Air dried briar that has been well smoked and water is a recipe for checks, splits, and other damage. Nope.
I had a partner on the police dept. back in the early 90's who was a bit older than me and smoked a Dr. Grabow Poker with Velvet tobacco all the time. From beginning of our shift to the end- only stopping smoking to get a bite to eat. I started smoking a pipe around that time, too, and explained to him about the pipe needing cake in the bowl. Up until then, he removed it as much as he could after a smoke. Long story short, his idea of a perfect smoking pipe would become the one in the middle of your pic. It got to where he needed a small nail to be a tamper because his pipe tool was way too big. He could basically get a cigarette's worth of tobacco in the bowl. Needless to say, the pipe cracked and he threw it away. He then went back to hand rolling Velvet and found a little bakelite cigarette holder in an antique store and used that the rest of the time I worked with him.I agree and I’ll add, looking at a bunch of old estate pipes I have found, I’m not totally sure many folks did any cleaning of their pipes lol. View attachment 1513266
Two of those are goners ... unless you like mini-pots.I agree and I’ll add, looking at a bunch of old estate pipes I have found, I’m not totally sure many folks did any cleaning of their pipes lol. View attachment 1513266
I'll agree that it's not useful for restoration, but that's not what it's for. It's just a quick way to do a light cleaning. It's not going to exorcize any ghosts, but it can make any ghosting less severe if you do it right after you smoke the offending tobacco. No, water isn't an effective solvent for the tars and resins, but it doesn't have to be. It's just there to flush out the excess. If it will come out with a pipe cleaner, it will come out with water. And when you go back in with alcohol, the alcohol can work on the stubborn stuff without having to cut through the gunk that's easily removed. Like rinsing your dishes before you soak them. It doesn't do anything that pipe cleaners and paper towels can't do (except maybe get into some tight spots), but it can save you a few, and a little time and effort, if you're inclined that way.Will flushing your pipe with water ruin it? Probably not. Lots of people have done it and report no ill effects. But to me, it's a solution in search of a problem. I mean, just why do that? Salt/alcohol works great and has a long track records of success. I know a lot of guys who restore pipes for a living or as a side line. None of the "professional" restorers I know use water. That's good enough for me. I'll stick with the tried and true, and it's worked well for me on the 250+ pipes I've restored.