Restoring Some Estate Pipes

[KevinV]

I've picked up a few estate pipes recently and most have needed only a basic salt treatment, retort sanitization, and a polish. I have one though that is a bit more weathered. I could use some advice on this one.

The bowl cake was pretty thick and the consistency of rock. The odor is non tobacco, and only that of age. I'm sure it's been in there for quite some time. I've salt treated it a couple of times, used the retort a couple times, and have worked on whittling away at it with a pipe reamer, but it's not giving up easily. I've considered taking the Dremel to it with a sandpaper covered drum adapter. Any other ideas?

Also, the underside of the bit has a through hole in it where the owner apparently did a bit of nibbling. It's the original bit and being that it's a not a common shape, I'd like to keep it with the pipe. Anyone have any experience in hole patching on a bit?

It's a very nice Stanwell, and once completed I'll get a shot of it up here.

[KevinV]

I took the Dremel to it and it worked great. I removed nearly all of the ancient cake sans the very bottom of the bowl. The concave shape proved to be unreachable with the tools I have on hand. It is for the most part, cleaned out...just not completely smooth down there. My own cake will meld with that soon enough.

It is once again getting the salt treatment, will be retorted again, and ready for a polish. I'm still open to any ideas on how to fix the bit.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by KevinV

It is once again getting the salt treatment, will be retorted again, and ready for a polish. I'm still open to any ideas on how to fix the bit.

I have heard of epoxies being used to fix a small hole in the bit. It wqould need to be sanded back down. I am sure there are other methods out there though.

[cp478]

i've seen posts on here about repairing bits but i can't seem to find them now.
just thought i'd let you know i'm sure its on here somewhere and maybe someone will answer ya if ya wait a while.
good luck and can't wait to see some pics.

[KevinV]

An easy fix would be to just mount one of the rubber bit tips...I'll do that in the meantime.

[cp478]

sorry i couldn't help, but someone on here will know the best way.

[KevinV]

The epoxy idea sounds good. I have some 2-part epoxy I could blend and try it.

[Mad Hatter]

Use epoxy or superglue, superglue will dry white. Suck on the end of a pipecleaner and insert it in the stem before applying then remove once the outside has solidified

[Mr Mojo Risin]

I've read on here, to file an old bit down to mix with the super glue.
To keep the color the same
Brian

[KevinV]

Good ideas...thank you. I'm going to go with the epoxy, and may try the coloring method to help match it up. I smoked my first bowl out of it today and although the pipe is comfortable, it needs some fresh cake build up. A bit on the bitey side. I just couldn't see smoking it with the crust that was in there...I'll bake my own cake.

I did some buffing, but need to get some Carnuba wax to get her looking new. At that point I'll take the photos. For now, I'll just smoke.

[KevinV]

I'm still struggling with this one. I think I need to start over, it just doesn't taste right when I smoke it.

I spent the day rehabilitating a few more pipes that I've acquired over the last few weeks but haven't had the time to work on. I've been learning from my mistakes and think I've got it down pretty well. The Castleford reamer helps out a lot, and a little fine sandpaper does the rest to get it back down to the briar. A bleach dip, alcohol bath, lots of scrubbing and polishing, and the bit looks as new. The carnauba wax really puts the finishing touch on the whole pipe.

I'd like a new pipe but when I can get such good results from a little tinker time, I'm content to stick with the bargains for now.

I've got a birthday coming up and will keep the Iwan Ries catalog out with blatant markings for my wife to see...maybe I'll get a new pipe that way.

[KevinV]

Patience and persistence paid off. I have another very nice Stanwell to add to the rotation.

[Mad Hatter]

Glad to hear you finally got that one wipped into shape Kevin