SO Oppenheimer - 3/4 Bent Billiard - 1901

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boffosquid

Might Stick Around
Jun 27, 2019
54
20
Edmonton
Just finished this brief restoration up - A Sina Oppenheimer 3/4 bent billiard - marking on sterling band indicates Sina Oppenheimer, circa 1901. Stummel is unstamped. Amber stem is in great condition, orific opening in button. Lovely wee pipe - I just love these small pipes. Draw through it is just great :)
Before work commenced:
so-before-600x375.png

After work finished:
after-so-600x288.png

Staining in stem just on top of tenon is proving elusive to remove. Work continues with slow progress with pipe cleaners and saliva.

 

boffosquid

Might Stick Around
Jun 27, 2019
54
20
Edmonton
Thanks for the kind words - I tried three types of pipe cleaners on this stem - my Brigham bristle pipe cleaners are a really tight fit at the orific opening in the button and I didn't want to exert any prying actions on the amber. I am ***skeereed*** to death of cracking/snapping/breaking this stem - so I held off.
However, the toothpaste trick with the pipe cleaners that did fit through the stem is an idea.... here is to sneaking upstairs past the watchful eyes of She Who Must Be Obeyed to greb the tube of Crest from the loo...

 

dmcmtk

Lifer
Aug 23, 2013
3,672
1,685
However, the toothpaste trick with the pipe cleaners that did fit through the stem is an idea.... here is to sneaking upstairs past the watchful eyes of She Who Must Be Obeyed to greb the tube of Crest from the loo...
Report back how it works......if you make it. :D

 

boffosquid

Might Stick Around
Jun 27, 2019
54
20
Edmonton
By the by, I tried a series of experiments with lubricants/cleaners with this stem cleanup - 1) dry pipe cleaner, some of the chunky remnants moved, 2) saliva (suprisingly effective), 3) warm water (less effective than saliva), 4) hot water (a wee bit better than warm, but not as effective as saliva), 5) hot water + few drops of dishwashing liquid - (boy oh boy did this speed up the dissolution of the munge - after clean up, I rinsed with cool water to remove all soap residue), then to remove all remnant of soap taste, 6) a very quick lashing of pipecleaner just moistened with bourbon, then a blow through to dry.
I'm sure there is some solvent (+ or -) degree of evil to health and well being of living creatures that will not affect amber but magically whisk away decades old tar, but I suspect its going to be function of time + elbow grease that'll win my day for me :)

 

dmcmtk

Lifer
Aug 23, 2013
3,672
1,685
I've never had to clean an amber stem, but it seems the dish soap is the consensus solution.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/amber-amp-ivory-carecleaning
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/cleaning-amber
:)

 

boffosquid

Might Stick Around
Jun 27, 2019
54
20
Edmonton
Toothpaste not effective - smells and tastes great though! Brief soaking in hottish water with lots of dish soap, then passing through pipe cleaner and working back and forth is working much better - Winning!!

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,317
11,074
Maryland
postimg.cc
You could try a little isopropyl alcohol on a bristle cleaner, then run a cleaner thru dipped in water to remove any residue. The look wouldn't bother me in the least, adds character, but could negatively flavor the smoke. It it doesn't, I'd leave well enough alone. Nice work!

 

boffosquid

Might Stick Around
Jun 27, 2019
54
20
Edmonton
Enthusiasm and common sense wrassled to and fro and ended in mutual exhaustion...... I'm tapping out on this one!
so-oppenheimer-done-600x381.png

Thanks everyone for your kind words and helpful feedback.

 
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