stone
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Post by stone on May 21, 2019 15:25:45 GMT -5
I'm sure many of the experts here already know this, but I love learning and sharing 
As I delve deeper into restoration I am noticing that the really nasty pipes don't benefit much from salt or cotton ball sanitation. It seems the culprit is lurking in the nooks and crannies of the shank and stem; particularly the shoulders where draw holes step up or down in size.
When I was having a nasty problem with a particular pipe, I reached out to the guy who does the "Reborn" pipes and he told me to do what I could to explore the shank and the stem. Under magnification and strong light, using a dental pick, I was able to remove "chunks" of goo from the shank and stem which had already withstood dozens and dozens of Q-tips and pipe cleaners.
I've tried to illustrate it with a crude cross section drawing. Once I removed that stuff, and then did the salt and alcohol again, it smelled so much better.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 16:06:46 GMT -5
'That guy' is Steve Laug.
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orley
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Post by orley on May 21, 2019 16:44:32 GMT -5
For years I've used a small jewelers screwdriver to scrape the crud out of the mortise. They're not so sharp so as to damage the wood, but the flat edge of the screwdriver scrapes it clean with a few passes. Then it's cotton swabs and bristle pipe cleaners to finish up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 16:48:04 GMT -5
When I restore an old pipe nothing better than the salt and alcohol method for removing build up of tar/nicotine within the chamber and shank. Takes many pipe cleaners, but I also roll up paper towel and clean out the chamber and inner shank after removing from the mixture. Takes time and can be tedious, the end result is worth it👍
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stone
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Post by stone on May 21, 2019 16:58:02 GMT -5
'That guy' is Steve Laug. Yes it is. |
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Post by Legend Lover on May 21, 2019 17:20:48 GMT -5
Nice illustration. It's good to know this. I wouldn't have thought about gunk in those places before. Thank you.
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chasingembers
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Posts: 1,884
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on May 21, 2019 17:30:10 GMT -5
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stone
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Post by stone on May 21, 2019 17:32:56 GMT -5
I use those pretty religiously now that someone here suggested them and they didn't do anything for that hardened gunk in the corners either. I cut the loop off and put them in a drill and give it a few million rotations in each direction  |
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Post by Legend Lover on May 21, 2019 17:36:26 GMT -5
I use those pretty religiously now that someone here suggested them and they didn't do anything for that hardened gunk in the corners either. I cut the loop off and put them in a drill and give it a few million rotations in each direction That's a great idea. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,884
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on May 21, 2019 18:19:36 GMT -5
I use those pretty religiously now that someone here suggested them and they didn't do anything for that hardened gunk in the corners either. I cut the loop off and put them in a drill and give it a few million rotations in each direction I use those and Q-tips dipped in alcohol. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 22:19:11 GMT -5
Oring pick set then the usual suspects.
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Post by PhantomWolf on May 22, 2019 0:00:38 GMT -5
I have switched to cobs for maybe 90% of my smoking because of the mess. haha One of these days when I have a bunch of briers nice and filthy, I'm going to contract one of you guys to work your magic. haha A service, I am willing to pay a premium for.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2019 16:38:59 GMT -5
Never was aware of this problem, thanks for sharing this with us.
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andythebeagle
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First Name: Allan
Favorite Pipe: any Meer I have
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Post by andythebeagle on May 23, 2019 18:48:16 GMT -5
I restore a lot of pipes. Many are Meerschaum. I first drill out the draft hole to a size that allows the pipe to breathe easily. Then, using a fluffy pipe cleaner soaked in denatured alcohol, I insert it in the shank and let it sit. This will loosen or soften anything there. How many times I do this depends on how dirty the first, and subsequent pipe cleaners are when they are removed. I do have shank brushes, and bristle pipe cleaners to use. They help a lot. Then, using a very small pen knife blade, I clean out the mortise (carefully) scraping, not cutting. The blade I use is a straight blade that I keep razor sharp. It allows me to clean the bottom of the mortise. Then, using the same basic methods, I do the stem. About half the time, the stem also needs drilled out. All the drilling is because I've yet to find a pipe that passes both the design and manufacturing muster. OTC pipes, especially Kaywoodie and Yello Bole are the worst. They will seldom pass a pipe cleaner. Small bowl Grabows (Lark, etc) are also rather stuffy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 18:40:22 GMT -5
I recently cleared out a lot of that gunk (pipe tartar?) out of a mouthpiece using the thread covered peg end of a cello string. Imagine a flexible covered metal file or small plumbing snake. Hard to describe, but it worked incredibly well and I was confident that the cloth winding was going easy on the surfaces. I was able to get from practically zero airflow to smoking a clean bowl without having to bring it to my local pipeman, who just happens to be...Steve Laug!
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Post by trailboss on Sept 3, 2019 23:47:44 GMT -5
Think of the shank as a septic tank when you clean pipes.
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