Briar pipes will last a lifetime if properly smoked and cared for. If not cleaned regularly, tobacco pipes can develop a sour taste due to the tar and oil residues that are allowed to build up. To help prolong the longevity of your pipe therefore we have put together a basic guide to caring for your pipe.
After smoking a pipe, wait a couple of hours to allow it to cool before separating the mouthpiece from the bowl. Remove the filter if disposable. To begin the cleaning process take your pipe tool and with the “spoon” end, scoop the ashes from the bowl into an ashtray. Don’t scrape the inside of the bowl too vigorously as you want a coating of ash to build up over time into what is called “cake”. Knock out any remaining contents from the pipe, being sure to handle it by its bowl and using your hand, or preferably a cork knocker affixed to an ashtray. It’s not advisable to bang the pipe against the side of an ashtray or other hard object as this can damage the briar and will almost certainly remove the finish from more decorative pipes.
Use a pipe cleaner and run it gently through the stem, pushing it back-and-forth several times to soak up any excess moisture and oils. Use as many pipe cleaners as you need until the last one comes out almost completely clean. After you have run several cleaners through the pipe, gently knock out the bowl once again. Then take another pipe cleaner, bend it in half and swab the inside of the bowl, making one complete revolution. This ensures you avoid building up too much ‘cake’, the carbonized tobacco mentioned above.
Cake insulates the bowl and allows good air flow around the tobacco promoting a clean, even burn and also prevents bowl burnouts by ensuring your pipe burns cool and dry. Any thicker than approximately 1mm however and it can expand while you are smoking, potentially cracking the bowl. If the cake has been allowed to become thicker than 1mm, use a tool such as the Senior Pipe Reamer to scrape it back down to the desired thickness.
Once in a while, it will become necessary to run pipe cleaners through the stem and shank of your pipe with a cleaning solvent such as Clean & Cure Pipe Sweetener, in order to keep your pipe fresh and to prevent it from absorbing the moisture that’s generated by smoking. This specialist product will break down tar and resins, and sterilize your pipe whilst being non-toxic, having minimal taste and not affecting the finish on your pipe.
Once clean, reconstruct your pipe and store in a pouch or display stand until you are ready for the next use. It is advisable to give pipes a day’s rest between smokes as this gives the briar time to absorb the moisture and oils from the smoke.
Remember, a good pipe is an investment that will give you years of enjoyment if taken care of properly… Enjoy!
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Is it natural for a pipe to burn your mouth and tongue when you first start smoking it or is it the tobacco i am using?
Hi Graham – it could be that you are suffering from ‘tongue bite’. The following excerpt is from our Beginner’s Guide… ‘The problem with simply stuffing a practically solid column of tobacco into the bowl of the pipe is that there is very little air for the combustion to take place when you light the pipe. The result is you find yourself having to light it over and over again, creating a very hot and wet smoke. And a hot and wet smoke often results in what is called “tongue bite”, a sharp stinging sensation on the tongue.’ Have a read of the Guide and see if the tips it offers make a difference…
I am very interested in your products. Please keep me informed…especially of Meerchaum pipes.
Raymond Hill.
Will do Mr Hill. By subscribing to our email newsletter you will be kept up to date with any new products, offers, etc. And regarding Meerschaum, please look out for more about this over the next week or so…
i like your selection
Thanks Jack. What’s your preference regarding pipe, tobacco and accessories?