My Attempts at Pipe Restoration

[danmdevries]

Didn't want to keep clogging up Grrrrr's threads so I'll start my own but please reference the master thread and don't credit me with any of the techniques used.

This'll be just a simple before and after, an opportunity to solicit advice/tips/tricks from the experienced.

Need to refinish the briar still, gonna read up on how to do that. (forgot the before pics, but trust me, it was rough...) lol, ignore the buffing cloth aka sock on the floor, whole box of em right there.

 

[rdomfoto]

Beautiful job on the stem!

 

[3/5King]

Looks very nice

 

[javelin377]

Nice job on that stem. I need to send a few to you, to make them shine like that

 

[danmdevries]

Cut down and redrill? Or just save the stem to fit on another?

 

[cgraunke]

I'd cut it down.
If you do, give us the step by step!

 

[danmdevries]

I'd cut it down.
If you do, give us the step by step!

I'll give it a shot. Gonna need to figure out how I'm going to cut it, I don't have a band or scroll saw and I doubt it would survive a trip across the table saw, even with an 80t blade. Maybe with a coping saw. For another day. Though, it does give me an excuse to buy a bandsaw.... Or maybe a scroll saw. Or both.

Tonight I started on yet another (I have a dozen basket case pipes)

This one is stamped with the words "Danish Sport Imported Briar Italy" and is a SERIOUSLY flawed piece of briar. I think the finish on most corncobs has less flaws than this. Whomever the prior owner was must have agreed, it's unsmoked.

So my plan is to sand it down to a smooth(ish-due to flaws) finish on the bowl and refinish, polish out the stem, and see if it's a smoker. When I plug the bowl and draw, it's sealed, so there's no obvious through-holes. Worth a try.

 

[danmdevries]

Is this the unmistakable pink hue of Bondo? I've sanded into Bondo more times than I can count and this is a pretty darn close match. Acts the same when hit with a pick as well. Pretty sure it's Bondo.

Remember, this is an unsmoked pipe, new old stock.

Definitely some foreign material in the briar voids.

 

[danmdevries]

 

[danmdevries]

Sanded past the stamping, no way is that a loss.

Much much better shape than where it started, just need to refinish the briar.

 

[plumber1965]

Nice looking pipe!!! And its not even finished yet.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

I'm actually really digging the unfinished look on those pipes. Very nice work!

 

[danmdevries]

I'm actually really digging the unfinished look on those pipes. Very nice work!

Started smoking one of em unfinished.

 

[WaRevo]

Like the Bulldog, I have a few nice sized ones. One I have like yours with diamond or square shank is a Dr. Grabow. Love the pipe

James

 

[danmdevries]

Last one of this lot that I'm doing anything with.

None of these pipes are good to smoke, that stupid stinger even after cutting the end off, still collects a ton of condensation.

 

[cgraunke]

Last one of this lot that I'm doing anything with.

None of these pipes are good to smoke, that stupid stinger even after cutting the end off, still collects a ton of condensation.

The finish work looks great!

 

[Grrrrr609]

Last one of this lot that I'm doing anything with.

None of these pipes are good to smoke, that stupid stinger even after cutting the end off, still collects a ton of condensation.

Try opening up the drought hole a little bit.

 

[danmdevries]

Try opening up the drought hole a little bit.

I would, but there really isn't enough material there to remove without breakthrough. Tried it on another orphaned stem and blew out the side. This one was already drilled off center, so even less room on the shiny one.

Im just going to stick to cobs. They smoke well. Had fun playing with the briars, but in the end I'm just not a fan.

 

[WaRevo]

I think the hole they may have been refering to was in the shank of the brair itself.

James

 

[WaRevo]

Last one of this lot that I'm doing anything with.

None of these pipes are good to smoke, that stupid stinger even after cutting the end off, still collects a ton of condensation.

that is a Beautiful pipe. Love Dr. Grabows myself. Sadly wet tobacco even in my pipes lead to condensation. Just have to use pipe cleaners. I love the ability to unscrew them and send a pipe cleaner down the shaft. Also I keep the Stinger in place...

James