Crud On or Crud Off?

I am asked so many times, "Mister Moo! Do you think it's best we wipe the crud off our pipe rims or do think we should leave it there forevermore?"

It's always a hot topic in pipeworld - "Crud on or crud off?" For myself, I have moostly been a crud-on man but, to be honest, there are some rims that beg to be kept clean. Also, when a multiplicity of pipes are stored in a large pipe box, the constant handling, fondling and rearranging of pipes (by type, size or personal preference) can get tars and ashes gommed up all over the place.

To the best of my knowledge the pipe (and cruddy rims) predated cigars. As much as the cigar smoker is preoccupied wth cello and bands (on or off) it seems natural that the caring pipesmoker should constantly revisit, discuss and, perhaps, someday resolve the age old question, "Crud on or crud off?"

http://i.imgur.com/K6axZss.jpg

I'm definitely a crud off man. To me, leaving the crud on is like leaving jelly in my mustache after eating a PBJ.

I put "not sure" bcs "ambivalent" was not one of the options :)

I try my best to keep the crud off. I have a Microfiber towel at my desk and will use it to wipe my pipes down during smoking. For the rims a little spit on the towel and a bit of a wipe.

I only have one nice pipe and I definitely keep it wiped off. It's a beautiful pipe and I like it looking good.

I smoke several cobs and I dont bother with them.

I try to keep mine clean. I have one rustic pipe that is almost impossible to keep clean because of all the ridges. I just use a q-tip and wet it in my mouth. It usually comes right off.

I try to keep mine clean, especially the meer.

it's a loaded question for me. I voted "crud off" but I don't mind a slight, even darkening all the way around. I get more of a build up on the bit of the rim closest to your face because my face is always down in a book or something while smoking...so I clean that off. And if it's a cob I actually like the rugged look of a charred rim...so then it stays on.

Looks like (at this point, after 10 votes) I'm the only "crud on"! What is that! I see pipes frequently with the crud on, so a little confusing to me, the vote.

I tend to only smoke an array of cobs and I'm "country", so I like it, the crud, charring, whatever. I rarely smoke a non-cob pipe but even those, I tend to leave the crud on and build up...shows a history to me. But, I don't have any expensive pipes in my collection...yet. I am sure if I did, or when I find a meer I can afford...I'll most likely keep it clean, I'd imagine.

Either way, super cool poll and thread!

I really have more to concern me than cleaning the rim,,altough I do keep my meer wiped off also,Guess it depends on the pipe,if it is a "pretty"pipe I'ld have to vote to keep the crud off.

Outside of work I tend to always be wearing Wranglers. Denim works well for this- I just moisten the rim with a bit of saliva and give it a quick rub on the back of my pant leg when I finish a bowl :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quo155

Looks like (at this point, after 10 votes) I'm the only "crud on"! What is that! I see pipes frequently with the crud on, so a little confusing to me, the vote.

I tend to only smoke an array of cobs and I'm "country", so I like it, the crud, charring, whatever. I rarely smoke a non-cob pipe but even those, I tend to leave the crud on and build up...shows a history to me. But, I don't have any expensive pipes in my collection...yet. I am sure if I did, or when I find a meer I can afford...I'll most likely keep it clean, I'd imagine.

Either way, super cool poll and thread!

---

I have evidence some cigar smokers claim they take cello off but, in reality, leave it on. I respect your honesty as I do that of all pipe smokers. Also, I have reason to suspect some cigar smokers claim they leave their cello on when actually they take it off. They are a mysterious lot those cigarists.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz

Outside of work I tend to always be wearing Wranglers. Denim works well for this- I just moisten the rim with a bit of saliva and give it a quick rub on the back of my pant leg when I finish a bowl :)

---

My Wranglers...denim...is good for all sorts of things! They make great fingernail files too...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I have evidence some cigar smokers claim they take cello off but, in reality, leave it on. I respect your honesty as I do that of all pipe smokers. Also, I have reason to suspect some cigar smokers claim they leave their cello on when actually they take it off. They are a mysterious lot those cigarists.

---

Yes, mysterious...that's for sure...yet making us all unique individuals while achieving (and enjoying) the same end result!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quo155

Yes, mysterious...that's for sure...

---

Probably should have said "sinister".

I don't clean the rim of the bowl as often as I clean out the stem and shank, but when I feel it's time for other maintenance I will also clean the rim. I feel that the crud is cake that has gone out of bounds, and I like to look at the grain on the rim, so it it's become blackened, I use a scrap of flannel and spit to dissolve the crud. If it's too stubborn for spit I use Everclear, then apply a fresh coat of briar polish. If there's evidence of charring I will use high-grit sandpaper and micro-mesh pads to restore the wood.

Oh, and with regard to the cigar band on/off debate, I leave bands on, just in case the cap starts to unravel. sliding up the band close to the head will keep the rest of the wrapper from coming off. It has saved many a cigar.

I love when my cobs get nice and cruddy. They look so much cooler than when they are pristine. I typically do a simple wipe like Tobias does with my briars.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mr Motoyoshi

I love when my cobs get nice and cruddy. They look so much cooler than when they are pristine. I typically do a simple wipe like Tobias does with my briars.

---

I agree with the cob statement. I like my cobs to be a little singy and very blue collar. Nothing wrong with burnt corn on a cob.

My briars I am a fan of keeping the rim tidy. I usually apply saliva before lighting the pipe to protect it and wipe it clean after each bowl.

I am not sure about the Meers...I am to new to them to really know what I like in that regard....time will tell :pipe:

I should expand on my earlier statement. I try to keep the rims on my briars as clean as possible, but I love the look of a cob that's had a hard life and aside from running the occasional pipe cleaner through them, I do nothing in the way of cleaning.

Crud ambivalent. It's just a pipe - a device to burn rotten leaves.
I've got better things to do than police a little wayward residue.
I don't own a meer and probably never will. I don't like fragile/fussy things.

I can't find the 'who cares' button on the vote...

I voted all three. While I like to think of myself as a "crud-Off" type of fellow, I'm "not sure" I care enough to constantly keep the rims clean.

Depends on the pipe. My Tsuge pipes have a metal rim that I like to be clean. My Hwiebe is too pretty to not scour. The rest I'm more ambivalent about, and I think it gives cobs character.

So far, I'm a crud off guy. I do agree that it's nice to see a bit of use on the cobbs though.

On a side note this reminds me this old comic strip...

http://i.imgur.com/zD0AWXEl.gif