CLEANING THE BRIAR ON A SILVER OVERLAY PIPE
KA9FFJ
Master
I recently acquired a silver overlaid pipe (you know, the one with the race horses). Anyway, the briar is filthy and I think that cleaning the briar in between all the small openings in the silver is going to be a real challenge.
Question: is there a solution(s) or technique(s) that perhaps someone here has used that will take the grime and filth from the briar without harming the sterling silver?
The silver will be no problem. I learned an old trick from a pipe repair guy a few years back at the St. Louis Pipe Show. He told me to use cigarette ash (not pipe or cigar ash) and rub the silver with my fingers and/or a soft cloth and it will not harm the pipe. I have used this trick on countless stem bandings, etc., and it has worked like a charm. But how do I get all that gunky grime and dirt off from those little tiny spaces between the silver?
HELP...
Comments
@mfresa Completed the job on the pipe. I allowed the silver over-laid stummel to soak in an alcohol bath for 2 days. Then used the toothbrush on it like you suggested. Worked like a charm! As a matter of fact, I only had to use a soft cloth on the silver to bring it back to new.
Thanks again for helping me out...
ok guys - Here's the pipe after sterilizing, cleaning and bringing the stem back to life.