Falcon Restore

joshb83 · Feb 7, 2016

Good morning guys,
I picked this falcon up a long time ago for next to nothing...for obvious reasons. Now I'm planning to do what I can to restore it, however I honestly don't even know where to start with an aluminum pipe. Either way I am sure between the wealth of knowledge on this site and general interest in this pipe it will be a great restore and a great time doing it. Any help is appreciated guys, Thanks!

stvalentine · Feb 7, 2016

Are you sure this is a Falcon? I have never seen a falcon stem like this.

Anyway, scrub it in hot soap water, then go for a metal polish. A bit of elbow grease should bring this stem back to a shiny silver.

joshb83 · Feb 7, 2016

Unfortunately, there is no makers marks of any kind on the stem. I've googled the style pipe but to little avail. I do know that falcon bowls do work with this stem though. Now I'd like any info i can find on the ID of this pie as well. No matter what i will start with your directions on the restore. Thanks

drennan · Feb 7, 2016

Looks like a Stirling

joshb83 · Feb 7, 2016

Well, I guess that answers that! Thanks for the ID Drennan. Now to begin the process

stvalentine · Feb 7, 2016

Do you have a bowl for the pipe as well? Otherwise it might be difficult to find one.

huntertrw · Feb 7, 2016

drennan:
Good eye, Sir! It is indeed a Stirling as shown here (Stirling Page) on the smokingmetal.co.uk Website.
joshb83:
Any good metal polish (Simichrome et al) will clean and brighten the aluminum. If the bowl-basin contains dried tars they may be removed by immersing that end (and that end only - the Vulcanite stem will deform) in boiling water and then scrubbing it with an old toothbrush and Dawn detergent. Clean the metal and Vulcanite stems with baking soda, a toothbrush, paper towel, pipe-cleaners, and Everclear grain alcohol. You can polish the Vulcanite to like new shininess using micro-mesh pads.
Once it has been restored please post images, and let us know how it smokes!

joshb83 · Feb 7, 2016

Huntertrw, thanks for all the tips. I definitely will get started on it now, and will definitely let you guys know how it works! Stvalentine, I actually have about 4 bowls that work well with it, a couple can be fitted to work but as snug as the others and I don't want to force them.

joshb83 · Feb 21, 2016

So, the Stirling (thanks @huntertrw) is finally refinished. I'm happy with it. It took some definite elbow grease restoring by hand. However, i'm please with my first restore. Haven't had a chance to smoke it yet, but i love the progression from where it was to where it sits now.

beastinview · Feb 23, 2016

Great work! That shined up nicely.

mawnansmiff · Apr 2, 2016

A good trick for cleaning aluminium stems is to soak them in a mixture of white vinegar & baking powder for a few hours. The results are astonishing!
Regards,
Jay.

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