Goo-Gone for Cleaning?

[la157m3]

Anyone ever use Goo-Gone (orange stuff) for cleaning the hand oils, tar, and gunk off the briars? I didn't see any references to it in the search feature. I did, however, read where people have used Barkeep's Helper and Soft Scrub, but those looked like they were more for metal surfaces, tile, porcelain, etc. The Goo-Gone stuff said it's for wood so I don't think it'll hurt it...I hope.

Any have any experience with it?

[Yoda!]

Originally Posted by la157m3

Anyone ever use Goo-Gone (orange stuff) for cleaning the hand oils, tar, and gunk off the briars? I didn't see any references to it in the search feature. I did, however, read where people have used Barkeep's Helper and Soft Scrub, but those looked like they were more for metal surfaces, tile, porcelain, etc. The Goo-Gone stuff said it's for wood so I don't think it'll hurt it...I hope.

Any have any experience with it?

I wouldn't, but if you feel you must. I would use Murphy Oil Soap for a general cleanup. Spit (on a rag) on the rim. Try not to let any thing get into the bowl....

[Mitch]

If I wouldn't smoke it, I wouldn't ever use it to clean. I use Bacardi 151 or Rum with higher alcohol percentage. You can also do the salt treatment which works great.

[Reverie Forest]

Originally Posted by Mitch

If I wouldn't smoke it, I wouldn't ever use it to clean.

Very well said...who knows what that stuff may leave behind. I don't want those chemicals finding their way into my lungs.

[WWhermit]

Originally Posted by Mitch

If I wouldn't smoke it, I wouldn't ever use it to clean. I use Bacardi 151 or Rum with higher alcohol percentage. You can also do the salt treatment which works great.

For inside the pipe only!! Don't ever use alcohol on the outside of a pipe, or it will most likely strip away the finish.

Just wanted to clarify that for those who may not know.

WWhermit

[Z.Kramer]

I second the Murphy's Oil for the outside of the pipe. Works really great for me. Don't forget to dilute it.

And if you are going to use alcohol for the bowl, invest in a dropper to apply it with. That helped me a lot to keep from stripping the finish of of my pipes.

[la157m3]

Originally Posted by Z.Kramer

I second the Murphy's Oil for the outside of the pipe. Works really great for me. Don't forget to dilute it.

And if you are going to use alcohol for the bowl, invest in a dropper to apply it with. That helped me a lot to keep from stripping the finish of of my pipes.

Yeah, I got the kosher salt, Isopropyl alcohol, and eye dropper for cleaning the bowls after reaming.

I did, however, screw up a small area of finish on one of my Peterson's when I was using silver polish on the band. You can tell where some of the polish touched the bowl by the ring. Even though I wiped the polish immediately you can definitely tell where it's lighter now.

Any way to fix the finish once something like that has happened?

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by la157m3

Yeah, I got the kosher salt, Isopropyl alcohol, and eye dropper for cleaning the bowls after reaming.

I did, however, screw up a small area of finish on one of my Peterson's when I was using silver polish on the band. You can tell where some of the polish touched the bowl by the ring. Even though I wiped the polish immediately you can definitely tell where it's lighter now.

Any way to fix the finish once something like that has happened?

WHy are you using isopropyl alcohol for that. I have heard you can, but why not use rum or everclear.

[MarkC]

Isopropyl alcohol, to the best of my knowledge, is rarely referred to as "silver polish", Mitch.

[la157m3]

Originally Posted by MarkC

Isopropyl alcohol, to the best of my knowledge, is rarely referred to as "silver polish", Mitch.

Sorry - seems as though I confused some:

The kosher salt & iso alcohol is for filling the bowls of the pipe to leach-out the years worth of use, tobacco juices, etc.

The silver polish, (Wright's Silver Polish), was used on the sterling silver band around the stem of the pipes.

The Goo-Gone or Murphy's is used to wipe down the outside of the pipe to clean off the tar, gunk, ash, and hand oils from handling over the years.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by la157m3

...Any way to fix the finish once something like that has happened?

Where's the Mad Hatter when you need him?

A wipe of matching or slightly lighter shade of stain; dry; wax, buff. Sometimes wax alone works but not often to a critical eye.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by la157m3

Sorry - seems as though I confused some:

The kosher salt & iso alcohol is for filling the bowls of the pipe to leach-out the years worth of use, tobacco juices, etc.

The silver polish, (Wright's Silver Polish), was used on the sterling silver band around the stem of the pipes.

The Goo-Gone or Murphy's is used to wipe down the outside of the pipe to clean off the tar, gunk, ash, and hand oils from handling over the years.

Oh ok, I thought from your first post you were going to use the Goo-gone inside the pipe. I would switch the Isopropyl alcohol with something else. The way they make Isopropyl is by combining water with propene (which is a gas). I would never want that stuff in my pipe. Pick up some everclear or Bacardi 151, regular alcohol you drink. Like I said earlier, if I wont mix it with coke and drink it, I wouldn't ever put it inside my pipe. If you go to youtube and look up, I believe it is Dublindam, he has great videos on how to clean pipes.

[Ray]

All I've ever used to clean the exterior of my pipes is a quick wipe down with Briar Pipe Wipe. I do this before I return a pipe to my rotation, keeps them looking pretty darn good imo.

[Diodon nepheligina]

In the interest of being thorough, while cleaning your pipe, one ought to also liberally apply said "cleaning" spirits such as 151, wild turkey 101, various single malt scotches, vodkas, and black rums to ones own lips, teeth, tongue and throat in order to clean them as well...

[StufnPuf]

Originally Posted by Diodon nepheligina

In the interest of being thorough, while cleaning your pipe, one ought to also liberally apply said "cleaning" spirits such as 151, wild turkey 101, various single malt scotches, vodkas, and black rums to ones own lips, teeth, tongue and throat in order to clean them as well...