Cleaning Estate Pipes

[slyder]

Im new to pipe smoking and am wondering whats the best way to clean up an estate pipe or any older well smoked pipe in general?

[Z.Kramer]

Try using this sites search and type in cleaning estate pipes, or restoring estate pipes. I found useful info on this topic on youtube, and through some googling.

[cp478]

depends on what kinda shape they are in.

some reaming or non iodized salt with a few drops of everclear. always worked for me.
mr clean magic eraser for the stems , maybe some bleach water.

definitely a lot of good info on puff if you search!

[Mad Hatter]

Rim, chamber, airway, stem and woodwork should be explained somewhere around here, maybe in a FAQ or something

[commonsenseman]

Parts 2a & 2b are for serious cleaning.

[selleri]

Sorry if this is already covered in the videos, I have not access to youtube from this machine as I should be working

Any ideas how to get rid of foul taste? I have one estate that I've done the salt/alcohol treatment but it's not helping, the pipe tastes like I would be burning briar even when I'm definetly not smoking too hot. I tried to scrape the cake to very thin, but the off-taste still stays. Could it be that somebody actually burnt the pipe and I should be removing everything to the wood? How to do that without damaging the pipe? Or could it be that there is something inside the shank? How to clean that besides besides alcohol+pipe cleaners which I have already done?

[rrb]

Ever heard of the pipe cleaning retort. It's said to do wonders in cases like yours.
Never tried it, but the principle of the procedure makes a lot of sense.
Take a look here: Seattle Pipe Club

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by selleri

Sorry if this is already covered in the videos, I have not access to youtube from this machine as I should be working

Any ideas how to get rid of foul taste? I have one estate that I've done the salt/alcohol treatment but it's not helping, the pipe tastes like I would be burning briar even when I'm definetly not smoking too hot. I tried to scrape the cake to very thin, but the off-taste still stays. Could it be that somebody actually burnt the pipe and I should be removing everything to the wood? How to do that without damaging the pipe? Or could it be that there is something inside the shank? How to clean that besides besides alcohol+pipe cleaners which I have already done?

You hit on some good points there. Yes, IMO, you should ream all the cake from the pipe using a reamer, like one of these: Frenchy's Pipes - New and Estate Smoking Pipes

There is also a very good chance the shank has a resin build up in it that is easiest taken care of by using a drill bit or a shank reamer or a lot of elbow grease and a shank brush like one of these: Shank Brush

If that doesn't work, smoke some rope tobacco or 1792 in it for a few weeks and the ghost will be exercised

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

If that doesn't work, smoke some rope tobacco or 1792 in it for a few weeks and the ghost will be exercised

And who needs an overweight, out of shape ghost?

[Mad Hatter]

I'll be laughing at that one for a few days. Too funny!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

There is also a very good chance the shank has a resin build up in it that is easiest taken care of by using a drill bit or a shank reamer or a lot of elbow grease and a shank brush like one of these: Shank Brush

How do you clean a stinky shank brush?

I got one piece of advice for the new-to-estate pipe cleaning guy. If the stem doesn't twist easily out of the shank, DON'T TWIST IT HARDER. Old pipes with dry wood and seized stems can snap in an eyeblink. Sometimes a little heat eases them right out if there if there is hardened beeswax on the tenon (think hairdryer) and, conversely, a few minutes in a freezer will take care of other reasons for seized stems. Warm or cold is good - hard twisting is not good.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

How do you clean a stinky shank brush?

I got one piece of advice for the new-to-estate pipe cleaning guy. If the stem doesn't twist easily out of the shank, DON'T TWIST IT HARDER. Old pipes with dry wood and seized stems can snap in an eyeblink. Sometimes a little heat eases them right out if there if there is hardened beeswax on the tenon (think hairdryer) and, conversely, a few minutes in a freezer will take care of other reasons for seized stems. Warm or cold is good - hard twisting is not good.

Funny you should ask. For a dollar twenty you toss it and get a new one. So why is it I've been using the same one for the last 18 months?

[tzaddi]

Here is a piece I put together a while back, it may or may not be helpful. It does however help my "going green" effort by recycling more often.

Karl Erik question