Yet Another Cake Question

[mordy18]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

Ive seen lot of threads on the pros and cons of cake but I I am still not clear on how to actually build a cake in terms of cleaning technique. I clean my pipes after each smoke the same way - paper towel or bent pipe cleaner to just wipe out the bowl and a pipe cleaner with a bit of everclear through the stem. My pipes have a slight carbon build up but no noticeable cake. If i want to build a cake do i just skip the bowl cleaning? Just leave the little bits or burnt tobacco and carbon on the side of the the bowl? Going to try this with one of my pipes. Thanks.

 

[SpookedPiper]

I do the same as you but without the everclear after ever smoke. Sometimes I rinse them out but I always put a napkin/paper towel and pass a pipe cleaner. The cake will build by itself without your help other than actually smoking the pipe. Always try to smoke it to the end or the cake will build awkwardly and we want the cake to start from the bottom up, so the first several smokes should be 1/2 bowls (or at least that's what some say). I do not leave any bits of old tobacco in my pipes as that can lead to them turning rancid and a bad next smoke...

 

[mordy18]

Sorry, but I'm still not clear. For people who say "I don't build a cake" what are they doing different? What are the differences in bowl cleaning method between cake and no cake?

 

[SpookedPiper]

I think, when they say they "don't build a cake" it means they are wiping it down as you do and wipe away the majority of the residue left behind inside the chamber. Also they may be reaming it down to avoid building a cake.

I am sure more will chime in to let you know what they are doing to maintain their Chambers. I wipe it down and there's no build up..

 

[ray47]

I think maybe your putting too much thinking into this. The cake will build, even if you wipe the interior of the bowl after each smoke with a bent pipe cleaner. It will take more time then if you didn't wipe the interior with a pipe cleaner. Patience my good friend the cake will form.

 

[craig61a]

I usually knock out the Dottle and then set the pipe aside to dry several hours or even a day or two. Run a few pipe cleaners through the draft to soak up moisture.

Another technique is to stir the ash at the bottom of the bowl, and then cover the mouth of the bowl with the heel of your hand and give a few good shakes. This will cover the inside with a fine layer of ash, then you can dump what’s left out.

By letting the bowl cool down and dry out the “cake” will solidify and adhere to the side of the bowl. Wiping it out with a towel or aggressively cleaning with a pipe cleaner immediately after smoking it will remove the cake before it has time to set.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Cake builds by itself. If you don't mind a soft and crumbly cake, use ash to help build it. Many do not like a soft cake, and are in no hurry to let it build.

Cake happens!

 

[mordy18]

I usually knock out the Dottle and then set the pipe aside to dry several hours or even a day or two. Run a few pipe cleaners through the draft to soak up moisture.

Another technique is to stir the ash at the bottom of the bowl, and then cover the mouth of the bowl with the heel of your hand and give a few good shakes. This will cover the inside with a fine layer of ash, then you can dump what’s left out.

By letting the bowl cool down and dry out the “cake” will solidify and adhere to the side of the bowl. Wiping it out with a towel or aggressively cleaning with a pipe cleaner immediately after smoking it will remove the cake before it has time to set.

That answers my question. Thanks.