A Horrible Mistake, and How to Fix It

[orlandofurioso]

Dear friends,
I kick myself for what happened . Refurbishing a Patent Dunhill I found the stem entirely clogged with the usual grime and tars.
What always worked for me was to immerse the stem in alcohol and then remove the softened dirt etc. It It also softens up the oxidation nicely and makes it very easy to remove without too much of the tedious sanding.
I now entirely forgot ( while I know ) about the celluloid/ivorine dot and some of it dissolved because of the alcohol. Sheer horror.
It now "sunk"a little and discoloured to greyish, while it was so perfect. I contemplate filling it up with a simple white glue that dries somewhat semi-transparant. Liquid paper etc. will do not do for reasons of historical accuracy.
I'm a pipe refurbish nerd and such details matter to me. The purpose is to create that typical ivorine look.
Any advice would be most welcome

 

[mikethompson]

I have replicated white stampings with white on and removing the excess.

 

[mikethompson]

I have replicated white stampings with white cr-ay-on and removing the excess.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Drill it out and put a new dot in it.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I have replicated white stampings with white on and removing the excess.

Thank you Mike appreciated
For filling logos/stampings I use something similar George recommended; professional white paint sticks.
Works fine, but will it cure so it can take buffing ?

 

[orlandofurioso]

Drill it out and put a new dot in it.

A celluloid one ?
Is the stuff available in rods ?

 

[gamzultovah]

I always use the white dot material for restoring guitars from a company called StewMac.

 

[mikethompson]

Thank you Mike appreciated
For filling logos/stampings I use something similar George recommended; professional white paint sticks.
Works fine, but will it cure so it can take buffing ?

I would think if it's coated with a wax it should be fine.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

A celluloid one ?
Is the stuff available in rods ?

I use faux ivory.

https://vermontfreehand.com/product/imitation-ivory/

 

[tbradsim1]

Use Hard as nails white polish, put a drop, let it harden and you’ve got a very nice fix, I’ve done it, it works.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Thank you all !
It is well past my bedtime, will come back to you tomorrow !

 

[orlandofurioso]

Use Hard as nails white polish, put a drop, let it harden and you’ve got a very nice fix, I’ve done it, it works.

Thank you Brad !
Did you apply it on celluloid - or on the later acrylic dots ?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I always use the white dot material for restoring guitars from a company called StewMac.

View attachment 248830
View attachment 248831

They carry a lot of luthier products that work equally well for pipes. They sell some nice micromesh sanding sticks.

 

[AJL67]

Oh i thought this was about divorces, or maybe the Broncos hiring Sean Payton.

I second Gilligan and would go with the Faux Ivory.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I always use the white dot material for restoring guitars from a company called StewMac.
View attachment 248830
View attachment 248831

Stew Mac is a fine company and the Mac family are wonderful people.
Meanwhile I ordered so many stuff from them. Coloured super glues, two-part epoxy resin;
fret erasers etc. You name it ; they have it. They also offered a free membership for one year, including free shipping, which I happily accepted. I'm located in the Netherlands so shipping free of charge matters to me.
Will contemplate ordering the little rods. For a possible mishappening in the future ; for this one I do not intend to drill out and replace the entire dot. Thank you for sharing

 

[orlandofurioso]

I always use the white dot material for restoring guitars from a company called StewMac.

They carry a lot of luthier products that work equally well for pipes. They sell some nice micromesh sanding sticks.

Thank you for sharing Brain. Sanding sticks I order by the dozens on Ebay. They come cheap and the quality is fair. We cannot do without sanding sticks/nailbuffers and I'd be lost without them jobbies

 

[orlandofurioso]

I use faux ivory.

https://vermontfreehand.com/product/imitation-ivory/

Thank you, wonderful material. Can you grind them to powder and mix with an adhesive ?
Or do you drill out , cut it to the appropiate diameter and replace ?

 

[orlandofurioso]

It is not my intention to replace the dot, The damage is very shallow and minute ; I feel like filling it up a little..
Could be something liquid, I now contemplate crushing some white antler to very fine dust and add an adhesive.

Mammoth Ivory Powder-1 Pound

MOSTLY MAMMOTH IVORY POWDER dust collected from our band saws and belt sanders, is approximately 90% genuine mammoth ivory but “fortified” with some pre act walrus

www.boonetrading.com

 

[ssjones]

A picture would likely help get better answers.

I use white acrylic nail polish for white stamped stem logos (like Peterson).

Do you have a "before" picture of the dot, to determine what color to use?

Stew-Mac does make wonderful items, but they do not have many color choices. The nail polish would have many shades of white to choose from, and likely available at local beauty stores.

I doubt many (any) here have had to repair a celluloid Dunhill dot (save George D, who likely drills/replaces). So, you are in virgin territory.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Thank you, wonderful material. Can you grind them to powder and mix with an adhesive ?
Or do you drill out , cut it to the appropiate diameter and replace ?

I turn them to size on a lathe, but you can accomplish the same thing with a cordless drill and a sander if you're careful.