Polishing Pipes

puffy · Jul 24, 2014

WhenI first decided that I was going to stick with pipe smoking I was 29 years old.I bought a bunch of cheap pipes and a can of wax and set out to polish them up.I didn't realize at the time that they didn't smoke very well.They were pretty and shiny though.When I looked at them I thought I was on my way to becomming an expert pipe smoker.I know now that I will never reach that goal.Now I'm 72.My fingers are more stiff than back then and I've lost a bit of the sensation in my finger tips.This means that I have to be more careful that I don't drop my pipe.So I don't polish my pipes these days because I feel that it makes them a bit slick and a little harder to hang onto.Don't get me wrong I love nice shiny pipes.As I've gotten older though I've had to make some adjustments and do what works best for me.I hope your pipes are nice and shiny.Some day though and sooner than you think you will be 72.

cmdrmcbragg · Jul 24, 2014

43 years to go for me.
You've been at it for quite some time. No need to worry about them being shiny -especially if it makes them harder to hold- as long as they smoke well.

jon11 · Jul 24, 2014

Great post Puffy....definitely made me laugh. Nothing wrong with dull pipes. By the way I have the same problem after I polish my pipes and I'm only 37.

fnord · Jul 25, 2014

PM sent, Puffy.
Fnord

mso489 · Jul 25, 2014

I polish my pipes with a dry cloth, like a bandana, with maybe a bit of stiffness to it (from being new).

This takes off dust and some oil from my hands, etc. I rarely if ever use wax or polish of any kind. I

feel this just adds a residue and will eventually make the pipe more cruddy and sticky. I don't have or

use a mechanical buffer. You can keep pipes surprisingly bright just by buffing them with a cloth. I

realize this low-tech approach isn't exciting, but it works.

phil67 · Jul 25, 2014

The only thing I wax on occasion is my car and the kitchen floor. I don't worry or overly concern myself about the shine any longer on my smooth pipes. When I finish smoking one I wipe it down thoroughly with a microfiber cloth and that's it. Works for me.

ejames · Jul 25, 2014

I agree Puffy. As I get older I find that my fingers just won't do what I want them to do sometimes. My dust collector pipes shine (on those rare occasions when I dust them ) my smokers ain't so shiny.

yaddy306 · Jul 25, 2014

claypipesarchaeologist · Jul 25, 2014

^ :rofl:
I rub my warm pipes on my face to oil them up. This keeps them rich, but doesn't make them slippery. When my face is clean, but the briars need an oil, you can find me chasing my husband or father around, pipe in hand. They're always greasy.

gregprince · Jul 25, 2014

Old pipes are supposed to have a warn patina and sharp stampings, not a high gloss finish and over buffed nomenclature. Just my opinion.

natenice1 · Jul 26, 2014

My well bitten smokers have a dull patina, some I keep in the display shiny, I like rusticated pipes as Puffy says the hands aren't what the used to be! I have MS and my manual dexterity isn't that great.

bwithers55 · Jul 26, 2014

I use Sam Goldberg's paste wax when I have an old pipe that I clean the exterior with everclear. The rag is an old piece of terry cloth (towel) that has gotten really bad with the years. I probably need to get a new piece of towel, if I want to think I'm cleaning anything when I use it.

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