Hey G&C88,
I use brandy-soaked pipe cleaners for regular cleaning (Oro de Azteca). However, if you have a new pipe that's been dip-dyed, an estate pipe that needs a good cleaning, or a pipe that starts to tase sour you should use the salt method. I'll try to find a link to the page on pipes.org, but essentially you pack the bowl with salt and then add isopropyl alcohol to it, being careful not to go over the rim. Then you let it sit. The alcohol will draw old oils, tar, and dyes (like in my red Peterson Killarney #03) out of the briar and the salt will of course hold them so they don't soak back into the wood. Repeat treatment until salt is clean.
TampaSupremo
BTW, ain't it a bitch that you can go out and buy a hell of a nice rifle, but not the cold brew to enjoy after you've shot it?