I now have the extension and stem step-sanded down and polished. I also bent the stem to compliment the pipe. But first, I sanded (220, 500, 800 grit) the rim and panels to remove varnish and stain. I plan on doing a 2-tone staining in those areas, but keeping those areas very dark to deemphasize the panels.?.? We'll see...
I didn't like the oversized look of the stem. The knob was too wide for the shank. I have had this happen before, and I think it's because I don't take into account the size of the extension AFTER it's been matched to the existing shank. Anyway, I have the stem now looking more of a match for the pipe. I then stained the stummel black and gave it an alcohol wipe. I then gave it a light sanding using 600 grit, leaving most of the black on the panels. I also rebent thr stem giving it a softer, more curved appearance. Waxed, buffed and polished. Here's the final:
I have a Kaywoodie Super Grain with issues. As you can see, it is overclocked. Also, it has a very heavy cake build up, heavy stem oxidation, and the the worst problem is the hole located on the underside of the stem.
Tips on fixing overclocking: If you thoroughly clean the threads inside the shank with bristled cleaners, etc., and thoroughly clean the flat metal surface of the mortise insert area, then your overclocking adjustment should result in a super fraction underclocked position. Reason: the heating used in adjusting the threaded tenon will cool resulting in a perfect fit. However, I did not clean those areas first, so I had to allow a slightly greater underclocked position:
Next is prepping the stem for the hole repair. It is important to clean the area as much as possible, and to work the oxidation issue down to at least 600 grit. You do not want to be rough sanding that area after you have patched it. As you can see from the contrast, heavy oxidation...
Give a LIGHT coat of Vaseline to the tip and insert into mouthpiece making sure the stirrer goes well passed the hole. IMPORTANT: Make sure Vaseline is confined to the inside of the mouthpiece. It's purpose is to prevent adhesion. The patch will not adhere if Vaseline is allowed on the outside of the hole.
After it starts to look fairly good, I start using 600 grit. Tip: I use a flexible filing/buffing pad and wrap a small 600 grit piece tightly around it. Put a very tight folding crease on one edge before folding ro allow button to stem coverage.
Since I had to slightly straighten the stem to unblock it from dried tobacco and tar, it was time to the bend back where it was. Here it is prior to rebending. The pipe cleaner is inserted to help avoid the air hole from collapsing. Note: Never completely finish (buffing/polish) a stem before bending. The heating process will cause dulling and result in having to redo 2 or 3 micropads, rebuffing and repolishing...
Tnx guys. Please note, I am simply sharing how I do things. I'm sure there are many other methods that will produce similar, possibly even better results. These are just techniques that work for me. Also, on the average, for every one thing I show you, ther are usually 2 or 3 other steps leading up to that next phase. But to show you EVERY step/phase would take an all inclusive video. And since I'm not Brad Pitt, we'll just let that idea pass by... 😏
Recieved some stummels in the mail 3 days ago. There was one that caught my eye because it looked like a pretty good piece of briar. The tenon had broken off in the mortise so first things first, I removed it. Upon closer inspection, I noticed no "normal" stamping which did not surprise me. I'm used to noname stummels. But as I turned to the underside, I noticed "E. Christie" etched there. Didn't think much of it at the time and chalked it off as some guy who just decided to put his claim to ownership on his own pipe. I took a straight vulcanite stem and, after fitting the tenon, turned the base and fancied it up just a bit then put a bend to compliment the stummel. It had been lightly stained and lightly used. Very little charring on the rim and almost no caking. Cleaned it up (inside and out), restained it a very light tan and brought it back to life. After completing the pipe, just for grins, I decided to GOOGLE E. Christie. Turns out he's a pipemaker and owns pipe and cigar shop in Pennsylvania. He has a website and I found his Pic.
Here’s what I learned about E. Christie, the owner of a pipe & cigar shop in Pennsylvania:
🏬 Christie’s House of Pipes & Cigars
Owner & Pipemaker: Eric E. Christie
Location: 56 W Main St, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania—a charming store that has served pipe and cigar enthusiasts for over 40 years .
Craftsmanship & Products
Handcrafted Briar Pipes
Each pipe is individually crafted in Waynesboro using aged Mediterranean briar, including rare Algerian wood dating back to the 1940s and 1960s .
Christie apprenticed under the renowned Richard C. Johnson in the mid‑1980s before launching his own line .
Custom Pipe Blends & Premium Cigars
Offers 100% natural, hand‑blended pipe tobaccos.
Stocks imported quality cigars from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras—stored in optimal conditions (70°F / 70% humidity) .
Community & Reputation
Local Favorite
A beloved fixture in southern Central PA and western Maryland .
Yelp and MapQuest note it as a “renowned tobacco shop,” praised for expert craftsmanship and warm hospitality .
Customer Praise
Long‑time patrons rave about Christie’s Algerian briar pipes being some of their favorites and applaud Eric for being welcoming, knowledgeable, and helpful .
Why It Stands Out
Feature
Details
Heritage
Over four decades of pipe-making tradition.
Quality Materials
Uses aged briar from rare Mediterranean sources.
Master Craftsmanship
Eric’s skills honed under pipemaking legend Richard C. Johnson.
Custom Blends & Care
Hand-blended tobacco and proper cigar storage.
Community Connection
Friendly, knowledgeable, and locally cherished service.
Store Hours:
Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sun: Closed
Contact: (717) 765‑8129
Website: christiepipes.com
In Summary
Eric E. Christie is a seasoned pipemaker and tobacconist whose Waynesboro shop, Christie’s House of Pipes & Cigars, offers a unique blend of craftsmanship, quality, and community atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for a finely made handcrafted pipe, a special tobacco blend, or expert guidance, Christie’s delivers on all fronts.
@motie2 I find myself left with the question, "How did I wind up with one of his pipes?" You would think, as expensive as they are, the owner would have tried to get it repaired... I guess, as the old saying goes, their loss was my gain. It really is a nice piece of briar...
Comments
But first, I sanded (220, 500, 800 grit) the rim and panels to remove varnish and stain.
I plan on doing a 2-tone staining in those areas, but keeping those areas very dark to deemphasize the panels.?.? We'll see...
Anyway, I have the stem now looking more of a match for the pipe.
I then stained the stummel black and gave it an alcohol wipe. I then gave it a light sanding using 600 grit, leaving most of the black on the panels. I also rebent thr stem giving it a softer, more curved appearance.
Waxed, buffed and polished.
Here's the final:
As you can see, it is overclocked. Also, it has a very heavy cake build up, heavy stem oxidation, and the the worst problem is the hole located on the underside of the stem.
If you thoroughly clean the threads inside the shank with bristled cleaners, etc., and thoroughly clean the flat metal surface of the mortise insert area, then your overclocking adjustment should result in a super fraction underclocked position.
Reason: the heating used in adjusting the threaded tenon will cool resulting in a perfect fit.
However, I did not clean those areas first, so I had to allow a slightly greater underclocked position:
You do not want to be rough sanding that area after you have patched it.
As you can see from the contrast, heavy oxidation...
Very resourceful - the use of sanding particulates
Time to patch that hole:
Here are some tips you might find useful.
Coffee stirrer, vaseline, super glue, vulcanite shavings = ready to go.
Taper the end to a blunt point.
Flatten as much as possible.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure Vaseline is confined to the inside of the mouthpiece. It's purpose is to prevent adhesion. The patch will not adhere if Vaseline is allowed on the outside of the hole.
Tip:
I use a flexible filing/buffing pad and wrap a small 600 grit piece tightly around it.
Put a very tight folding crease on one edge before folding ro allow button to stem coverage.
Note: Never completely finish (buffing/polish) a stem before bending. The heating process will cause dulling and result in having to redo 2 or 3 micropads, rebuffing and repolishing...
Concur! His restorative process is remarkable, especially because he allows us to see it…..
Also, on the average, for every one thing I show you, ther are usually 2 or 3 other steps leading up to that next phase. But to show you EVERY step/phase would take an all inclusive video.
And since I'm not Brad Pitt, we'll just let that idea pass by... 😏
The tenon had broken off in the mortise so first things first, I removed it.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed no "normal" stamping which did not surprise me. I'm used to noname stummels. But as I turned to the underside, I noticed "E. Christie" etched there. Didn't think much of it at the time and chalked it off as some guy who just decided to put his claim to ownership on his own pipe.
I took a straight vulcanite stem and, after fitting the tenon, turned the base and fancied it up just a bit then put a bend to compliment the stummel.
It had been lightly stained and lightly used. Very little charring on the rim and almost no caking.
Cleaned it up (inside and out), restained it a very light tan and brought it back to life.
After completing the pipe, just for grins, I decided to GOOGLE E. Christie. Turns out he's a pipemaker and owns pipe and cigar shop in Pennsylvania.
He has a website and I found his Pic.
Here’s what I learned about E. Christie, the owner of a pipe & cigar shop in Pennsylvania:
🏬 Christie’s House of Pipes & Cigars
Owner & Pipemaker: Eric E. Christie
Location: 56 W Main St, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania—a charming store that has served pipe and cigar enthusiasts for over 40 years .
Craftsmanship & Products
Community & Reputation
Why It Stands Out
Feature
Details
Heritage
Over four decades of pipe-making tradition.
Quality Materials
Uses aged briar from rare Mediterranean sources.
Master Craftsmanship
Eric’s skills honed under pipemaking legend Richard C. Johnson.
Custom Blends & Care
Hand-blended tobacco and proper cigar storage.
Community Connection
Friendly, knowledgeable, and locally cherished service.
In Summary
Eric E. Christie is a seasoned pipemaker and tobacconist whose Waynesboro shop, Christie’s House of Pipes & Cigars, offers a unique blend of craftsmanship, quality, and community atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for a finely made handcrafted pipe, a special tobacco blend, or expert guidance, Christie’s delivers on all fronts.
Brad Pitt should be so lucky.
I find myself left with the question, "How did I wind up with one of his pipes?"
You would think, as expensive as they are, the owner would have tried to get it repaired...
I guess, as the old saying goes, their loss was my gain. It really is a nice piece of briar...
Started by squaring off the broken end...