Ask a Pipe Guy

[DSturg369]

It probably needs to be cleaned via the "salt & alcohol" method. A search on here will explain how it works.

Or..

It may have already been cleaned and has just been sitting around for a long while.

Either way, it will not have the same taste as a new, unused briar. I clean every briar I get, regardless of what the seller says about it being cleaned or not.

[Jack Straw]

I may try that.

The seller (ebay) didn't say what was done either way, I just assumed from the general cleanliness of the bowl and stem in contrast with the apparent old age of the pipe. Perhaps they just reamed it really well.

[Jack Straw]

I currently have both 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (equiv of 182 proof) and 47% abv Elijah Craig bourbon (94 proof) in my possession.

Which one should I use to clean the bowl? If it's all the same, I'd rather not use the 12yo bourbon if I can avoid it, but I'd like to do it right.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

Does a cleaned estate pipe have the same "un-broken-in" taste as a brand new pipe? I ask because I have one that adds a strong, somewhat bitter taste to the smoke, and I'm hoping for reassurance that this will pass.

There is a syntax problem. You said, "...I ask because I have one...". Is the one you have a new briar or a cleaned estate briar? It isn't clear.

1. There are new pipes that taste like industrial waste. If the inside of a bowl is stained (or clear finished, the bastids) you might get rotten taste and raw tongue. It oughta be illegal to finish the inside of a pipe bowl with anything except raw wood by golly.

2. I never had an estate pipe taste anything except clean and sweet (after a thorough cleaning).

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

There is a syntax problem. You said, "...I ask because I have one...". Is the one you have a new briar or a cleaned estate briar? It isn't clear.

1. There are new pipes that taste like industrial waste. If the inside of a bowl is stained (or clear finished, the bastids) you might get rotten taste and raw tongue. It oughta be illegal to finish the inside of a pipe bowl with anything except raw wood by golly.

2. I never had an estate pipe taste anything except clean and sweet (after a thorough cleaning).

I have an estate pipe, which I am now going to give a thorough cleaning and perhaps a wax: http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/2672697-post1607.html

I was thinking about options for polishing, and have no access to a proper wheel. If I cant get a good shine by hand, I'm thinking of buying a mother's powerball to use in a drill press.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

I have an estate pipe, which I am now going to give a thorough cleaning...

Ah hah.

A stinky rotten nasty vile estate pipe.


Cool Stanwell. You really want to remove what anyone else left behind. Everclear, salt (or cotton balls), plenty of alky-soaked bristle pipe cleaners to scour the inside of the stem and shank and something to take the grunge off the outside of the stem, too. It looks like vulcanite from the foto; vulcanite contains sulphur and, when it ages/oxidizes, can put a rotten taste on a stem. There are many strategies to clean up vulcanite including rubbing with a Magic Eraser (never works well for me), rubbing with toothpaste, steel wool, polishing paper, Clorox soaking, etc. Get not a drop of booze on that pipe finish - be really careful how you do it, esp. if this is your first go-round.

The pipe looks very nice for an estate. You might find cleaning it with a damp cloth and wiping it with olive oil will make it look great.

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Ah hah.

A stinky rotten nasty vile estate pipe.


Cool Stanwell. You really want to remove what anyone else left behind. Everclear, salt (or cotton balls), plenty of alky-soaked bristle pipe cleaners to scour the inside of the stem and shank and something to take the grunge off the outside of the stem, too. Get not a drop of booze on that pipe finish - be really careful how you do it, esp. if this is your first go-round.

Thanks, and I'll be careful. I've been reading a bunch of old pipe cleaning threads, so I think I have a good idea of what I need to do. I even have a great old toothbrush with the softest bristles you could imagine: think "brushing your teeth with a watercolor paintbrush." Not good for teeth, but great for pipes.

[Jack Straw]

OK. I read mixed opinions on what wax to use. I cannot find proper "pipe wax" at any local B&Ms. Now, I have read here that you should not use car wax, but I have also seen pictures (I think from morefifemusic) of someone using Meguiar's cleaner wax on their pipe.

So I have some 3M cleaner wax (cream type), which is awesome car wax (best I've found). Would I be daft to use it?

Thank you for your continued patience with my questions.

EDIT - well i found using google a suggestion of neutral shoe polish. I will try this. Not much luck trying to search 3 letter words here!

[AcworthAl]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

OK. I read mixed opinions on what wax to use. I cannot find proper "pipe wax" at any local B&Ms. Now, I have read here that you should not use car wax, but I have also seen pictures (I think from morefifemusic) of someone using Meguiar's cleaner wax on their pipe.

So I have some 3M cleaner wax (cream type), which is awesome car wax (best I've found). Would I be daft to use it?

Thank you for your continued patience with my questions.

EDIT - well i found using google a suggestion of neutral shoe polish. I will try this. Not much luck trying to search 3 letter words here!

You can buy a pipe wax from Iwan Ries. I have also used bees wax-that is easy to find.

[Mister Moo]

Waxing pipes is a tricky business.

I rubbing a clean pipe on my nose and forehead a few times when nobody is watching. The shine won't last long but it's convenient, time-tested and cheap.

Halcyon costs much more than nose oil but it, too, is easy to rub on and buff off (with fingers and then a hand cloth). It's better than a nose-wipe but doesn't give a hard, long-lasting carnuba shine.

Carnuba gives a carnuba shine. It sure stays on for a long time but applying it requires the right amount of heat/friction to soften and apply it on briar. Doing that with a power tool is great IF you have a wheel than runs at low enough rpm to soften the wax without mangling the briar.

I admire the carnuba guys but stick with Halcyon and the nose swipe.

[cavanor]

I never thought of the nose wipe, will give it a shot. Although I do know the nose wipe is used by brass instrument players to lubricate sections when putting a trombone etc together.

[MarkC]

Damn. You'd have to have one hell of a nose to lubricate a trombone...

[Jack Straw]

^

I called around for some neutral shoe polish, and wound up with some cream type. I wasn't sure I should use it on the pipe, but the shoe repair shop guy was so nice and apparently short on business that I bought it for the $2 anyway to use on shoes. Apparently it's really good stuff. Also, according to wikipedia, most shoe shine has naptha and turpentine in it. Not too keen on that.

I guess I'll just buckle down and buy something online, and until then get intimate/nuzzle with my briar.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

...I guess I'll just buckle down and buy something online, and until then get intimate/nuzzle with my briar.

or...



get a sousaphone.

[SidRox7]

I am currently dabbling in making a pipe and I bored the bowl hole a bit deeper than the stem hole... is there some sort of safe putty or what not I can put in the bottom of the bowl? I guess I could always smoke down as far as I can but don't want to waste any baccy!