The Art of Pipe Smoking. Vol.11: Deep Pipe Cleaning Part 3

[@barryhunter6273]

Ive just started smoking a pipe at the age of 59. Both my father, grand father, father in law and grand father in law all smoked pipe. I am really enjoying the Muttnchop Videos, Thank You for taking tghe time to make these.

[@dillonjones978]

I realize you made these videos awhile back. I would like to thank you for your service to our country and my pipe smoking journey. I salute you sir

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Dillon Jones - It’s been my pleasure my friend. 👍👍👍

[@kentheonlywellmaybedontoo9754]

love this guy, love that he wants to share his knowledge. appreciate his military service too. thanks bro

[@4one6Piper]

Chris I miss seeing you and your videos. You got me started a year ago on my pipe journey. Haven't heard from you in a long time. I hope you and your family are safe and well. Hope all is ok.👍🏻👍🏻

[@johnthurman4101]

All of the concentration of a Marine doing Marine things. Thank chop, great series!

[@Benjalina666]

Hey @muttonchoppiper , thank you so much for your beginning videos, I’ve been trying to follow written instructions on the same methods and kept failing because I was packing too hard and relying on the draw test. It never worked for me till I followed your videos and then, last night I had my first decent smoke! Hats off to you, sir! Many thanks, very excited about the world of pipes now, all thanks to you!

[@bluegoldgr]

Thank you sir for taking the time to do these videos and sharing your knowledge. You have saved me a lot of time and money by not having to figure this out on my own.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

GERALD BLUEGOLDMAN - you’re a prime example of why I do these videos, because with anything, at least with me, if it’s brand new and I have never tried it before, I would love to have someone show me step by step so I don’t developed bad habits and have to start over after several months. I’m happy you find value in my videos. 👍👍👍

[@kennethsparr5979]

Thank you sir for making these videos. I am a fairly new pipe smoker and I stumbled on your videos a while back and you have answered most if not all of the questions I have had. I never heard of deep cleaning a pipe and now that I have and know why it is needed I am going to start immediately .

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Kenneth Sparr - That's great to hear, I'm glad I could help. 👍👍👍

[@JEEROFUKU]

As green horn of the pipe smoking I really appreciate this tutorial of yours, sir! Warm regards!

[@MuttnchopPiper]

JEEROFUKU - Im happy to hear that my friend, thank you. 👍👍👍

[@oldgoat8861]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching all 3 videos. I jjust retired....I want to start smoking a pipe again, it's been a long time ago that I had one. So I just bought a couple Falcons and 2 Estate Briars to start out on. Time for me to travel and relax enjoying a good tasty smoke.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Mark Elkins - That’s an Awsome plan, and the pipes you chose are Awsome as well, might I suggest once you receive your pipes and some tobacco that you review a group of videos called “Just the Basics” it combines all the videos you need to be successful at Pipe Smoking. 👍👍👍

[@Haman9]

I had remove the mouth piece while it was almost warm and got damage my first Savinelli pipe. Now the pipe is getting leaking a nasty burned ash oil after 2-4 minutes smoking and loss the part in middle. I really felt bad because it took me 6 hours driving to buy, and cost $100 which broke in the 4th day. but i got the lesson and went again this morning to buy a new nice Peterson pipe. I will follow all this important and useful steps for safe cleaning. Thanks alot muttnchop for this videos. *Big fan*

[@adamnordskog1231]

Every video has been extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Thank you for your Military service as well. I'm grateful for finding your videos early in my hobby. Happy piping!

[@blueskillitbbq1320]

That sure reminds me of cleaning weapons in the military. I'd wager you've spent some time doing that too. Thank you for your service and for the instructional/informative videos. I'm going to view them all and hopefully new ones in the future as well.

[@excelsiortrading8050]

So what I've learned is since I'm more of a tobaccophile than a pipe collector, I'm mostly buying cobs lol..i do own one briar and do want to collect a couple more, but way more high maintenance than I desire for daily smoking hehe. I'd rather stick to the well built 20 buck cobs and not be so finicky if they look great or last forever. But I do appreciate your teachings for the few nice briars I'd like to keep nice and care well for.

[@benkelsey891]

This was an excellent visual guide. Thank you. I was wondering if you might be willing to (at some point) do a video on how you would go about cleaning an estate pipe for the first time? I have just gotten one for a good price as my first pipe, and did not realize at the time how "well loved" it has been. I don't want to mess it up before I even get a chance to smoke it, and was thinking your take on the best practice would be excellent to add to this series one day.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Ben kelsey - We will see, I have never owned an estate pipe, so my expertise in this area is limited. 😏😏😏

[@tomjohnson1252]

Very though job my friend. You explain great on your videos

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Tom Johnson - I’m glad you think so, sometimes, I’m not sure if my explanation is clear or not, with me pausing, and fumbling my words sometimes. 👍👍👍

[@emil1322]

Thanks for the videos, Muttnchop Piper. You're a great help!

[@omarhaltam]

Thank you Muttnchop for the great informative video, i couldnt believe how dirty my pipe was after i deep cleaned it!

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Omar Haltam - It probably tasted a lot better as well, most people don’t know how important it is to keep them pipes clean. 👍👍👍

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Omar Haltam - It doesn’t take long for them to get really dirty. 👍👍👍

[@dciurej]

Nice series of videos! And I see a parallel in your method in how one cleans a rifle, especially when you emphasize pulling the pipe cleaner all the way through. Is that the Marine coming out? And using olive oil (or petroleum jelly) on pipe stems reportedly helps stop them from getting that greenish oxidizing tinge over the years (at least Russ Oulette recommends it). I have 30 year old pipes that were a royal pain to get the stems clean again and I've used the oil method over the last year and the tinge has not come back...yet.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Oh my god, you're right, when you mentioned riffle cleaning, memories of the last day of qualifying on the rifle range and having to go back to the armory and clean the riffle spotless, I would clean it, thinking yeah, this baby is clean, take it up to the armorer for inspection, he would look at it and say, nope, not good enough

[@SargeTube57]

Been there, done that!!! Now that I am back in the civilian world, my pipe is my 'rifle'......and then there are still my rifles, hahahaha! Happy Pipping Good Gentlemen!!!

[@metaknowledge2010]

Appreciate your videos and the advice.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

metaknowledge2010 - you're welcome my friend. 👍👍👍

[@metaknowledge2010]

Muttnchop Piper I'm ex military(UK) and second what the other chap said about the order you have when setting everything up ! Made me smile !

[@MuttnchopPiper]

metaknowledge2010 - well if the the military in the UK is close to the same as it is in the states, (Structured, organized) then you are probably cursed as I am, thank you for your service my friend. 👍👍👍

[@metaknowledge2010]

Yes indeed it was my friend. Its what is lacking in the majority of the youth today. I send my thanks to you also. Have a blessed day.

[@rpseitzancientcoins7084]

I smoke a pipe 3 to 4 times in a day. At the the end of the day I do I deep clean as you desrcibe in lieu of the daily clean. Is that too much? Overkill?

[@josemiguelhernandez7777]

Thank you Master

[@williamleuschner8701]

Hello sir- thank you for this video! I know it’s old- And hope you get my questions. I just got all the materials for cleaning- save 1 : the grain alcohol- I’m a bit confused what it is- or where it can be purchased! The only kind I found was Isipropyl rubbing alcohol- and I don’t think that is the right kind! Again I know you are probably in a different part of your life since this video came out( it’s old) but if there’s any way you can answer me it would be much appreciated! Have a great day! WFL 21 SJose Ca.

[@rickl.461]

You buy grain alcohol at a liquor store (or grocery store maybe if you live in a region where grocery stores sell spirits--where I live, grocery stores can sell only beer and wine). The most common brand is called Everclear. It's or 95% alcohol (190 proof), so essentially pure alcohol. I am not experienced with pipe cleaning, so I don't know if Isopropyl alcohol is appropriate for pipe cleaning, but you are right--it's definitely not what Muttnchop Piper recommended. A .750 ml size bottle of Everclear should run between $15 and $20. Everclear is also safe for human consumption if you want to make a cocktail with it, they same as other spirits like vodka. Word of warning: Everclear is highly flammable like gasoline or rubbing alcohol. And due to its being basically pure alcohol, you should not consume without it being mixed into juice or soda, etc. It would be physically painful to consume straight up. If choose to consume it, keep in mind the high percentage of alcohol (twice as high as the liquors more commonly used in cocktails) so that you don't accidentally over-imbibe.

[@josephmaiello7236]

Thanks for all of your videos, Muttonchop Piper. I have learned a tremendous amount from them. So, I have a question. I recently inherited my Uncles pipes after he passed and most of them look like they have never been cleaned. I know you stress keeping the carbon cake at the bottom, but there must be a point where you need to clean some of it out. For instance, with my Uncles pipes, there is a lot of carbon buildup covering the inside of the pipes. Any suggestions on how much to clear out and how?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Joseph Maiello - my honest advice, have them cleaned by someone who has experience in refurbishing pipes, do you live in the United States?

[@josephmaiello7236]

Thanks for responding so quickly. Yes, I live in Chicago. So, if I may ask a question then. Why is it important to keep a carbon cake at the bottom? And what would be the negative effects of using your grain alcohol solution to clean the inside walls of the pipe?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Joseph Maiello - a good carbon cake is built to help keep the pipe cool, and to protect the wood from getting to hot and burning which will, do damage. It's important to produce this carbon cake all the way down because if certain areas are thinner then others, then the heat will concentrate in the thinner areas and certainly burn the wood of the pipe. Putting the grain alcohol in the bowl will allow the carbon cake to soak up the alcohol, after drying and you start to smoke your pipe all you will taste will be the alcohol over, and over again. There is a gentleman I trust with all my pipes when I need them worked on or cleaned, his prices are fair, and his work is top notch. His name is Jim Anderson, and you can reach him at 502-298-3275. 👍👍👍

[@josephmaiello7236]

Thanks for all your help! I look forward to your future videos!

[@Shvilo]

Hey there, Great video! Thank you for doing this sereis. What is your opinion on cleaning the pipe with just whiskey instead of a cleaning solution? I've done it a couple times. I deep clean the inside of the stem, the shank and the inside of the bowl once a month with it, then run some clean pipe cleaners to dry it.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

I have heard of other people who clean with whisky, so I think it would be fine but be careful you don't get any on the outside finish of your pipe, be oust it will strip it off, plus don't use it to clean the inside of your brown, it might start weakening the cake build up. Plus be aware your tobacco might taste like whisky.

[@Shvilo]

+Muttnchop Piper Good call on the cake there. It didn't come to my mind. I actualy find the taste of the first bowl after cleaning rather pleasent :)

[@MuttnchopPiper]

+‫אבירן בנימין‬‎ then yes definitely use whisky, one of the most important things in pipe smoking is to enjoy the smoke

[@TheMagicianPiper]

Fantastic 3 videos buddy. I'm just wondering if one can use Scott/whisky to clean inside the pipe?

[@TheMagicianPiper]

All good just saw someone else had asked the same question. I might get some of the antiseptic whiles though. Not sure if you saw my last video but I got some strange reaction from my pipe (rubber mouth tip) that made my mouth numb and almost infected.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

The Magician Piper - yikes, that's not good. 😏😏😏

[@nash_jab4665]

Thanks for these useful videos Sir, but you did not clean the bowel! don't we have to clean it also? thanks

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Nashwan Jabbour - No absolutely not, just take a pipe cleaner and lightly sweep away the ash on the walls after you dump the ash at the bottom of the bowl. 👍👍👍

[@nash_jab4665]

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate you response :)

[@kevinl6185]

What do you use to clean the bowl with?

[@viviencharrier1984]

How do you deep clean the inside of the bowl ? ( I mean the actual chamber ) Isn't it necessary ? sometimes I'm wondering if the bitter taste isn't coming from there . Great video as always :)

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Vivien Charrier - you do not clean the bowl with anything. All you do with the bowl is to dump out the ash and any unburnt tobacco, then use a pipe cleaner to sweep the inside walls to remove ash and pieces of tobacco. 👍👍👍

[@viviencharrier1984]

Muttnchop Piper Thanks a lot . Some people talk about pouring alcohol inside the bowl ( even with salt ) for deep clean this is why I was asking ;)

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Vivien Charrier - That’s usually done with estate pipes where you want get rid of any impurities that the last owner might have introduced, start fresh you could say. 👍👍👍

[@godstemplar46]

Ok questions. You said you do this once a month? Or after how many smokes? I use Everclear 151. Is this what you mean by grain alcohol? What do you use for the Liquor? Are the antiseptic wipes isopropyl alcohol? Thank you very much for this.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Question 1- if I rotate my pipes. In which I have a lot, every month is typical, if you only have a few pipes. I would say do a deep cleaning every 7 to 10 smokes Question 2- everclear is what I use, and the liquor I use something with vanilla, or caramel in it Question 3- yes, they are isopropyl alcohol wipes.

[@godstemplar46]

@@MuttnchopPiper thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. This really helps. Yours where the first videos I watched when I got serious about smoking a pipe. I found out I was doing everything wrong hehe. I now can pack my pipe and smoke it and actually taste the tobacco. I’ve picked up some blends you recommended. Next I need to work on my pipe collection. As of now I have 3. A Missouri Meerschaum Cob I smoked all me Aromatics in. A Norling Briar that I smoke all my Non-Aromatics. I just bought a very nice Auenland Hugg that I’ve smoked 2 bowls of Old Toby in. I’m wondering the rule about smoking different blends in different pipes? What advise would you have?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

@godstemplar46 smoke Aromatics in a couple of your pipes, and the rest in other pipes, you will encounter Ghosting if you don't. If you don't know what ghosting is look through my catalog of videos, I did a video on it.

[@godstemplar46]

@@MuttnchopPiper I’m hearing mixed things about cellaring Aromatics. Yes or no?

[@waynebouchard7662]

Hello Sir , I have pretty good luck using Jim Bean as a cleaner...

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Wayne Bouchard - Great suggestion, thanks. 👍👍👍

[@wisconsinwoodsman1987]

Bring back the Chops!

[@jsTNbackpacker]

hi mutton chop do you use the same process on your corn cob pipes?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

jsTNbackpacker - no, I basically run pipe cleaners through the stem down to the bowl until the pipe cleaner comes out clean, then I use a dry pipe cleaner to wipe out the inside of the bowl, and a dry towel to wipe the outside of the bowl. 👍👍👍

[@KentuckyPAST]

Wish you would have thought through that title, I was expecting a DEEP PIPE CLEANING that was more of a thorough pipe cleaning after some use. I am working on some difficult pipes (Estate Pipes) that need a DEEP PIPE CLEANING. I have a Falcon that has such a stench I am about to completely strip it down to bare wood and re stain and coat the bowl. Was hoping this was that type of video...

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Ky Past - sorry my friend, I don't have a lot of experience in that area, I have a friend who you might call for some advice who I give my pipes to when I need one refurbished. His name is Jim Anderson and you can reach him by email at lazarusestatepipes.com 👍👍👍

[@jasonriccoboni5931]

Good Day Muttnchop. I do believe that you have answered this question, but I will ask it anyway because I enjoy commenting and conversing with you on your videos. I see that you purposely did not clean the inside of your pipe bowl, and I fully understand the reason for not doing so. But, what if I want to give my bowl a deep cleaning, so as to start with a "fresh pipe" of sorts? Ill tell you why I'm asking...what I would like to do is to start designating certain pipes for certain tobacco flavors, and in doing so, would like to remove as much smell and taste out of my current pipes as possible. Any Advice?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Jason Riccoboni - How much carbon cake has built up in the bowls?

[@jasonriccoboni5931]

Not much at all. I've done a light scraping to the insides removing most, if not all of the carbon cake. I wanted to know if there was a next/second step that I could take which wouldn't require a professional. Something that would remove a lot of the taste/smell of previous smokes, and then hopefully, future smokes would adhere.

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Jason Riccoboni - ok, you don't want to do anything further to the bowl. Deep clean your stem and shank, then choose the tobacco you want to pair with the pipe and start smoking. You may get 2 bowls of ghosting, but as the Carbon Cake starts to build it will be infused with that particular tobacco flavor, and that's all you will taste from then on. Scraping or removing the carbon cake you have already just means you have to start building carbon cake all over again, and you really don't want to do that. So follow the steps I have laid out and you should be good. 👍👍👍

[@jasonriccoboni5931]

The reason I scraped was because I had and have every intention of starting over. That's exactly what I want. So I will follow your advice from here. I think I will just add one step. I will give the rest of the pipe a thorough cleaning like you have described but, I was thinking, after a smoke and routine clean, of adding a little of the Tobacco that I want to Pair with the pipe to the bowl. I am thinking that keeping fresh tobacco in the bowl between the first couple or few smokes might help the bowl to absorb some of that aromatic flavor. I could be wrong though. Now, there are also two other methods that I came across in my research. I do not feel that I need to proceed with either one of these methods due to the fact that one of my pipes has only been smoked a few times over the years, one is an estate pipe that I just picked up from SmokingPipes, and one is a brand new Pipe. Because of this, the carbon cake was very little, and a light scraping and thorough cleaning will do the trick. But for those of you who may need a bit more; One is called the Salt Alcohol Method, which involves filling your bowl with salt, wetting the salt with alcohol and letting sit for a day or so. When emailing Smoking Pipes about a method for thoroughly cleaning a pipe bowl, this was the method that was recommended to me with a link pipecollecting.blogspot.com/2008/02/salt-and-alcohol-treatment.html. The second method involves baking your pipe for a few hours at a low temperature, around 180 or so, then filling it with charcoal pellets, and baking for a few hours once more, then repeating as necessary. But I preface this by saying DO YOUR RESEARCH and ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. If you are still unsure about either or any other method, seek a professional Pipe Restorer. As pipe smokers, every pipe is a piece of art to us, would hate to see your own little piece of art get ruined.

[@pahlevioktavian7210]

hello muttnchop piper, i want to ask, is it okay to soak the stem inside alcohol? and some people suggest to clean the pipe using salt mixed with alcohol, how about that?

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Pahlevi Oktavian - I have never tried either of these methods, so I can't tell you if its a good practice or not, sorry, but I will tell you I don't think I would do either. If my pipe was in such bad shape that I had to resort to an extreme cleaning like you are talking about, I would let someone knowledgeable about refurbishing pipes do it. 👍👍👍

[@pahlevioktavian7210]

Muttnchop Piper how about the cleaning liquid is only alcohol? not mixed with liquor? and is it good to clean the inside bowl with sandpaper? happy pipe smoking :D

[@MuttnchopPiper]

Pahlevi Oktavian - just alcohol is fine, but absolutely not on the sandpaper to clean the inside of the bowl. 😏😏😏

[@pahlevioktavian7210]

Muttnchop Piper ok thanks so much, happy pipe smoking :D