Sanitizing Estate Pipe Stems

Is it really necessary to sanitize the stems of estate pipes? How do you sanitize a pipe stem?

Because personal hygiene and safety is important to me, I strongly recommend a thorough cleaning and sanitizing for all estate pipes. Not only is it much safer, but it will result in a more enjoyable smoke.

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Used pipes, no matter how well they were cared for, always tend to have carbon, tar, and other residue in the bowl, shank, and stem. This can adversely affect the pipe in a variety of ways. For example, the draw of the pipe may be difficult because of restricted airflow. This would result in a poor smoking pipe that frustrates more than it rewards. An unclean pipe also dramatically affects the taste of the smoke since you'll be picking up the "ghost" flavors from the tobacco smoked by the previous owner. I've received some estate pipes that looked fine on the outside but that were utterly disgusting on the inside. The shanks were befouled with dripping, oozing residue, and the draft/air hole was completely cemented solid with tar. Others have had filters in them that must have been used for a million smokes. They were completely black and turned to dust when I removed them.

Simply sanitizing a stem will certainly help, but it won't necessarily eliminate all the other potential issues. But to sanitize a stem, I recommend using a high-quality, medical grade Isopropyl alcohol. It should have an alcohol content of at least 70%, but I recommend even higher if possible. This will kill any bacteria, molds, etc. and ensure a sanitizing effect. Before soaking the stem, I strongly encourage you to scrub the airway or draft hole with bristle pipe cleaners dipped in the same alcohol. When the pipe cleaner comes out perfectly clean, you're ready for the sanitizing alcohol soak. Fill a small bowl or container with enough alcohol to submerge the stem and let it soak for at least several hours. It's true that the alcohol will do it's job killing germs in less time. But I prefer to soak stems longer to help loosen up and dissolve any residue that may be coating the inside of the draft hole. Periodically during the soak, pull the stem out and run a pipe cleaner or two through it to help remove any residue that is being dissolved or dislodged by the alcohol.

Typically, when I refurbish estate pipes, I do additional cleaning and sanitizing steps on the stems. One such step involves chlorine bleach, which also removes oxidation on vulcanite stems. But this produces a chemical reaction that will make the stem rough to the touch and requires sanding and polishing to restore the shine. If the stem is not properly protected, the bleach will also dissolve trademark logos or even erode the tenon enough to make it fit loosely into the mortise/shank. The point is, some pipes may need additional steps to make them enjoyable to smoke.

For those who do not wish to do the work themselves, there are professionals that would be happy to provide refurbishing services. Fees start around $25.00 per pipe, and vary depending on the condition of the pipe and exactly what work they'll be performing