My Kaywoodie is crooked!

[unclearthur]

Picked up that trick way back when I first started making knives.

 

[menckenite]

What a great thread! Forum members giving advise on fixin' a problem. Then the before & after pics of a nice looking pipe, with great results, and even more tips on easier restoration methods.

 

[unclearthur]

It's because we have a lot of good folks here William.

 

[menckenite]

I know that uncle. I just wanted to bring attention to that fact. :D

 

[marmal4de]

Agreed William, I've learned so much from this thread. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[collindow]

Oh god oh god, whatever you do don't use bleach on a Kaywoodie stem. I accidentally oxidized away most of the stems on two of my favorites, one of which has since snapped and I don't smoke the other for fear of losing it as well.

 

[marmal4de]

Thanks for the sage advice Collin, I soaked my stem in appleton 151!

 

[unclearthur]

Bleach and aluminum do not get on well at all! I have had no problems using Oxyclean though.

 

[portascat]

As a side note, have (had) a Kaywoodie with the same issue. Bought if off Ebay with the issue known for cheap. Smoked it off center for a while, and then decided I would attempt to adjust it back. Took some channel-lock pliers and grabbed it at the base of the the threaded stinger, being careful not to catch threads. A couple of low torque, but with some force, twists and it is good as new. Course, I could have just as easily broken it. Not a bad try-and-fix on a cheaply bought pipe. Wouldn't try it on something that had some real financial or sentimental value.

 

[bbauer]

thanks for the advice guys. I just got a few new pipes off of ebay, one of which was a beautiful kaywoodie (except for the offcenter stem). i warmed it up a bit with a lighter, then used some plyers to gently twist back into place. now it looks good as new.

 

[nsfisher]

a picture is worth a thousand words mate

 

[igloo]

Here is a link for you to check out .http://pipepages.com/kwg-6.htm

 

[banjobob]

I started trying to buff with a dremel tool.

During the first minute of buffing I got the collett

too close to the briar and ruined a valuable pipe.

I put the dremel away.

That was a wasted $100.

Then I got out my bench grinder.

It was a 6" model so I removed the grinding wheels, guards and rests and

fitted cotton pads to each side.

To make a long story much shorter, I broke a LOT of pipes.

That thing would rip them from my hands and fling them 30' to their death.

The problem was the motor speed.

Then I bought a Delta 1 H.P.8" variable speed grinder and mounted it on a big

heavy cast iron stand I just happened to have on hand.

I bought 120 ply 8" cotton pads for each side, bought a 3 pound bar of white diamond compound

put it on the slowest speed and carefully applied pipe to pad.

Easy and super effective.

It worked so good that I could take those hard rubber bits and buff them back to a rich glossy black.

The Briar would easily buff up to a high sheen as well, and using nothing but the white compound.

I had over 300 pipes at the time so I started buffing them all up and in 15 minutes I could make an old crusty turd look stunning again.

The secret was white compound and slow speed.

Banjo