1. Sales and advertising are not allowed in this section. This forum is for discussing pipe making only.


    If a pipe or item is for sale, or potentially for sale, do not post it in this forum section.

How do you clean an old Stem?

Discussion in 'Maintenance & Restoration' started by schollianmj, Feb 2, 2012.

  1. schollianmj New Member

    So I was talking with the owner of my local tobacco shop and mentioned that I have a briar block and was going to try to make my own pipe but was wondering if he sold stems or new a local place to get one. He handed me an old stem off a pipe that was burnt out saying that I could have it, but it was gonna need cleaned. it looked like the thing was full of cake! its a bent stem so running a drill through it wont work,....

    So any advise. other than just buy a new one? :) I know buying one is fairly cheap and simple, but hey, I like doing things the hard way!
  2. yinyang Some rim charring is to be expected.

    The stem itself is full of cake? That is crud, then...surely. A bristle cleaner and high test alcohol should be enough. You could heat and straighten the stem for drilling, but that seems extreme with what I'm understanding.
    IrishRover likes this.
  3. IrishRover Well-Known Member

    Yep, I second that bristle cleaner trick. You could leave it soaked in alcohol for a while. Just keep an eye on it if you do. Some material gets weak when sitting for too long in alcohol. - at leas that's what happened to me once. The stem felt like rubber when I took it out. So, now I don't leave any stem in longer than a couple of hours.
    yinyang likes this.
  4. schollianmj New Member

    Its a Lucite stem, probably should have stated that in the first post... My Bad. I had it soaking in a small jar of everclear while I posted just to see if that would work. now here it is a couple hours later and thanks to my pokey thingy on my pipe tool and about 3 dozen pipe cleaners it is nice and clean. :) Thanks guys.
    yinyang likes this.
  5. yinyang Some rim charring is to be expected.

    Ya Velcome! :) Glad it was an easy fix.

Share This Page