuff is a zip-stripper furniture refinisher to some/many fine finishes on wood. I have learned this the very hard way. I will never hear the end of a certain couple teeny tiny spots on the dining room furniture. (great cleaner on pipe-cleaners for cleaning out the interior airways though)
But, as others have said, don't give a rip about what OCD others do, just do what pleases you!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Jerkin-
Look up French polishing, and hide those blemishes! Though I'd have thought that dining tables would be finished with more than wax or weak shellac.

 

[stranger]

Every so often I'll give the rims a wipe, but I'm thinking of leaving one of my cobs alone to see how 'well loved' it will look in a year or so. I like to keep the pipes looking good but I don't stress too much if they look a little used.