Sanitizing an Estate Pipe Stem

Is there a quick and easy way to sanitize an estate pipe stem?

With this article I want to focus on the cleaning aspect of what I already talked about in my article on pipe stem sanitizing.

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When I refurbish pipes for myself or others, hygiene and safety is of the highest concern. For this reason, I go through several steps to thoroughly sanitize a stem or mouthpiece. But depending on the condition of the stem, there is a simple method, which I will describe here.

You will need some high-quality alcohol. In order to have a sterilizing effect, the alcohol content must be above 50%. I prefer to use Isopropyl Alcohol that is 91% alcohol. This ensures a "medical grade" sanitizing effect and evaporates quickly. It is also much less expensive than grain alcohol. You will also need some pipe cleaners and a small container in which to soak the stem.

• First, clean the stem by removing any debris and residue (tobacco bits, tar build-up, nicotine residue, etc.).
• Second, dip a pipe cleaner in the alcohol and run it through the stem. I recommend doing this several times and "scrubbing" as necessary. Bristle pipe cleaners work great for this step.
• Third, soak the stem in a bowl or container so that the stem is completely covered by the alcohol. I recommend soaking it for about 15 minutes (or longer if necessary to dissolve residue). If the alcohol discolors during the soak, that means tar and other residue were being dissolved by the alcohol. If this occurs, discard the alcohol and scrub the stem with some more pipe cleaners. Then fill the container with fresh alcohol and perform the soak again. This way you are ensured of a truly clean and sanitized stem.
• Once finished with the soaking. Simply rinse the stem in cold water and dry it off. It should now be completely sanitized!

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

Get Rid of Estate Pipe Bad Smells

How can I get rid of the nasty smell in an estate pipe?

Under normal circumstances, one or more treatments of the salt and alcohol method will remove most of the offensive "ghost" odors and stale smells from a pipe bowl. But do not neglect to clean the inside of the shank. In my experience, this is often overlooked (or done poorly) by many estate pipe refurbishers.

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However, there are some cases where the smell cannot be completely eliminated from a pipe. This is especially true if the pipe was heavily used or if the original smoker preferred strong tobaccos. If the wood has been deeply saturated with tobacco oils, it may be nearly impossible to remove the odor completely.

If the smell is not unbearable, you may find that simply smoking your own favorite blends in the pipe will replace the unpleasant odors over time.