| Without regularly cleaning your briar pipes, | | | | process until the pipe cleaners come out |
| they will become a sour tasting experience, | | | | clean. Blow through the stem gently to |
| and will no longer provide you with the | | | | dislodge any leftover ash and wipe your pipe |
| smoking pleasure you desire. To eliminate | | | | with a soft cloth, perhaps with a dab of your |
| such problems, you need to embark on a | | | | favorite Pipe polish. Place the pipe back on |
| regimen of regular cleaning and maintenance | | | | it's rack or stand and allow it to rest, |
| for your pipes. | | | | hopefully for two to four days before it is |
| | | | smoked again. |
| Tools for cleaning: Tapered pipe cleaners, | | | | |
| bristle pipe cleaners, regular or extra | | | | Once A Month |
| fluffy pipe cleaners, pipe sweetener or grain | | | | |
| alcohol, Shank brush or cotton swab. | | | | You should give your pipes a deep cleaning. |
| | | | Most smokers do it on a regular basis. |
| Before You Light-Up: Caring for your pipes | | | | Experiment with how often you should do this |
| start with you very first smoke. So, if | | | | cleaning in time you will know what works |
| you're a beginner, make note; Before each | | | | best for you. |
| smoke, run a pipe cleaner through the stem to | | | | |
| remove any ash or tobacco left behind, then | | | | Extra cleaning tools: Pipe Reamer & Pick. |
| gently tap your pipe, holding it by the bowl, | | | | |
| on a cork knocker. Do not use force! | | | | First, carefully remove the stem of the pipe |
| | | | from the bowl and lay the two pieces on a |
| As you Smoke: While you are smoking keep the | | | | paper towel. Dip a regular pipe cleaner in |
| flame above the tobacco, so as not to char | | | | alcohol and run it through the stem. It will |
| the rim of your pipe. If the rim of your | | | | most likely come out with some black or brown |
| pipes begin to darken just moisten a pipe | | | | residue on it. Follow this pipe cleaner with |
| cleaner or cotton swab with saliva and rub | | | | a dry one, and repeat until the pipe cleaner |
| it. This will eliminate the dark color. If a | | | | comes out the same color as it went in. Run a |
| pipe starts to have a bad taste while | | | | last "dry" pipe cleaner to remove any |
| smoking, it is probably time for a good | | | | moisture and set the stem aside. Using |
| cleaning. | | | | bristle pipe cleaners, moistened with |
| | | | alcohol, vigorously swab out the air-hole of |
| After Smoking: Before we start any cleaning | | | | the pipe, alternating with dry, regular pipe |
| remember NOT to remove the stem from a pipe | | | | cleaners. Don't be afraid to use a lot of |
| while it is still warm. The stem may loosen | | | | pipe cleaners. Pipe cleaners are cheap, new |
| and you can end up cracking the shank or | | | | pipes aren't. Once your dry pipe cleaner |
| breaking the tenon. After each smoke, you | | | | comes out the same color as it went in, run |
| should give you pipe a thorough cleaning. Let | | | | another dry one to absorb any moisture. Using |
| the pipe cool down completely, and then stir | | | | a cotton swab or shank brush, clean out the |
| up any ash and residue left at the bottom of | | | | tenon, the portion of the pipe where the stem |
| the bowl. Cover the bowl with your fingers | | | | attaches to the bowl. If your stem or bowl |
| and shake the pipe to evenly distribute the | | | | has a band, now is the time to polish it. |
| ash along the inside walls of the bowl, which | | | | Carefully reinsert the stem into the bowl, |
| will greatly speed the formation of 'cake', a | | | | and wipe it with a soft cloth with a little |
| protective layer of carbonized tobacco and | | | | pipe polish . Allow your pipe to rest for a |
| ash inside your pipe. Cake is an insulator | | | | couple of days before smoking it, this way |
| and greatly extends the life of your pipe, | | | | the alcohol will evaporate completely. If you |
| guarding it against burn outs. Dispose of the | | | | have cleaned most or all of your briar pipes |
| remaining residue, and run a bristle pipe | | | | at once, now is a good time to smoke your |
| cleaner through the stem, repeating the | | | | meerschaums. |