Kirsten bowls have the pinhole flaws drilled out. I think it looks stupid. It would be better if they just left the natural little divots. We all know that not every piece of briar can be perfect. The only pipes that could possibly benefit from a drilled out divot is ones that are going to get a deep dark black “dress” stain or a water-dip paint treatment. The fills might hold better in the long run.
Well, I found out the meerschaum lining was completely gone at the bottom 1/4 of the bowl. I mixed some pipe mud and did a smooth fill in, perfectly blending it in where the meerschaum stopped. I also very slightly topped the bowl (less than a 64th) to carefully remove most of the charring. Using 1200 sandpaper then a magic eraser, I whitened the meerschaum as best I could. As you know, water and meerschaum don't play well together, so the cleaning is always difficult and touch and go. Turns out the meerschaum was deeply stained, but I managed to get it FAIRLY white(ish) again. Before the meerschaum cleaning, I gave the stummel an alcohol wipe and toothbrushed it with Murphy's wood soap. Put a fresh coat of stain on it and here's the final:
@KA9FFJ If the pipe mud falls short, try a paste of raw egg whites and powdered chalkboard chalk. I used a piece of 80 grit sandpaper to “grate” the chalk. It is almost like porcelain when it dries.
@RockyMountainBriar I actually took it for a spin today. 1 hour and 45 minutes with only 1 relight later, it smoked down to white ash! I'm writing your recipe down for future experimentation. I've always said when it comes to pipe restoration, there's sometimes more than one way to get the job done...😁 Thanks for the info...
I've been doing a lot of pipes lately getting ready for the show. Recieved this EA Carey pipe that just didn't look right. It looked as of it used to be a two-toned pipe. They left the rim charred and black, but most of the stain was removed leaving spots and areas of black stain. So I imagined in my mind how this pipe should look, and went to work. This is how the pipe was:
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Totally agree...
More to come on the stummel later. I'll be spending most of my time today with out of town family...
I also very slightly topped the bowl (less than a 64th) to carefully remove most of the charring. Using 1200 sandpaper then a magic eraser, I whitened the meerschaum as best I could.
As you know, water and meerschaum don't play well together, so the cleaning is always difficult and touch and go.
Turns out the meerschaum was deeply stained, but I managed to get it FAIRLY white(ish) again.
Before the meerschaum cleaning, I gave the stummel an alcohol wipe and toothbrushed it with Murphy's wood soap.
Put a fresh coat of stain on it and here's the final:
If the pipe mud falls short, try a paste of raw egg whites and powdered chalkboard chalk. I used a piece of 80 grit sandpaper to “grate” the chalk. It is almost like porcelain when it dries.
I actually took it for a spin today. 1 hour and 45 minutes with only 1 relight later, it smoked down to white ash!
I'm writing your recipe down for future experimentation.
I've always said when it comes to pipe restoration, there's sometimes more than one way to get the job done...😁
Thanks for the info...
You got that genius thing showing again.
No genius here, I got the recipe from a contact through Steve at rebornpipes.
When I call you a genius, don't be contradicting your elders.
Recieved this EA Carey pipe that just didn't look right. It looked as of it used to be a two-toned pipe. They left the rim charred and black, but most of the stain was removed leaving spots and areas of black stain. So I imagined in my mind how this pipe should look, and went to work. This is how the pipe was:
Once done, I polished and buffed both stummel and stem. Here's the final:
I'll see if I can scale it for you and get back...
1.5 oz
Then I brush cleaned it with Murphys...