Using spirits to clean a pipe

[Harlock999]

Halloween is fast approaching, but the spirits I'm referring to are alcoholic.
Does anyone have an opinion about using rum, scotch or any other spirits to clean a pipe with?
Is this a good idea or a waste of liquor? irat:

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

 

[Greenleaf]

I've always used my bourbon with both soft and bristled cleaners and it works well. Also, a liquored-up cleaner will remove any black gunk you may have on the rim (happened before I got my pipe Zippo in '07).

 

[Anonymous]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

Ditto! :cheers:

 

[bluedigital]

Captain Morgans Dark Rum works for me, but then again I'm a Pirate Kake lover!!! Argg!

 

[Anonymous]

Captain Morgans Dark Rum works for me, but then again I'm a Pirate Kake lover!!! Argg!

:lol!: :cheers:

 

[Eric]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

+1 I clean my collection once or twice a year with grain alcohol, on a pipe cleaner, through the shanks and stems. I only do this twice a year to avoid taking the pipes apart "too often".

 

[Anonymous]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

+1 I clean my collection once or twice a year with grain alcohol, on a pipe cleaner, through the shanks and stems. I only do this twice a year to avoid taking the pipes apart "too often".

Good point, I am on a personal dirt experiment right now, I think my pipes are way to clean....
I am afraid I may not be getting them seasoned well enough. Mine are cleaned like that every 2 weeks. Gona hold back a bit and see if the flavor improves in dedicated pipes!!

 

[Smokin' Blues]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

Ditto, I use either everclear, or sometimes white lightning. I like the taste the moonshine imparts for a smoke or two.

 

[Greenleaf]

Grain alcohol works for me--no flavor to speak of, and evaporates quickly.

+1 I clean my collection once or twice a year with grain alcohol, on a pipe cleaner, through the shanks and stems. I only do this twice a year to avoid taking the pipes apart "too often".

Good point, I am on a personal dirt experiment right now, I think my pipes are way to clean....
I am afraid I may not be getting them seasoned well enough. Mine are cleaned like that every 2 weeks. Gona hold back a bit and see if the flavor improves in dedicated pipes!!

I'm in the same boat as Piet, my pipes are extremely clean. Seems I clean them out of blind fastidiousness half the time, so I've been cutting down on the cleaners. I do love the flavor bourbon leaves in my cobs, it goes great with Carter Hall and coffee.

I'm intrigued by what ShellBriar wrote; how often is too often to take apart a pipe? Again, I do this often so as to clean the shank with a doubled-up cleaner. Yeah, I can be OCD with my pipes at times.

 

[Harlock999]

I used to clean thoroughly with rum after every smoke, but now I clean every 2-3 times. I've been thinking about switching to Bacardi 151 for the higher alcohol content, but I don't want my pipe to go up in flames like an exotic cocktail.
Anybody out there ever use 151?

 

[Greenleaf]

Harlock, would you get the 151 just for cleaning, like a half-pint? You asked if this would be a waste of liquor (maybe half jokingly), so let me share my method. I simply pour a shot and dip cleaners into the shotglass. Maybe after removing any cotton fibers, do the shot. But given that these guys are using Everclear and haven't been engulfed in flames, I doubt that using 151 would be problematic.

 

[Harlock999]

I like you style Greenleaf! Coincidentally, my method is similar, I just use the remainder for a quick rum and coke.

 

[Anonymous]

So far the pipes are smoking with a bit more flavor.
Greenleaf, I hear you bro.
Will let this thing run for a week or two and keep you posted.
So far now all I have been doing is shoving a pipe cleaner down the pipe and it it has a sump I wipe that out with a q tip.

 

[Buddy Springman]

Seems like a waste of liquor. I just use 91% isopropyl. It evaporates guickly enough that nothing on the MSDS scares me.

On the other hand, don't using "rubbing", "denatured", or methyl alcohol of any type. The first will leave a nasty scent/taste in your pipe. "Denatured" means methyl has been added. Methyl alcohol is rather toxic.

Buddy

 

[Anonymous]

Seems like a waste of liquor. I just use 91% isopropyl. It evaporates guickly enough that nothing on the MSDS scares me.

On the other hand, don't using "rubbing", "denatured", or methyl alcohol of any type. The first will leave a nasty scent/taste in your pipe. "Denatured" means methyl has been added. Methyl alcohol is rather toxic.

Buddy

WOW Buddy thanks my man............. this is most valuable info!

 

[Harlock999]

I'm with Piet, that's good to know! irat:

 

[Anonymous]

Damn I think I have been smoking poison for the last 6 months, no joke!!!!!! :shock: :shock:

 

[Greenleaf]

Using liquor makes the ritual more enjoyable, don't you find? I use 91% isopropyl for less glorious cleaning tasks, like soaking fingernail clippers.

 

[bruins]

rum! everclear! bourbon! damn, you guys are making pipe cleaning sound fun!

"what are you doing, honey? just cleaning my pipes, dear..." hiccup! :drunken: