I agree, you need air flow once you've removed most of the moisture. I'm a flute maker and sometimes we see swabs left in flutes. We always advise againt it for the same reason, it takes much longer to dry out.
Been watching your videos probably since you have been making them. I really appreciate the fact that you always stress the point that these are your opinions and never try to force people to do the same as you. I'm in the same camp as you though.
I’ve been happily piping for about 3 years, but I never got into stemming, I didn’t even realize it was a thing until I started seeing estate pipes online stuffed with pipe cleaners. I’m not a genius by any means but I had the same question on where the moisture goes, so I never got into to doing that. Glad to know that the air dry method has your approval, as it has been my method for the entire journey. P.S. give us another video someday! Cheers.
Hi Muttnchop! I'll pipe in here too. I think holding moisture inside a moisture-sensitive vessel is a definite no: Our briars and cobs come to us having gone through a drying/curing process. Trapping moisture inside them is upsetting a delicate balance. At least that's what I think. As you say, pipe cleaners retain moisture. I just run the cleaner through before and after each use. My pipes seem happy enough.
Forgot to add why you are absolutely right sir ,i work with wood ever since and there is like law that you never cover wet wood ,nothing dries better than air ,ask any woodworker,it is woodworking basic ,so i wonder if somebody think otherwise
In carpentry we have this system called ridge and soffit venting. There are holes in the soffit and holes up in the ridge of the roof, and it causes air to circulate to dry out condensation on the plywood. If you just use a soffit vent, it won’t work. If you just use a ridge vent, it won’t work. You need both for the air to circulate and keep your roof from getting moisture problems. The only other alternative is to use spray foam insulation that hermetically seals off the plywood permanently so no condensation can form in the first place. If it’s open to moisture, it needs to be vented. Just an interesting parallel to the topic here lol
Well done video, sure gets me thinking. I am from the other camp. As a new pipe smoker I had watched the infamous Dagner "How to smoke a pipe" video and Jayson recommended leaving a clean pipe cleaner in for storage and using that to clean the pipe after the next smoke. I have continued that for two reasons. The possibility that it wicked out the remaining moisture as well as I can never remember to bring a pipe cleaner out with me when I have a smoke. It's always nice to have one along if things get to gurgling a bit. This makes a lot of sense and I may give it a try although I haven't experienced any odd tastes or residue. Thanks for the well thought out video.Be well,Stephen
Thank you for bringing these topics up and discussing them. I learn so much. On this topic it seems like leaving a damp pipe cleaner in the stem of the pipe with no air movement would be great conditions for mold to grow in the stem of your pipe. Yuck!
I agree with u Muttn chop Piper I just put a cleaner through the pipe to soak up excess moisture then I remove it and let it air dry that's the method I use very gd video as always my friend happy smoking :)
The metal component that was used in his pipe cleaners was most likely copper, which turns green when it oxidizes. Green residue, weird odor/taste possibly, most likely copper oxide.
Very good looking Savinelli you got there. I don't leave a cleaner inside the pipe.I believe in rotation and long drying time and good cleaning. I believe that the moisture that might lurge in the shank and bowl after you've cleaned your pipe will only vanish by resting the the pipe. This is just my a simple view of the subject. Have a great weekend & cool smokes
I couldn't agree more, Olle, for like you, resting and good cleaning practices are the key to a sweet smoke every time. Cool smokes to you as well my friend.
Thank you for your videos. I never even thought of this until this video. You would think I had an answer which way is better ( I am an HVACR and air quality tech but I am clueless which is better). Now I have to find out. Thank you for your thoughts.
Enjoy your video very much. Thank you. This is the way I normally do: I separate the stem for cleaning the inside and leave them apart until the next day. I think the pipe will have more airflow and dry faster this way comparing to the stem is put back. It is especially noticeable in Peterson's pipes with p-lips where the hole in the stem is smaller.
I break up, shake up & ash coat the bowl, then separate, rinse the stem under running water, use a pipe cleaner to clean the stem and another one for the pipe shaft, and then rest the pipe apart until I use it again or a few days later I reassemble when completely dry. Always had a cool smoke this way. But to each their own. Happy Piping!
you are right sir ,the technique of letting the cleaner in the pipe would have worked only if the stem is made out of wood,the vulcanite simply isolated the flow of the moist ,besides the pipe moist have a higher viscosity thsn just clean water ,many other residue are in the bowl and stem ,my cleaning methhod is a little faster and works especially with longer stems where is more difficult to drive manually the cleaner .My method is as it follows;i take a cleaner and i make a 2mm L at the end of it than i take my DEWALT drill and i put the pipe cleaner in the chuck in that way that the end of the cleaner the L fell between two chuck teeths sinch it than rock.Usually i pull it 3 times and done ,it is fas and effortless even in the longest stems ,it works for me
I just lightly clean all the loose tobacco around the inside of the bowl and the dip a pipe cleaner into a Clean and Cure solution then insert it into the pipe stem and move it back and forth a few times. It seems to work for me. I used to leave a pipe cleaner in the stem for 24 , but; ceased doing that. It is just a trial and error process. Everyone just has to figure out the best method for them. A little maintenance after each smoke prevents a plethora of problems down the road.
I usually just run a cleaner straight through then take the stem off and let them dry separate. Its a few extra steps but as a guy with only 2 pipes, it seems to be a very efficient way to dry them quicker. At least it feels quicker. 😅
I completely agree with Muttnchop...and this takes you to the other part of 'cleaning after smoking', and that is simply the question, 'do you use your filter for 2-3 more bowls, and if so, how do you put up your pipe between?' Personally, I smoke pretty-wet aromatics. Most of my pipes use Dr Perl's Junior filters (9mm). I change filters after each bowl smoked, because of this. After I'm done, I clean my pipe and (here's the question) put my pipe up DISASSEMBLED (Stem from bowl). This allows it to finish drying in the 'rest'. I've seen pretty much a variation on this from complete cleaning, like I do...to no breakdown 'leave it like it is for the next bowl'. Isn't this the same as 'stemming' your pipe, if you put it up with a wet filter?
Hi, Muttnchop,. My method of drying my pipe is different. After a bowl I let it dry for an hour, then hold it upside down and light a flame from my lighter underneath for 30 seconds, holding it a few inches away. After that I store the pipe upside down, but in a position and place that warm air can flow through it. I’m no physicist, but as heat rises I find this dries the bowl well, and if you have a decent pipe rotation it gives the pipe time to dry. As you say, each to their own..... Keep posting, my friend.
Muttnchop Piper Thanks for the reply. I should point out that 30 seconds is a typo; should be 10 🙄 Also, I use this on corncobs more than other pipes. I found the corncobs were starting to taste sour and I couldn’t work out why as I was cleaning them well. I then noticed that a few of my corncobs had stems that didn’t fit flush with the base of the bowl like a Savinelli etc, as the stems are inserted separately into the actual bowl on some types - McArthur for one, which is one of my favourite long smoke pipes - and this leaves a gap to the side where moisture was gathering and was hard to clean, even with a Q-tip. I’m no expert, but I suspect corncobs are more absorbent than other types - briar etc - and as I wasn’t getting rid of this moisture adequately it seemed to ghost a sour taste as it dried which affected some of the milder tobacco I smoke, so I tried this method to dry the pipe quicker. As I say, I’m no expert and am relatively new to this amazing hobby (15 months) so if you or any of your followers have better advise please let me know. Being a wet smoker probably doesn’t help 🙄🙄
Same concept with a saxophone. Once done playing there are moisture wicking brushes that people insert. If those are left in the saxophone the moisture is trapped making ones efforts pointless.
I've tried both methods and when I leave a pipe cleaner in my pipes they seem to smell worse the next day than if I don't leave one in. Actually I use the same method you showed in another video of running one through the stem and folding it and wiping the bowl out
I DONT have a pipecleaner in the stem while the pipe is drying.I think same as you that the air flow better thru the pipe whitout a pipecleaner in the stem and it dryes faster.After a smoke i just put a pipecleaner thru the pipe and take it away and let the pipe rest for minimum 24 hours.Thanks for shearing your experience.
let them be free and air out....actually somebody from savinelli said you are keeping moisture in by keeping a pipe cleaner in so i stopped..great vid!!
Nice never really heard of anyone leaving a pipe cleaner in their stems. I would think that excess moisture and the metal inside the pipe cleaner would cause rust.
Good Brother, I always did wonder about this topic, thank you for covering it. In regards to pipe cleaners as a tool, I'v had exceptionally bad luck with always getting ones that shed a lot of 'fuzz/lint'. Any suggestions on ones that wont leave me with the task of picking the lint out of my pipe? Thank you for your time and videos. Always enjoyable!
I just put a pipe cleaner through the stem and the fold it and clean the bowl after every smoke. I don't leave one in there i only clean the gunk out of the stem and then clean the bowl, I'm not sure if that counts as stemming because i only do it to clean my pipe.
Question. Do you smoke with or without a filter. And do u take ur stem off the pipe to dry out quicker. Is there any problems smoking without a filter. Thanks
Do you ever sanitize your mouth piece with alcohol? All my stems are plastic/acrylic based. I'm allergic to Vulcanite. Should I sanitize the mouthpiece with alcohol?
In my video "Deep cleaning Vol. 3 I talk about taking one of those alcohol wipes that you can get at drug stores and cleaning your stem with it, and I would clean yours occasionally. 👍👍👍😃
+TRON8882 I don't think so, just keep an eye on your stem, if you notice any discoloration, or if damage to your stem, then you might want to cut back. 😃😃👍😃
Here's an experiment that anyone can do. After smoking a pipe, particularly after a gurgling episode with too moist tobacco, put a pipe cleaner in the stem and leave it there overnight. Next morning, take out the pipe cleaner and immediately put in a fresh one. Leave that one in there for about 5 minutes. Pull that pipe cleaner out. Place it on a square of toilet paper and roll the pipe cleaner from side to side. If the toilet paper picks up any moisture, (and that will be readily apparent), then all that you've succeeded in doing is to trap that moisture in your pipe for who knows how long before smoking it again (if you never pulled out the original pipe cleaner). Try it. If the second pipe cleaner comes out dry, then there's no problem with "stemming". If it's wet or damp, then it's time to change your methodology.
Hello Muttnchop Piper I'm absolutly in yr camp. I never stick a cleaner in to dry my pipe. Where is the airflow?? This now works good for me since 43 years. Pls tell me where you got this awsome shirt from. Thanks + rgds from good old germany Michael
Hey Michael, thanks for viewing my video, and my shirts I purchased from a web site called Zazzle, I went to their site, picked out the color of shirt, picked out my size, them found some pipe related clip art that they have there on their site positioned it on the shirt using their create program, and wala, they arrived at my house a couple of weeks later. 😃😃😃👌
Chuck Whitehead - Not necessarily, the moisture is wicked away from the walls of the pipe and the pipe cleaner does dry over time, but doesn’t stay moist long enough for mold to set up and grow. 👍👍👍
I let my pipes be I just super clean them after every smoke the only time I do put a cleaner in while a pipe is in rotation and I smoked something so wet it needs cotton to absorb
I really don’t get how people can let a wet pipe cleaner stay in their pipe. Moisture breeds decay/pathogens and given the confined space the moisture of the cleaner has nowhere to evaporate to. Dry it initially, use several cleaners, switch out the cleaners after a couple minutes and finally let it air dry...
Yes it's my alarm system, changed all the batteries, had it looked at twice, nothing they can do, if I want it replaced it will cost $400.00 so we live with it, it's been doing it so long we barely notice it anymore, sorry for the distraction that it creates. 😔😔😔
If you put a dry towel in a damp tube for three day's it will wick some moisture away from the tube. However, the part of the towel that is getting the least about of oxygen will stay wet for a very long time. Day's, months or years depending on moisture content. Therefore keeping moisture in your pipe. This is not one camp or another camp. It's science & fact. yes, it will eventually dry the entire wick after a very long time. The longer it takes to dry the wick the longer moisture is in your pipe. This goes for any object that contains a thru-hole in a small area. Come on guy's, really? People will come up with some retarded shit just to be different. Lmao.
