@mso489 Is yours like mine?crash's Ruf-Tone looks about like mine, with a little brighter stain, and apparently definitely briar, like mine, though mine is a different shape, sort of an author. But Alabama's Ruf-Tone does look like another material -- look at the rim for example -- or maybe some kind of a finish that is different. I'm not sure what's going on there, but it raises the question of material, or if it is briar, is there a coating on the finish beyond stain? Alabama, working on the pipe, does it become more convincingly briar or do you still have questions?
working on the pipe, does it become more convincingly briar or do you still have questions?
I'm pretty sure they are varnished. I have a kaywoodie saxon that also feels questionable, like its finished with a layer of acrylic or something. I think maybe they boil their stummels in oil? Does it have "imported briar" or similar stamped on the bottom?It still doesn’t feel like Brian to me. If it is it has a varnish or something on the out side. The inside is still full of cake so I can’t tell from the chamber.
I was impressed by how well mine smokes, even with the stinger. Like an ugly girl that tries harder in the ways that really count... gotta get her hot and appreciate the inner beauty ?rushx9, nice looking pipe, and yes, mine is generically very similar in texture and carving, although yours (to my eyes) looks perhaps more apple shape, and mine more author, with a slightly flatter wider bowl. But yes, they likely came off the same line. When mine arrived, it looked like a good little cooker, but pretty plain Jane, but it has grown on me in that American factory pipe way, like a 1950's Chevrolet coupe.
Nothing inside, they are just indentations. A toothbrush or bristley pipe cleaner will get in there. Also works well on the screw threads.A little piddling tonight. Look how much stuff came off the stinger. View attachment 17397
I wiped it with a paper towel
View attachment 17399
And now it does look cleaner. The thee holes on the little ball end still are black. Do they get better? Is there something in there like a screen?View attachment 17398