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Pipe refinishing

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  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Received this in the mail yesterday:

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    I wanted a pipe from Hungary. Spent 2 1/2 days in Budapest last year but never had the chance to go to a pipe shop.
    I found this one on ebay:

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    It's a KOROS. If I'm not mistaken, that is a low grade Szabo pipe. There were plenty of pit fills and charring on the rim. Also some chatter on the stem. But for $2.99 I couldn't pass it up:

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Reaming and internal and external cleaning plus preliminary sanding of the stem:

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    edited May 9
    Finished stem, stained, waxed and buffed stummel.
    Here's the final:
    Note - I'm still looking for a nice Szabo pipe...

  • Zouave1864Zouave1864 Master
    @KA9FFJ what stain is that? Great color on the bowl. Well done!
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    @Zouave1864
    Stain = 50 drops tan, 2 drops oxblood ( Fiebing's of course)
  • opipemanopipeman Master
    @KA9FFJ;
    She traveled a long way for a great makeover. Nice work.
  • WhoispraWhoispra Master
    This is the result of the dr. Grabow silver duke I’ve reworked. Again can’t get the stem any better but I really didn’t like the black stain I had applied after removed the original so I removed it again which left all these little saw marks and accents if you will. I ordered a set of polishing compounds and some buffing wheels for the dremel have. I realize it isn’t an ideal machine but it allowed me to put some sheen on the pipe with brown Tripoli and super fine blue compound. I already had a food grade block of carnuba so I used it as well. Not a mirror finish but it’s actually quite nice finished out this way I think. I also polished the other grabow and Weber that I had acquired for fixing up. They both look better as well but are essentially original as I posted before. 
  • edited May 11
    I won an EBay auction a few days ago, and I received the package today.  I mainly wanted the “home” pipe rest, but the “old skool” metal, magnetic “automobile” rest was cool too.  The Kaywoodie Meerschaum lined 50B straight Rhodesian was a bonus.  It’s well smoked, and has a big gouge on the right side, but it should clean up nicely.  I bought a Kaywoodie Flamegrain Meerschaum lined Bulldog 12B years ago, when I first started this pipe journey,  it had a chewed off stem and a heavy cake.  I proceeded to remove the cake with a reamer and cracked out the liner…or maybe is was only being held together by cake?  Anyway, I shortened the stem, filed in a new bit, and hand made a replacement stem logo clover.  I found a meerschaum liner blank at Vermont Freehand.  I turned the liner down with my lathe to fit like a calabash bowl and added a cork gasket to the pipe.  I made a mini meerschaum calabash nosewarmer out of it.  It works fine👍🏻.  I was thinking about getting another meerschaum liner and making a regular meer lined pipe out of it again, the original bowl was small, but my calabash bowl is even smaller.
    These pipes must smoke pretty great, they were both well…I said well, used🙂…..And, they both have their “stingers” intact.

    I will post some “after” pictures when I get around to cleaning and spiffing up the 50B. 

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    @RockyMountainBriar
    Put that diamond shank on my list...
  • edited May 12
    Welp….when I went to clean the 50B Kaywoodie Rhodesian there was some loose, partially burned, dried dottle in the bottom of the pipe.  I loosened it with a pipe pick and dumped it out.  The bottom of the meerschaum lining from about halfway down to the heel was gone.  Oh well, I guess I need to buy a couple more meerschaum liners from Vermont Freehand.
  • WhoispraWhoispra Master
    Was a big fan of this shape and the price was right. While I prefer the adjustomatic Dr. Grabows and the generic screw fit stems without a true stinger based on my definition. I picked this up anyway. It has been reamed, is currently being deghosted, and the inside of the stem is sparkling. Exterior refinishing of the stem a stummel cleaning and polishing will likely happen tomorrow. I'll post a few final product photos when it is ready to be smoked. 
  • @Whoispra
    Yep, that is a cool shape, and it has a pretty nice grain/blast👍🏻
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Had an old practice stummel and a cheap plastic stem I decided to turn into a work pipe.
    Drilled the airhole and mortise, then turned the tenon  to fit.
    After that, I sanded and shaped the stem to match the shank...

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    After several step sandings on the stem, I lightly sanded the stummel and heated it before staining.
    Stained, waxed and buffed.
    Here's the final. Not a big pipe, but perfect for a 30 - 40 minute puff...

  • @KA9FFJ nice stain on that. I went to the flea market today to look for pipes. There was only one vendor with a stack of cobs on cardboard promo cards. He was selling them for about $10 a pipe. Or $70 for 10. Unfortunately for me I wasn't in the market for cobs. No good briars.
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    @Zouave1864
    Estate pipe shopping = always a hit or miss experience...😒
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Bought 6 stummels on ebay for $51 bucks. I normally wouldn't pay that much but there was a Stanwell AND a Savinelli in the group, so I thought it was worth it.
    Half of them were really grimy and filthy. 
    For example, look at this noname freehand. It's a monster pipe and I was hoping that the grain I was seeing was there on the rest of the pipe and could be brought out...

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Turns out, I lucked out and was able to bring it back to life after a lot of elbow grease.
    I still have to go 600 to 800 grit, but you get the idea...


  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Spent a lot of time on the lathe today turning stems for the stummels.
    Didn't bother to take pics. Some still need to be cleaned, some sanded, and some will need stain. Of course all will need waxing and polishing.
    But here's a pic of all the stummels with raw turned and fitted stems.

  • That freehand looks to be a nice piece of briar👍🏻
  • opipemanopipeman Master
    @KA9FFJ;
    Keen eye, Brother. It helps to have your skill and talent, as well.
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    In the pic above, the pipe 2nd column-middle is a Bijou. 
    It's my understanding that it is a downgrade (second) from Stanwell.
    Anyway, completed that pipe and, after taking the pics below, have put it away for the STL pipe show next year...

  • @KA9FFJ
    I have to say, that is quite a hideous pipe, but you did a nice job of re-stemming and refurbing it.  Somebody will love it, but not this guy🙂
  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Well I have the monster freehand completed. It is pipes like this that help make my hobby rewarding. 
    In case you've forgotten, here's before:

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    Here it is now:

  • PappyJoePappyJoe Master
    @KA9FFJ

    Any idea on who the original carver was?

  • KA9FFJKA9FFJ Master
    @PappyJoe
    Not a clue brother. No stamping anywhere! 
    You probably have the same question I have; How can anyone make such a beautifully grained and we'll proportioned pipe and not take any credit for it?
    It's not natural Pappy... it's just not natural...🤔
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