@mfresa it took me a while to figure out how to make them look the way they do every one has there own style it was a learning process that is for sure. But I will lend you any advice I can to help you on your way.
@mfresa I agree totally with you concerning the love of the grain. But I do sometimes find myself having to rusticate an old pipe when too many flaws/fills are found. I can then take a pipe that you can't see beyond the flaws and turn it into a pipe that shape and function take over. Again, if there is any way to get around fills and flaws, I always do my best to keep the grain to the forefront. But then again, that's just me...
@mfresna I'm posting 4 pics to demonstrate what I talked about earlier concerning required rustication. This first pic is the original pipe. I bought the pipe for next to nothing. Seeing it you can understand why...
Once I sanded and prepped it for restoration I found several discolorations and fills. I knew I wasn't going to be able to restore it to a pristine pipe...
I then rusticated most of the pipe leaving as much of the beautiful grain as possible. I then two-tone stained and got it ready for waxing and polishing...
Here's the finished product. You guys can judge for yourself. As I said before, I am a grain person all the way, but sometimes rustication is, in my humble opinion, the only way around the near impossible restoration...
@mfresa Thanks... I really enjoy the hobby of pipe restoration. As a side bar I should have told you that after sterilization, alcohol and salt treatment, and thorough cleaning, it has turned out to be a really good smoker... A big plus since I have found in my personal experience that approximately 1 out of 10 were a waste of time and effort by turning out to be bad smokers... Luck of the draw I guess...
Of five Carey pipe recently (within a year) purchased on eBay, I've never had a bad smoker after initial clean-up and refurbishing...... except for a lovely large billiard. It took three exorcisms to kill the Ghost of Latakia Past.
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I say: Me, too!!!!!!!
Yes to both!!!!