Pipe care/cleaning: Difference between revisions
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Not handy with tools, yet want to restore an old pipe? Rich Esserman wrote an excellent article that may be just the thing: [[Try this at Home]] | Not handy with tools, yet want to restore an old pipe? Rich Esserman wrote an excellent article that may be just the thing: [[Try this at Home]] | ||
=== Reaming === | === Reaming === | ||
After a pipe has been smoked for a long time its cake may become so thick that it significantly reduces the capacity of the bowl. In very extreme cases, an overly thick cake may actually crack the bowl due to differential expansion. Ideally, the cake should | After a pipe has been smoked for a long time its cake may become so thick that it significantly reduces the capacity of the bowl. In very extreme cases, an overly thick cake may actually crack the bowl due to differential expansion. Ideally, the cake should exceed one-sixteenth of an inch (about 1.5 mm) or so. When the cake doesn't this thickness, it should be smoked more often. Numerous adjustable, multibladed reamers are available commercially, for clearing the cake after it exceeds 1/4" and these will do a much neater job. A favored tool for this task--suggested by pipe maker extraordinaire JT Cooke--is nothing more than a swiss army penknife saw. Whatever device you choose to use, work slowly and carefully so as not to damage your pipe. The idea is to scrape it out in chunks. If you have more than the usual number of thumbs, you might want to take the pipe to your tobacconist, who will usually perform this task for a nominal fee. | ||
=== What can I do when my pipe "turns sour"? === | === What can I do when my pipe "turns sour"? === |