flatwatermonte
New Member
Posts: 46
First Name: Trevor
Favorite Pipe: Whichever one is in my mouth
Favorite Tobacco: McC Dark Star
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Post by flatwatermonte on Jun 22, 2021 17:42:09 GMT -5
As I sat last night cleaning some of my pipes, I realized that I was down to less than 1/3rd of a bottle of Decatur Briar-Fresh. Went to order a bottle this morning and got to thinking about alternatives to commercial cleaners. When I restore estate pipes, I favor denatured alcohol for cleaning the airway of the stem and on a q-tip to clean the tenon and inside of the stummel, but my daily smokers rarely need that aggressive of a clean.
For the exterior of the stem, I favor Obsidian Oil. When restoring estates, I like to use micromesh pads to sand away the oxidation, followed by a buff with carnuba wax and then a finishing coat of Obsidian Oil.
For the bowl, a wipe down with a clean microfiber cloth usually suffices, followed with Decatur No Buff Wax. My favorite top of the bowl char removed is a little bit of saliva on a q-tip.
So my question to the experts amongst us; what are your favorite or most effective cleaning products? |
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William Straub
New Member
Posts: 22
First Name: Bill
Favorite Pipe: Barling Guinea Grain, pot-style #6269
Favorite Tobacco: Peterson's My Mixture 965
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Post by William Straub on Jun 22, 2021 19:09:25 GMT -5
Usually, when I get an estate pipe, I will give the bowl a reaming with a Decatur Ream-All and then give it the alcohol-and-salt treatment for about 24 hours and give the stem an Oxyclean bath for one or two hours. I will use a micro-mesh pad to remove the oxydation and treat it further with Decatur Haze-Away before putting on a few drops of obsidian oil. I'll give the interior of the stem a thorough cleaning with pipe cleaners, alcohol and a run through of Carey Professional Pipe Cleaner. The next day I'll rinse out the bowl and rub it down with one of those Mr. Clean sponge wipers and a bit of Murphy's Oil Soap. I spend whatever time is necessary cleaning out the shank because there's always a lot of gunk there, primarily using Q-Tips, pipe cleaner, a Neerup brush and alcohol. This always take a long time. I wind it up putting just a few drops of Clean & Clear in the bowl and then using some no-buff wax on the outer bowl. Once I got it in shape I want it's less extensive -- pipe cleaner in alcohol through the stem, Q-Tip in alcohol in the shank and Clean & Cure in the bowl and whatever maintenance is necessary. .
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Post by daveinlax on Jun 22, 2021 19:59:21 GMT -5
I always have a red/pink Dunhill waxed polishing cloth at hand and when I clean my pipes I usually use 97% alcohol and Renaissance wax with a boars hair brush. I usually use Flitz polish on vulcanite stems finished with a coat of UV ChapStick.  |
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Post by mgtarheel on Jun 22, 2021 22:16:32 GMT -5
Pipe Cleaners, Clean&Cure, and Everclear. That's all folks!
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Post by Silver on Jun 22, 2021 22:23:56 GMT -5
Saliva, Paragon Wax, Halcyon II Wax, Everclear/salt, pipe cleaners, polishing cloth.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jun 23, 2021 4:12:20 GMT -5
Am I supposed to clean these things?!
Jim Beam and pipe cleaners and shank brush seem to do the trick, if needed.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jun 23, 2021 6:18:57 GMT -5
+1 for whisky and pipe cleaners
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dingobob
Junior Member
Posts: 189
Location:
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Post by dingobob on Jun 23, 2021 10:24:14 GMT -5
Whatever crappy whiskey my brother-in-law got me for Christmas plus pipe cleaners and a reamer if needed.
Edit: or if it's a cob, throw it away and buy a new one.
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Post by Professor S. on Jun 23, 2021 21:11:18 GMT -5
+1 for whisky and pipe cleaners This is my method. I usually use Bulleit Bourbon or Shackleton Scotch. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,825 
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Jun 24, 2021 2:38:58 GMT -5
Pipe cleaners, paper towels, and a jeweler's cloth.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,825
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Jun 24, 2021 2:44:03 GMT -5
For the exterior of the stem, I favor Obsidian Oil. When restoring estates, I like to use micromesh pads to sand away the oxidation, followed by a buff with carnuba wax and then a finishing coat of Obsidian Oil.
I just singe the oxidation with a lighter and wipe it away with a wet paper towel then thumb buff with toothpaste to a mirror finish.    |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 24, 2021 2:52:36 GMT -5
+1 for whisky and pipe cleaners This is my method. I usually use Bulleit Bourbon or Shackleton Scotch. Jack Daniels for me. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 24, 2021 12:58:13 GMT -5
Cheap (Old No.7 100 proof} bourbon or 151 rum and pipe cleaners.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jun 24, 2021 18:37:05 GMT -5
This is my method. I usually use Bulleit Bourbon or Shackleton Scotch. Jack Daniels for me. I knew that JD was good for something besides numbing Harley riders to the noise and vibration. 😜🤠 |
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Post by Kerley0319 on Jun 24, 2021 18:55:00 GMT -5
For the exterior of the stem, I favor Obsidian Oil. When restoring estates, I like to use micromesh pads to sand away the oxidation, followed by a buff with carnuba wax and then a finishing coat of Obsidian Oil.
I just singe the oxidation with a lighter and wipe it away with a wet paper towel then thumb buff with toothpaste to a mirror finish. Impressive work there on those oxidized stems. I tried your method on a few of mine but did not achieve the same results- wondering what I did wrong. |
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Post by Silver on Jun 24, 2021 18:59:51 GMT -5
For the exterior of the stem, I favor Obsidian Oil. When restoring estates, I like to use micromesh pads to sand away the oxidation, followed by a buff with carnuba wax and then a finishing coat of Obsidian Oil.
I just singe the oxidation with a lighter and wipe it away with a wet paper towel then thumb buff with toothpaste to a mirror finish. Read a post by chasingembers some time ago, and tried the singe method with a butane lighter. Works like a charm. |
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Post by urbino on Jun 24, 2021 22:37:12 GMT -5
I generally use Dran-o and full strength Clorox bleach.
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Post by trailboss on Jun 24, 2021 23:07:55 GMT -5
I scrub all my orifices with everclear.
But for the pipes, salt alcohol if it is a nasty estate pipe and everclear.
Autosol on the stems.
Toms gunstock wax on briars.
Clarified beeswax on meers.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,825
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Jun 25, 2021 4:11:10 GMT -5
Impressive work there on those oxidized stems. I tried your method on a few of mine but did not achieve the same results- wondering what I did wrong. The idea is to blacken just the surface on small sections of the stem at a time with just the tip of the flame then wipe it away with a wet paper towel. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,825
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Jun 25, 2021 4:12:29 GMT -5
I scrub all my orifices with everclear. That's gotta wreak havoc on the hemorrhoids. |
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flatwatermonte
New Member
Posts: 46
First Name: Trevor
Favorite Pipe: Whichever one is in my mouth
Favorite Tobacco: McC Dark Star
Location:
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Post by flatwatermonte on Jun 28, 2021 6:52:57 GMT -5
I generally use Dran-o and full strength Clorox bleach. The majority of your pipes must be connected to porcelain then! |
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flatwatermonte
New Member
Posts: 46
First Name: Trevor
Favorite Pipe: Whichever one is in my mouth
Favorite Tobacco: McC Dark Star
Location:
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Post by flatwatermonte on Jun 28, 2021 6:53:23 GMT -5
I scrub all my orifices with everclear. That's gotta wreak havoc on the hemorrhoids. I just spit coffee on my keyboard from this!!! |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,825
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
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Jul 3, 2021 2:35:47 GMT -5
That's gotta wreak havoc on the hemorrhoids. I just spit coffee on my keyboard from this!!! We aim to please.😃  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2021 9:23:10 GMT -5
For cobs, all you need is pipe cleaners, a shank brush and plenty of morning sunshine and fresh air.
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Post by justanotherpiper on Mar 7, 2022 22:05:21 GMT -5
I've found that soaking the stems in Oxyclean for awhile, then scrubbing them with a Magic Eraser usually does the trick for getting oxidation off. It takes some work, but it's less caustic than some other methods I've seen, and I'm not worried about it damaging the stem. If the oxidation is really heavy, I'll start with something like 2000 grit wet sandpaper, and work to 7000 before moving to jeweler's rouge on my buffing wheel. To clean the outside of the bowl, it all depends how grimy it is. Serious grime I'll cut with whiskey and rub clean with a dish towel, then buff with carnuba wax. For just general cleaning, I use warm water and paper towels.
For refreshing a sour bowl, I prefer to use kosher salt and 100 proof whiskey: Put a pipe cleaner in the shank, fill the bowl with salt, add enough whiskey to saturate (but don't drown it), and leave overnight. Knock it out, and let it dry all day and it should be good. Any high-proof alcohol should do, but for what it's worth, I like use Old Overholt Bonded. Cheap, and pretty tasty (if you like rye whiskey) and doesn't impart any flavor that I can notice--or I'm just used to it. For char, I'll scrap off heavy buildup with the spine of a plastic knife, and clean the rest off with saliva, or whiskey, and paper towels.
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Post by rectifythis on Aug 10, 2022 19:11:17 GMT -5
I favor denatured alcohol for cleaning the airway of the stem
Why denatured alcohol as opposed to isopropyl? |
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Post by peteguy on Aug 11, 2022 11:31:35 GMT -5
Removing stain - acetone
Cleaning inside a pipe bowl or shank - anything with alcohol
Oxidized stem - soak in special mix and micro mesh sanding
Tooth marks, holes in button - never happy with any fix so I send out for replacement or do new stem myself.
Chatter - file and sand
Charred rim - these are the toughest for me - lots of wetting and rubbing. Use a knife blade backwards to scrape most of it off.
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