Proper way to clean out a pipe?

[deeeebeeeeee]

Done some searching and noticed that burning the carbon out of a pipe with a torch and oxygen was noted as the old way.

Also found a thread or two about using scotch Brite or steel wool to knock the rust and crust off the outside of a pipe, then polishing it with a wad of aluminum foil to get some of the shine back.

I am actually interested In both, but ATM I am curious to know how you guys clean out the pipes these days. I know if I burn the pipe out with my portable oxy/map gas torch, someone will end up calling the fire department.

So how do you clean the carbon out of a pipe? Without turning it into a smoking jet furnace?

 

[Fast6hand]

That's how I did it, with a propane torch and compressed air. Did smoke a lot. And if it gets too hot starts to discolor the metal blue. But I actually like the blue tint. I also swished carb cleaner in it before, which removed a lot of the carbon build up.

 

[pudvah]

Never messed with the inside but the ol' tin foil trick works insanely good for cleaning the outside......if it's chrome.