Some, But Not All

 A lot of pipe smokers worry about keeping the bowl of a pipe clean.  I don’t know how many videos I have seen where pipe smokers use salt and alcohol to clean the inside of a bowl of the pipe.  It’s not necessary and I’ll explain why.  I have a Dunhill estate pipe that came to me as if it had never been smoked.  This is good if resale is a goal.  But the enjoyment of a pipe is a build up of caking on the inside.  

A pipe is meant to be smoked.  I saw a vid recently where a pipe smoker was cleaning his pipes by this method to keep the bowls of his pipes in like new condition.  This is wrong.  A cake build up inside a pipe is what a pipe smoker wants.  The more a pipe is smoked the more of a build up inside is done.  This prevents from burning the briar and the pipe can be smoked as intended.  

Cleaning by the alcohol salt method should only be done if selling the pipe.  Otherwise we want a build up of residue on the inside of the bowl.  This brings more of a tobacco flavor through the pipe and prevents scorching the inside of the bowl.  A residue build up about a dimes edge width is what we want.  More than this and the pipe should be reamed and not cleaned by this method.  

But many pipe smokers, especially new to the hobby don’t know this.  Some pipe smokers have designated pipes for just English or Aromatic tobaccos.  Frankly, I’m not that fussy.  I smoke both in the same pipes.  But I hardly ever worry about keeping the bowl clean.  I want a build up in my pipes.  It gives more tobacco flavor to the tobacco.  But some pipe smokers don’t want the ghost of Aromatic tobaccos in their pipes.  

Since I smoke both, I don’t really care.  I used to smoke more Aromatics than I do now.  But I don’t have dedicated pipes.  I just have to remember the flavoring of Aromatics makes the pipe burn hotter.  So, I’m more careful when smoking Aromatics.  The ghosting goes away after just a couple of bowl of English and is hardly noticeable if at all.  

This might be a bit technical for non pipe people, but it’s just that I have seen so many vids using the salt and alcohol method of cleaning bowls of pipes.  It’s not needed except for resale.  Otherwise caking is what is desired.  And if too much a reamer works best.  I would advise against the salt and alcohol except for resale.  Otherwise every time you pack a clean bowl it’s like breaking in a new pipe.  A pipe needs seasoning, and not by salt.  So, this is my advice to new pipe smokers who feel a bowl must be clean.  The more a pipe is smoked with build up the better it is.  Many don’t seem to know this.  So, I’m venting a pet peeve about pipe smoking this morning.  

I’m smoking my Savinelli Arcobaleno Blue pipe this morning with the last of my Bayou Night tobacco.  My coffee is Comfort. Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave