Noob question - pipe cleaners?

[StogieNinja]

I did a quick search that didn't pull up anything...

I've been a pipe noob for a very long time. I'm slowly (as in over the past year) growing to love the pipe, and have a couple very nice pipes I don't want to screw up. I had someone send me some pipe cleaners, and was going to buy more but thought I'd check here...is there a recommended pipe cleaner brand or type? Do I want hard or soft bristle? Is there a type/kind that's better for a bowl, won't disrupt the cake process, will give a better clean, etc?

I just don't want to mess up my pipes.

/noob

 

[YodisMatt]

Personally I think they are all pretty much the same, as they are a fairly simple device.

The pipe cleaners I keep using are BJ longs, both regular and tapered cleaners.

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipe-cleaners/66606/bj-long-pipe-cleaners/

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Personally I think they are all pretty much the same, as they are a fairly simple device.

The pipe cleaners I keep using are BJ longs, both regular and tapered cleaners.

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipe-cleaners/66606/bj-long-pipe-cleaners/

What this guy said... It mostly comes to preferrence. The bristled cleaners are usually for really dirty pipes from what I have heard.

 

[YodisMatt]

I also use the shank cleaner when bringing a pipe back or a good cleaning every once in a while on my pipes.

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipe-tools/79697/shank-brush/

 

[rdomfoto]

I just bought three types for maintaining and restoring: regular, extra fluffy, and rough. I also have the brush that Yodis showed. My plan is to use the shank brush to clean out the stem, then move to rough cleaner and then down to the regular. The extra fluffy I will soak in Everclear to run through the stem to sterilize.

 

[javajunkie]

BJlong are the best i have found so far, but anything works as long as they don't throw a bunch of fluff into the airway. taper can be nice, but i have a couple pipes with narrow airways that don't like them. and, for me, bristled are only used for resto or deep cleaning; if you are running cleaners through after every smoke, they should rarely be necessary.

you DON'T want the craft ones; a lot of them are synthetic, and really not absorbent enough.

 

[StogieNinja]

Thanks guys. I grabbed a bundle of like a million on Amazon for $10.

 

[danmdevries]

Thanks for this thread. I was considering posting the same.

URB gave me a bundle of Long's Extra Absorbent pipe cleaners, but they won't last forever. And as much as I've been enjoying the pipe, I'm definitely going to need more. Heck, I haven't opened a humidor in 4 days now, and I was smoking up to 5-6 a day on my vacation. Got home and received my pipe trade box, and haven't had a cigar since.

 

[rdomfoto]

Thanks for this thread. I was considering posting the same.

URB gave me a bundle of Long's Extra Absorbent pipe cleaners, but they won't last forever. And as much as I've been enjoying the pipe, I'm definitely going to need more. Heck, I haven't opened a humidor in 4 days now, and I was smoking up to 5-6 a day on my vacation. Got home and received my pipe trade box, and haven't had a cigar since.

Yup - my cigar smoking is dropping with each pipe bowl I have (damn you, Dave)

It's nice, though, that even the "really good" pipe cleaners are so damned cheap

 

[Grrrrr609]

I just bought three types for maintaining and restoring: regular, extra fluffy, and rough. I also have the brush that Yodis showed. My plan is to use the shank brush to clean out the stem, then move to rough cleaner and then down to the regular. The extra fluffy I will soak in Everclear to run through the stem to sterilize.

The shank brush wont work on bent stems. Just a note.
Plus its a tad tight in most pipes anyway.

It works wonders in the draught hole tho.

Pipe retort works best for cleaning and sanitized the stem.

As for cleaners; BJ Long makes a great tapered cleaner for your just everyday kinda cleaners. The cheap bulk cleaners I dislike because the fuzz comes off. Bristeled cleaners are for your heavy gunk. I use alot in my restorations but none in my normal cleaning. Walgrens sells them cheap and I like those.

I use a brand I get from my local called Randys. They are a tad thinner than the BJ Long cleaners and fit some pipes easier.

Flacon pipe cleaners for falcon pipes. (randys cleaners usually fit too)

Churchwarden cleaners if you have a churchwarden pipe.

Any cleaner works fine. What i watch out for is the fuzz. If I pinch and run my fingers down the pipe cleaner and get alot of fuzz i dont use them.

 

[Whtwtrman79]

Thanks guys. I grabbed a bundle of like a million on Amazon for $10.

never thought to look there, and the wife wont question the amazon purchases!

 

[jsnake]

Good info here. I bought 3 different styles and wasn't sure how to use them but now I know. Definitely going to look online to see about getting a good bundle deal and a brush.