First Falcon Pipe and Refinishing

durham270

(Bailey's Briar)

Jan 30, 2013

920

49

61

Kentucky

• May 4, 2013

• #1

This is my first Falcon and I'm looking forward to smoking it. It came pretty dirty so I cleaned it up then decided to do some further restoring. Here are some before and after photos of the small project completed on this rainy Derby Day Saturday in Kentucky.
Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

 

jah76

Lifer

Jun 27, 2012

1,611

35

• May 4, 2013

• #2

Damn homes.
That's the first rusticated Falcon bowl I've liked. Telling you. It's a great driving pipe. Plus you get this mini air pocket effect in the bottom. I don't want a while flock of them but I really do enjoy having one. It's got it's own characteristics and personality.

 

captainsousie

Lifer

Aug 1, 2012

4,601

5,157

• May 4, 2013

• #3

Very nice, never had a Falcon so I don't know how they smoke but I do like the look of that one.

 

ejames

Lifer

Oct 6, 2009

3,916

22

• May 5, 2013

• #4

The "after" is much better! Like the contrast of the bowl colors!

 

P

plateauguy

Lifer

Mar 19, 2013

2,412

21

• May 29, 2013

• #5

Just got an estate Falcon with a new meerschaum bowl. I really like the rustic bowl. What did you use to clean/sterilize the metal stem?

 

bentmike

Lifer

Jan 25, 2012

2,422

37

• May 29, 2013

• #6

Cool Falcon restoration. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

 

stylus156

Lurker

Mar 29, 2013

13

0

• May 29, 2013

• #7

Nice work...what did you use on the metal?
Respectfully,

M.

 

durham270

(Bailey's Briar)

Jan 30, 2013

920

49

61

Kentucky

• Jun 1, 2013

• #8

Thanks guys!
stylus156, I just use a Dremel tool along with marine polishing compound and those Dremel white buffing pads. Seems to take off all marks and discoloration in the metal. Then i apply a layer of Carnauba wax to bring on the shine.

 

jah76

Lifer

Jun 27, 2012

1,611

35

• Jun 1, 2013

• #9

Hey Dur. How are you liking that Falcon?
I really like mine for Englishes. It's a nice "diversion" pipe. Although I do get more second glances because of the metal I think.

 

durham270

(Bailey's Briar)

Jan 30, 2013

920

49

61

Kentucky

• Jun 6, 2013

• #10

Hey Jah, I like it really well. Mine has been devoted to Aromatics, mainly Stokkebye Peaches & Cream. Glad to hear you like yours!

 

kashmir

Lifer

May 17, 2011

2,712

64

Northern New Jersey

• Jun 6, 2013

• #11

Can't go wrong with a Falcon. Great pipes. Keep your eye out for a Falcon Shellalaigh. They have a twisted stem. They pop up now and then on the estate market. Kathy Worth, great grand daughter of one of the owners wrote a cool book on the history of the Falcon pipe. It's on Amazon. And she sells old vintage Falcons on eBay from her grandfathers old stock.

 

wyfbane

Lifer

Apr 26, 2013

5,117

3,517

Tennessee

• Jun 7, 2013

• #12

+1 Kashmir
I bought one of those Shillelaghs from her. She is an amazing seller. Although the last one I saw her post was quite a bit more than I paid for mine.
The beauty of her stuff is that it is virutally all new/unsmoked Falcons that are quite vintage. I won't ever smoke mine. So i had to go on ebay and get a used one to smoke.
Disclaimer: I do not work for the Falcon lady, ebay, or any other party involved in the above post.

 

kashmir

Lifer

May 17, 2011

2,712

64

Northern New Jersey

• Jun 7, 2013

• #13

Here's a pic of my Falcon Shellalaigh.

Just something about that twist ...

 

ricospipe

Lurker

Apr 11, 2013

35

0

Nashua, N.H.

• Jul 13, 2013

• #14

Falcon Pipe Restore
This is my second restore. The first one was relatively easy.

I seem to be running into “stuff” with this one
I acquired a Falcon pipe at a consignment store today & I’m so far unable to remove the mouthpiece.
The stem hole is very small, I just barely got a pipe cleaner through it – with great difficulty. Surprisingly, the cleaner came through clean.
Any suggestions on an easier way to regularly clean it?
For restoring, I was thinking of putting the whole stem in OxyClean, but the package says do not soak metals.
To sterilize it, can I soak the whole stem in alcohol since the pipe cleaner is so hard to use?
Ultimately, I would like to remove it and replace it with a Lucite stem.

(That’s a whole series of questions for another time!)
Rico

 

loneredtree

Part of the Furniture Now

May 27, 2011

569

181

Sierra Foothills

• Jul 13, 2013

• #15

Rico. Did the stem come out in the first restore? I thought that they were not removable.

 

ricospipe

Lurker

Apr 11, 2013

35

0

Nashua, N.H.

• Jul 13, 2013

• #16

loneredtree,
Sorry if I wasn't clear, I nt this is my 2nd restore I've done.

This is my first time restoring a Falcon.

If you say they're noit removable, that answers my question why I can't remove it!
Thanks

Rico

 

uberam3rica

Lifer

Sep 7, 2011

4,015

9

Capac, Michigan

• Jul 13, 2013

• #17

I have two Falcons. A straight and a full bent one. Both smoke great.

 

ricospipe

Lurker

Apr 11, 2013

35

0

Nashua, N.H.

• Jul 14, 2013

• #18

Uberam3rica,
What do you use to clean them?

My local B&Ms don't have slim enough pipe cleaners.

Any recommendations?
Thanks

Rico

 

durham270

(Bailey's Briar)

Jan 30, 2013

920

49

61

Kentucky

• Jul 15, 2013

• #19

I think all the stems on Falcons are removable, at least it is on mine but it took a little force but it came off ok. Best of luck restoring yours and hope to see images of the before and after rico!

 

P

plateauguy

Lifer

Mar 19, 2013

2,412

21

• Jul 15, 2013

• #20

My stem wouldn't come off, and I didn't want to ruin it. While I was outside, my wife thought she would help me and soak the pipe (minus bowl) in purex water to sterilize it. This was NOT the thing to do.
When she pulled it out it was darkened, and splotchy. Thanks to Mother's Mag Cleaner and a lot of elbow grease it is now bright and shiny. Since she felt so bad about "helping", my wife ordered a new bowl from 4noggins.
I find that I really enjoy smoking the Falcon on a hot day, it's a cooler smoke. When I get another bowl this is going to become my travel pipe.