What is the best way to clean the mouth piece of a tobacco pipe when its so clogged you cant a draw from it?

Question

I inhearited a pipe from my father. I smoked out of it for about a week then switched tobacco. After smoking about 5 or 6 bowls worth the stem (Mouth piece is so clogged you cant take a single draw from it. Its so blocked I can even blow it out. What can I do to clean the inside of the stem?

Answer 1

You should be able to take the stem off of the pipe.  If you have a pipe tool, there should be a poker that you can pick at the blockage.  Chances are you tried a pipe cleaner and it didn't go through.  Go to www.pipes.org for more pipe cleaning tips.  

Answer 2

If it is a wooden pipe - which I will bet it is, don't use anything but "pipe cleaners".  They are sold in all tobacco stores and Walmart, in the crafts department.  They are made to scrap out the stem.  The wood will absorb any liquid you pour in so I would suggest the old fashion pipe cleaner.  This site has all sizes:  http://kwikcrafts.com/crafts/category/Pi...

Answer 3

You can undo a clog by:

1. removing the stem from the bowl

2. burn the "fur" off of  2/3 of a pipe cleaner with a lighter

3. get the wire red hot (again, with the lighter)

4. poke the hot wire into the stem; be sure you push it from the "lips side", vs. the "bowl side".

5. have a paper towel handy to catch the residue- it'll be black and sticky.

6. pull the rest of the pipe cleaner through the stem.

If you do the hot wire a few times, you should be able to get an entire pipe cleaner through the stem. Clean with more pipe cleaners until they come out without residue.

Use a reamer for the bowl.

Answer 4

Take it apart and burn the stuff off the screen or filter. Use pliers so you don't get burnt. You can clean the rest with pipe cleaners.