I then took my dremel and proceeded to drill small shallow holes along the lines... It looked TERRIBLE! So I tried to add more and more "dots" trying to embellish the pattern and make it look better... It didn't work! It looked like I handed the bowl and dremel over to a 6 year old and told him to have fun... It was AWFUL! I put it off to the side, grabbed one of my guitars and began playing a few songs, glancing from time to time at the pipe and contemplating throwing it away. An experiment gone wrong. I didn't even take pictures, I was too embarrassed. Suddenly it hit me, why not? Last resort, last ditch stand! Anyway, this is what I wound up doing. I then waxed it, buffed it and I'll keep it as one more meer for March Meerschaum Madness:
Interesting how the color came through. I have a Weber Meer that did the same think after I cleaned it with a brush, it was rusticated from the factory though. I stained over it with black dye, it looks ok, but I’m not sure I would do that again.
@RockyMountainBriar The waxing and consequent melting the wax off with the heat gun on low, really darkened those rusticated areas. IMHO, I think it's an interesting outcome for a pipe headed for the trash can...
Yes, when I waxed my Peterson Golden Meerschaum, it instantly brought out the patina that was developing unnoticed in the core of the meerschaum. I just wish I could smoke enough to get the dark reddish shiny patina that my old and very well smoked Lillehammer meer has.
Naturally they both have issues. The one I selected needed a reaming, had charring on the rim and, among other things, had a stinger that looked like it was found in a scrap iron heap...
As usual, the first order of the day was to give the stummel and stem a thorough cleaning. 12 bristle and 4 soft pipe cleaners finally got the job done... Next, the stinger needed to be addressed for 2 reasons: cleaning and enlarging the draw hole using my dremel...
Long story short: Took care of the oxidation and chatter on the stem after many sandings, then buffed it. Waxed and buffed the stummel and here you go... another one for the show...
You've probably heard the expression, "workhorse pipe", well this estate pipe was definitely the owner's. Filthy, dirty, thick cake build up, gouges, deep teeth marks on the stem. It was so gunked up, the stem would not budge. By the way, I could tell it once had stamping on the shank and stem, but they were all but gone and indecipherable. Hence, I have to call it a noname... This pipe had been "rode hard, and put away wet", as the saying goes... Check it out:
I'll keep this short. Reamed, cleaned (inside and outside), patched the gouges, got rid of most of the teeth marks, stripped the stummel. Here was the pipe at that point...
Here's the other Kaywoodie Supergrain 98b. If my information serves me correct, the 98b was only made from 1947 to 1950. Why they would quit producing that diamond shanked bulldog is beyond me. Must have replaced it with a similar shape... I'm guessing... Anyway, here's the before. Note the 98b stamp is clear, but the Kaywoodie Supergrain stamping is all but gone...
Comments
I put it off to the side, grabbed one of my guitars and began playing a few songs, glancing from time to time at the pipe and contemplating throwing it away. An experiment gone wrong.
I didn't even take pictures, I was too embarrassed.
Suddenly it hit me, why not? Last resort, last ditch stand!
Anyway, this is what I wound up doing. I then waxed it, buffed it and I'll keep it as one more meer for March Meerschaum Madness:
Another great rustication job👍🏻
The waxing and consequent melting the wax off with the heat gun on low, really darkened those rusticated areas. IMHO, I think it's an interesting outcome for a pipe headed for the trash can...
I selected the one on the right to refurb first.
The one I selected needed a reaming, had charring on the rim and, among other things, had a stinger that looked like it was found in a scrap iron heap...
Next, the stinger needed to be addressed for 2 reasons: cleaning and enlarging the draw hole using my dremel...
Took care of the oxidation and chatter on the stem after many sandings, then buffed it. Waxed and buffed the stummel and here you go... another one for the show...
Agreed. I love it when I can leave a pipe showing off it's grain and not have to doctor it up because it has been abused...
Filthy, dirty, thick cake build up, gouges, deep teeth marks on the stem. It was so gunked up, the stem would not budge. By the way, I could tell it once had stamping on the shank and stem, but they were all but gone and indecipherable. Hence, I have to call it a noname...
This pipe had been "rode hard, and put away wet", as the saying goes...
Check it out:
Reamed, cleaned (inside and outside), patched the gouges, got rid of most of the teeth marks, stripped the stummel. Here was the pipe at that point...
WOW! I would have stored that in the circular file, you turned it into a beauty!
At the very least, the pipe is clean, better looking and useable.
It's what I call a "second chance pipe"...
Well named! You should start a business named "Second Chance Pipes".
I seems to me that there may be someone operating under that name already…or something real close.
I have no idea!
@RockyMountainBriar
I'm retired! No businesses for me... just hobbies... 😁
I'm with you, Brother.
Why they would quit producing that diamond shanked bulldog is beyond me. Must have replaced it with a similar shape... I'm guessing...
Anyway, here's the before. Note the 98b stamp is clear, but the Kaywoodie Supergrain stamping is all but gone...