How do I clean and de-odorize two used pipes?

[wolverine3660]

Today I received the gift of 2 pipes from a friend. Both are gently used straight billiards, one a sand blasted Cavicci and the other a sand-blasted Tinsky. Should I just air them out to get rid of the smells from the tobaccos he smoked in the pipes, and clean out the mouth-pieces with rubbing alcohol?
Thanks in advance.

 

[gandalfpc]

Give the stem a good clean with alcohol for sure

As far as smell removal - it depends - if it has a very strong or unpleasant smell then you will want to treat it - otherwise any minor smell should go away with a few bowls smoked through it


To get rid of smells the salt treatment is the way to go - fill bowl and stummel with salt and a bit of alcohol - you will find details on the process around the web...

 

[Anonymous]

What Gandalf said.........
Surf around the forum, there has been much written on this topic!

 

[ftrplt]

W3660.....I don't use rubbing alcohol in my pipes. I prefer to use Everclear or a high-proof vodka for cleaning the inside of pipe bowls and shanks. Do not get any on the outside of the bowl, shank, or stem. If you need to use the salt and alcohol method, make sure you use a doubled up pipe cleaner in the shank (after gently removing the stem) so no liquid spills out on the pipe or work surface. Use large-grained Kosher or sea salt, filling the bowl about 3/4 to 7/8ths full. Leave a bit of room for the salt to expand. Use an eye-dropper to put the alcohol in the bowl. Let it sit until the salt turns a yucky brown color, then remove the salt and do the process over again until the salt stays white/clear.

Now, if these two wonderful briars are indeed "lightly" smoked, I would just clean them with Everclear until the pipe cleaners come out clean. After that, I swab out the bowl and shank with a pipecleaner dipped in Port, Brandy, etc. to "sweeten" it.

For cleaning the stem, I start with plain water; introducing diluted Everclear, pipe sweetener, Port, etc. to clean/sweeten the stem.

That's the way I was "learned" to do it! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!!!! FTRPLT

 

[wolverine3660]

ftrplt: thanks for your advice. I just cleaned out both pipes, used a pipe tool to scrape of some cake on one of the pipes. Then used the salt and Everclear method, just as you suggested. I used a eye-dropper to get the Everclear into the bowl.

Normally, I wouldnt have bothered, but my friend smokes the nastiest English blends he can find!!!! So, the pipes stank bad!!!

BTW, since you are a aviator- I attended a wonderful air show yesterday, saw a team of P-51 Mustangs, and B-17s and B-24 bombers fly. The show was at the Willow Run Airport near Ann Arbor, MI, which is right next to the Willow Run Plant where the B-17s and the B-24 were built.

 

[Amenhotep04]

Wow, and all this time I've been drinking vodka. What was I thinking?

:farao:

 

[Justpipes]

White liquor is for cleaning! Brown liquor is for drinking!

 

[ftrplt]

ftrplt: thanks for your advice. I just cleaned out both pipes, used a pipe tool to scrape of some cake on one of the pipes. Then used the salt and Everclear method, just as you suggested. I used a eye-dropper to get the Everclear into the bowl.

Normally, I wouldnt have bother, but my friend smokes the nastiest English blends he can find!!!! So, the pipes stank bad!!!

BTW, since you are a aviator- I attended a wonderful air show yesterday, saw a team of P-51 Mustangs, and B-17s and B-24 bombers fly. The show was at the Willow Run Airport near Ann Arbor, MI, which is right next to the Willow Run Plant where the B-17s and the B-24 were built.

Glad it worked out for you!!!! Sounds like a great airshow! I love attending one anytime I can. In my younger days, I used to fly in the shows and do a "static" display with airplane. Had some great times in the States and Canada. FTRPLT

 

[ftrplt]

Wow, and all this time I've been drinking vodka. What was I thinking?
Never anywhere did I say I say I wasn't drinking some as I was cleaning!!!!!!!! :cheers: FTRPLT

 

[ftrplt]

White liquor is for cleaning! Brown liquor is for drinking!

In your case, that's because Walnut overwhelms the taste of a good white whiskey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol: FTRPLT

 

[wolverine3660]

OK, an update here.
The pipe bowls now look clean, and almost all the nasty stink is gone. The salt and Everclear treatment has worked out really well. I will clean the stems out today, sanitize them with Everclear, and hopefully by tomorrow, both pipes will be ready to go.

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

 

[ftrplt]

Glad to hear the good news!! Enjoy your new briars; you have two of the best!!!! FTRPLT