I told you my golf buddy doesn't take care of his pipes. Example, he smokes this pipe 1 to 2 times a week, and told me he hasn't cleaned it for 6 months! He said the stem was starting to loosen. I could have just fixed that problem but, you know me, I just couldn't let that pipe stay in that neglected condition. Here's a few before pics:
Notice the charring on the rim and the "gunk" build up between the shank and the bowl... After a thorough cleaning (11 bristled cleaners and 5 soft cleaners), I tightened up the tenon/mortise fit, plus reaming the bowl, decharring the rim, I stripped, restained, waxed, etc. Here's the final:
I'm using the patience of Job on this guy, and having him come over to the house for cleaning and care lesson for his pipes. He was able to stop cigarettes after I got him started on pipes about 2 years ago. At that time, he sounded as if he was trying to cough a lung up almost continuously. After about a year of pipe smoking, his wife brought to his attention that he was no longer coughing, so that makes me hopeful his condition has/is improving...🤞🏻
Recently acquired 5 pipes for 30 bucks, and since rain has prevented me from playing golf today, I decided to try and get one refinished. This one is a John Surrey, Ltd. Not in bad shape, but certainly was not sellable in its present condition.
Next I thoroughly reamed the bowl, then cleaned the stummel with Murphy's. A light sanding with 600 grit was next to finish the total grime removal. After that came a good internal stem cleaning. I was pleasantly surprised to find a relatively straight grained stummel with no pits!
Long story short: Got the stinger looking like new. Deoxidized the stem by going through 600, 800, 1000, 1200 grit sandpaper; then stepped through micropads all the way to 8000. Waxed, polished, and here's the final:
Here's the next 3 I'll be working on as time permits. Left to right: John Surrey, Ltd. CHARBAC Frank Medico w/pat.# Wally Frank "Pipe of the Month" So for I have only done a preliminary reaming of the bowls...
Rainy all day here in the St. Louis area from the hurricane, so after a few indoor chores, I decided to take on the Wally Frank "Pipe of the Month". This pipe had some scattered thin spots of varnish left on the pipe, so I stripped the pipe down just enough to get rid of the spotty varnish... Once stripped, I restained it with 40 drops saddle, 1 drop oxblood. Anyway, here's the final:
Removing the stem revealed a stinger that looks as if it's some sort of moisture absorbing material.?.? Anyway, I cleaned it as best I could with sandpaper and water...
The mortise had been drilled slightly off center so the stem had to be turned the correct way or the stem didn't match with the shank. So I decided to inlay a dowel to allow the smoker to always align the stem properly. I also cleaned and lightly sanded the stummel to get all the grime and dirt removed, and beveled the inside rim to all but eliminate the gash...
I have one of the ugliest stummels I can recall working on. It came with no stem so I dug this one out of my stem box... By the way, the stummel is a CELTIC #861.
The problem was the mortise was huge and that stem, actually all my stems, didn't have a tenon OD near big enough to fit the ID of the mortise. So I made a shank insert to fit the existing tenon... Yes, the first 2 pics already had the shank insert. I forgot to take any pics before I made it...🙄
Nice tight fit. I started carefully sanding that area to create a good transition. Still have a way to go, but this will give you an idea of where I'm heading...
The internals have been cleaned, and I've just finished getting all the dirt and grime from the stummel using Murphy's, a nylon brush and a brass brush (the only way to thoroughly get down in those deep crevices). I left it to dry and will send a Pic tomorrow after it finishes drying. I'm going to bed! 🥱
In the mean time, here's a refurb / repair I did for a guy who cranked his shank trying to take his stem out. I had to cut out the bad section of the shank and make a shank extension. He wanted to keep his yellow stem ( 🤢 ) so I had to make sure they married properly. Personally I would have preferred a shorter black stem. IMHO, I think that would have looked and balanced out much better, but it's his pipe and that's what he wanted. Anyway, no before pics, but here's the final...
OK, I forgot to take a pic of that ugly stummel after it dried. But trust me, you didn't miss anything. It was just a dull, pale tan stummel, and still ugly. Anyway, I stained the stummel black, except around the stamping:
Comments
I honestly never thought along those lines.
Maybe next time...🤔
Example, he smokes this pipe 1 to 2 times a week, and told me he hasn't cleaned it for 6 months!
He said the stem was starting to loosen.
I could have just fixed that problem but, you know me, I just couldn't let that pipe stay in that neglected condition.
Here's a few before pics:
After a thorough cleaning (11 bristled cleaners and 5 soft cleaners), I tightened up the tenon/mortise fit, plus reaming the bowl, decharring the rim, I stripped, restained, waxed, etc.
Here's the final:
He was able to stop cigarettes after I got him started on pipes about 2 years ago.
At that time, he sounded as if he was trying to cough a lung up almost continuously. After about a year of pipe smoking, his wife brought to his attention that he was no longer coughing, so that makes me hopeful his condition has/is improving...🤞🏻
This one is a John Surrey, Ltd. Not in bad shape, but certainly was not sellable in its present condition.
Had to use the old freezer trick and that did the job...
I was pleasantly surprised to find a relatively straight grained stummel with no pits!
Got the stinger looking like new.
Deoxidized the stem by going through 600, 800, 1000, 1200 grit sandpaper; then stepped through micropads all the way to 8000.
Waxed, polished, and here's the final:
This one has some pretty straight grain.
And check out the birds eye directly on the bottom of the stummel and shank!
Left to right:
John Surrey, Ltd. CHARBAC
Frank Medico w/pat.#
Wally Frank "Pipe of the Month"
So for I have only done a preliminary reaming of the bowls...
I wish someone could refurbish me the way you save pipes.
This pipe had some scattered thin spots of varnish left on the pipe, so I stripped the pipe down just enough to get rid of the spotty varnish...
Once stripped, I restained it with 40 drops saddle, 1 drop oxblood.
Anyway, here's the final:
Here's the before pics.
Notice the small gash located on the front side of the rim?
Anyway, I cleaned it as best I could with sandpaper and water...
I also cleaned and lightly sanded the stummel to get all the grime and dirt removed, and beveled the inside rim to all but eliminate the gash...
Looking at your picture, I would guess that stinger is bone. Just my 10 cents….inflation ya know🙂
By the way, the stummel is a CELTIC #861.
So I made a shank insert to fit the existing tenon...
Yes, the first 2 pics already had the shank insert. I forgot to take any pics before I made it...🙄
I left it to dry and will send a Pic tomorrow after it finishes drying.
I'm going to bed!
🥱
I had to cut out the bad section of the shank and make a shank extension.
He wanted to keep his yellow stem ( 🤢 ) so I had to make sure they married properly.
Personally I would have preferred a shorter black stem. IMHO, I think that would have looked and balanced out much better, but it's his pipe and that's what he wanted.
Anyway, no before pics, but here's the final...
The masters hand.
Anyway, I stained the stummel black, except around the stamping:
Still ugly, but here's the final:
Ugly pipes, like ugly girls, need lov'in too.