Re: Pipe cleaning, is it really that straight forward?
After every smoke I pass cleaners through the stem into the bowl. I then reverse the cleaner and run the clean side through. I do this until there is no stain on the cleaner. Remember, if you have a pipe with a big draft hole and stem, use the 60s instead of the 100s (BJ Longs).
I clean my pipes with bristle cleaners and Everclear when the spirit moves me, every 6-12 months. Once the bristle count reached 600 for 60 pipes, using the same criteria as above; that is, the bristle needs to come out clean. I should be more punctual.
I remove cake with a Senior Pipe Cleaner once I see that the pipe needs reaming, which is to say about the thickness of 2 or 3 dimes.
I should also say that a pipe needs 3-7 days rest between smokes. Some rest their pipes longer, others don't.
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