Best way to clean a pipe

[clinton]

I have used an ultrasonic cleaning machine for a couple years. I use hot water (150f) and Cascade dishwasher detergent. Cascade is very caustic. I clean my pipe every time I use it. It takes only 20 secods to clean a pipe if done every week or less.

I just bought a second ultrasonic cleaner. The new one hold 2.5 liters of liquid. I can clean pieces up to 11 1/2 inches. With long used pipes, the first time you clean, a lot of carbon bound with tar may not come off by itself. A piece of wire can be used to pick at the thick deposits - pick and cleaning will clean the piece as clean as new. You can clean things which you can not physically reach (like double chambered bubblers) as long as there are holes for the ultrasonic energy to pass through. It will not penetrate glass without a hole due to the laws of reflection.

Tar is bad for your lungs. I can prove it as a new pipe hits much smoother than a dirty one.

This is THE BEST way to clean a piece. I know you can use salt and alchohol to clean, but this is never easy nor complete. You may use a solvent in the machines also but the water and Cascade really does clean well. There is no labor usually with these machines.

clinton

[ScrawnG]

Pricey machines though, aren't they?

[clinton]

Originally Posted by ScrawnG

Pricey machines though, aren't they?

I paid $25 for the small unit and $100 for the large one at Harbor Freight.

clinton

[ScrawnG]

Hrmm...a lot more affordable than I thought. One of those would be good for my pipe collection. My granddad has a unit that he uses for cleaning up metal before he electroplates it, and he said that his unit was $6000 for something about 2'X2'X3'. It's hardcore though. Just water, and it'll clean the rust off of anything.

[ganja_grower]

wow i would never spend any money on a pipe cleaner thing just use rubbing alcohol it makes pipe look brand new everytime

[thejackal1]

isoproyl rubbing alcohol 91% - $1.97
Handful of white rice - $0.01
Ziploc bag - $0.02

The feeling of a new clean pipe - Priceless

[da_sAUCE!]

But don't you understand the merit of using a badass achine to clean your shit?

Someone comes over with their piece all clogged and your like let me put it in my ultra sonic pipe cleaner.

[OneLoveRasta]

When I clean my pipe I just fill up a cup with hot water and Cascade dishwasher detergent and just let it sit for like an hour. That works pretty good if you dont want to buy a machine.

[Chron Bon]

hm i didnt even know ultrasonic cleaners existed... i always just boil my piece... seems to work for me... never felt cool with cleaning with chemicals.

[clinton]

Originally Posted by da_sAUCE!

But don't you understand the merit of using a badass achine to clean your shit?

Someone comes over with their piece all clogged and your like let me put it in my ultra sonic pipe cleaner.

I guess most will not spend the money. But I can clean things you would not otherwise be able to clean as there is no way to get rice into and out of, such as double chambered bubblers. Hey I do just as you say - let me clean your pipe. A word of warning. If the pipe was not allowed to cool slowly, glass stress may cause the glass to crack. I have seen this only with pipes of varying thickness where a thick piece and a thin one are joined.

clinton

[[dnb]]

For my run-of-the-mill cleanings (as you said, about once a week or so) I use the following:

Isopropyl Alcohol (of at LEAST 90% alcohol) : 80 cents
Sodium Chloride (Table Salt): ?? Cents (haven't bought salt in almost 3 years!)

I put the two in my piece, and SHAKKKKE MAMMA!!!!

For those bitch-cleanings; I tend to let the piece soak in a drinking glass full of rubbing alcohol (just enough to cover the entire piece). I bought this singular glass at WalMart for like a buck; just in case it stains or smells later (which after a few years it might/will). I let it sit about 4-8 hours, while I'm at work or busy.

I sometimes buy a pack of pipe cleaners as well, about $2 for a box of 80... I haven't bought any in a few years as well...

This has always cleaned my pieces enough..

As for the comment about showing off.. yeahhhh.. that's cool.. but the ol' saying goes:
"Clean a man's pipe, and he'll smoke you out... Teach a man to clean his pipe, and he'll hook ya up with a sack"... I think that's how it goes

[danker123]

yeh i never heard that saying before^^^. i use isopropyl alchol and salt and it works fine. my bubbler looks brand new after a cleaning.

[da_sAUCE!]

Roll a man a joint and he'll smoke for a night, teach him how to roll and he'll smoke fah lyfe.

[dutchalicious]

Isopropyl alcohol and salt. Or 420 cleaner. I like to use 420 cleaner because it tends to work better.

[Phat-Toi]

Originally Posted by dutchalicious

Isopropyl alcohol and salt. Or 420 cleaner. I like to use 420 cleaner because it tends to work better.

I feel ya dog. I like to keep both at hand now. usually iso/salt does the job with some warm water. Along with that i use qtips to clean the hard part of the bowl incase theres any resin left or someshit. If it still stays i find the 420 cleaner to be a beast when it comes to SPARKLING SHINE. The smell trips me out aswell