Dunhill Black Briar Stain issue

[Quicksilver66]

This is one of my most luxurious pipes - a Dunhill Black Briar 6103. These seems quite rare - I'm not sure how they differ to the Dress finish, but to my eyes the Black Briar is less jet black than the Dress finish - more of a very dark Bruyere. I love this pipe - it's big, it's black and it has a great lump of knobbly bamboo in the middle of it. There seems something very aristocraticaly decadent about a bamboo stemmed pipe - the sort of thing you would expect to see in a Victorian opium den.

However, this pipe seems to have a defect which appeared early on and has never gone away. The stain seems to have come away in patches leaving a partial matt finish which is quite unsightly to my eyes. You can just about see it in the second photograph. Is this normal or does it need to go back to Dunhill for a re-stain. Could my obsessive polishing of the bowel with Dunhill Pipe Bowl Polish have caused it? Any thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

 

[buckaroo]

I'm convinced lots of red meat will help your bowels despite what they say. jk My guess would be too much heat. Smoking it too fast. Blackbriar's are quite rare and that is an awesome example. My spigot, which I use quite a bit still looks as it should. I don't think polishing the bowl would do that, but what do I know? Never polished it. Just enjoyed it.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Yes over polishing can and will remove very dark stains. Stains of this type tend to be more stratified than other lighter penetrating stains. Meaning they are more prone being polished away. If you want to stabilize it, keep it waxed. Polish the wax not the wood.

 

[georged]

Yes over polishing can and will remove very dark stains. Stains of this type tend to be more stratified than other lighter penetrating stains. Meaning they are more prone being polished away. If you want to stabilize it, keep it waxed. Polish the wax not the wood.

Exactly ^^^^

Think of black pipes more as being painted than stained, and it will put your head in the right place to maintain them.

 

[buckaroo]

Good to know. My laziness saves my ass again. Thanks George and RP. Appreciate the comments.

 

[Quicksilver66]

Excellent comments. Thanks everyone for the help.

Does the advice about not over-polishing (or polishing at all) also apply to the Dress finish?

 

[ssjones]

Could my obsessive polishing of the bowel with Dunhill Pipe Bowl Polish have caused it?

I'm curious - exactly what polishing action are you doing? (folks often intermingle waxing and polishing)

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Excellent comments. Thanks everyone for the help.

Does the advice about not over-polishing (or polishing at all) also apply to the Dress finish?

Yes, it applies to any very dark and/or black stain/finish.

 

[Quicksilver66]

I'm curious - exactly what polishing action are you doing? (folks often intermingle waxing and polishing)

I have only ever used the Dunhill Pipe Bowl Polish and then rub it off with a soft cloth. I have never used wax.