To restore or not to restore… that is the question.

[Wesley pipes]

This is a set I just bought for $45, lets Call it the eBay special. I have repaired/restored so many pipes over the years I figured I would post some pics before and after of a more challenging set. As a “barely legal 67 year old“ i do my best. And am very open to suggestions… never to young to learn old tricks... So these are for the most part “ cheap pipes” very well used and very abused To boot! everything in the pictures has a problem or…maybe 5, let’s see how it goes. also I should mention English is not my first language so I may always have some grammar issues. I’m gonna tackle the cracked bowl first. I will post updates when I can.

 

[Roach1]

You have your work cut out for you. Good luck and waiting to see your results

 

[Sigmund]

The two on the left might be ok. The far left looks interesting

 

[BingBong]

They've had a power of codgering, impressive.

 

[didimauw]

This should be exciting! I love seeing the old abused overly smoked pipes.

 

[tartanphantom]

They've had a power of codgering, impressive.

Indeed. Whenever I see old pipes with unkempt caking that thick, the words "lifelong coal miner" instantly come to mind for some reason.

Probably saw years and years of nothing but Granger or whatever the general store had in stock.

The poor unloved little Kirsten knockoff was obviously either a poor smoker, or just to newfangled to fool with, or perhaps both.

 

[Sigmund]

This one looked as bad or worse than those.
When you have cake like that, if the pipe hasnt gotten damaged the bowl is can really be in good condition.

 

[FLDRD]

I've never understood why anyone would do that to their pipe. Even if they don't "care" about it, one has to work really hard to smoke it that much, without cleaning, and with what seems to me would be significantly diminishing returns in any sort of pleasure the session could have provided.
I remain baffled.
Good luck on reviving them.

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

I've never understood why anyone would do that to their pipe. Even if they don't "care" about it, one has to work really hard to smoke it that much, without cleaning, and with what seems to me would be significantly diminishing returns in any sort of pleasure the session could have provided.
I remain baffled.
Good luck on reviving them.

Some people don’t care
He was probably informed that cakin was superior

 

[Alanon]

I've never understood why anyone would do that to their pipe. Even if they don't "care" about it, one has to work really hard to smoke it that much, without cleaning, and with what seems to me would be significantly diminishing returns in any sort of pleasure the session could have provided.
I remain baffled.
Good luck on reviving them.

I’ve never been able to understand how exactly one even does this. After over ten years of smoking if you put a gun to my head I wouldn’t know how to do that. How hot and how much does a person have to smoke to get this sort of buildup? And, once all that carbon sets in and wipes out half the capacity of the bowl, how on Earth is it even smokeable...

As for any advice... well, for cake like this, any tool is a friend that will save you tons of time. A reamer, a knife, a dremel with a sandpaper attachment... just be mindful and good luck!

 

[Briarcutter]

Today we have "collector's" there were those that couldn't care less about a collectable. Just a device to get their tobacco fix. One pipe all day long. It's baffling I know but I think it was just a different personality with pipes. Get too hard to draw,a crack,can't stuff enough tobacco in it any longer? Toss it and just get a new one. If a pipe lasts 15 years,so be it.

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

Well I don’t personally care about pipes
I’d throw em out
I didn’t pay too much for mine though
That’s why I won’t buy a pipe over 100 but that’s me
I’m not against 1000 dollar pipes if that’s your thing

 

[Wesley pipes]

this is my progress with the “crack shank pipe” after taking the scotch tape off I discovered more issues. I glued the bowl back together and put a thick brass ring on to prevent further cracking. Look at all that cake! Almost a full pipes worth! also as you can see in pics, it had a weird stinger stuck In the shank , that I yanking out. After that I consulted the stem box, this is what I have so far. some Of you may ask why I do this? Is it worth my time?… well yes, i enjoy restoring pipes while im…well smoking my pipe, it’s like reading or doing dishes, maybe watching TV,
I enjoy the process of restoring and bringing these pipes back to life. I buy pipes and sell what I don’t want, but sometime like in this case, I improve and sell them all off again.

 

[Wesley pipes]

FYI, this pipe had a spider web In the bowl when I got it! Just adds to the lore.

 

[Wesley pipes]

That cake was like concrete! I used a flat head screwdriver to chip out most of it

 

[Alanon]

this is my progress with the “crack shank pipe” after taking the scotch tape off I discovered more issues. I glued the bowl back together and put a thick brass ring on to prevent further cracking. Look at all that cake! Almost a full pipes worth! also as you can see in pics, it had a weird stinger stuck In the shank , that I yanking out. After that I consulted the stem box, this is what I have so far. some Of you may ask why I do this? Is it worth my time?… well yes, i enjoy restoring pipes while im…well smoking my pipe, it’s like reading or doing dishes, maybe watching TV,
I enjoy the process of restoring and bringing these pipes back to life. I buy pipes and sell what I don’t want, but sometime like in this case, I improve and sell them all off again.

You are much more persistent than I, tenacious even. I have nothing against rescuing a scraggly old pipe, but I must admit I would’ve baulked at saving this one, especially after seeing such extensive cracks apart from the obviously colossal cake.

The ring looks nice and the stem fits nicely. I’d wager the pipe hardly looked better even when new. Did you do something to stabilize the neck crack? I’ve seen something like JB Weld used for such purposes. Anyway, great work! I look forward to seeing you tackle them all.

 

[Wesley pipes]

Actually I used a mixture of cvs glue and ashes to seal the crack. Also pinned a small hole at the end of the crack on each side and filled it in. I still need to lightly buff everything out and carve the stem a bit more.

 

[Wesley pipes]

I never completely restore any pipe. I just give them new life, and make them smokable. I’m not the best by any means and I only use hand tools, files, rasps, sand paper, and what ever I have.

 

[Wesley pipes]

Indeed. Whenever I see old pipes with unkempt caking that thick, the words "lifelong coal miner" instantly come to mind for some reason.

Probably saw years and years of nothing but Granger or whatever the general store had in stock.

The poor unloved little Kirsten knockoff was obviously either a poor smoker, or just to newfangled to fool with, or perhaps both.

it took almost 45min of constant work to get that cake chipped out!

 

[BingBong]

Today we have "collector's" there were those that couldn't care less about a collectable. Just a device to get their tobacco fix. One pipe all day long. It's baffling I know but I think it was just a different personality with pipes. Get too hard to draw,a crack,can't stuff enough tobacco in it any longer? Toss it and just get a new one. If a pipe lasts 15 years,so be it.

I was that smoker - I'd decoke the bowl when only a RYO could fit in and I wanted a longer smoke. Very cheap pipes though, smoked to utter ruin one at a time. I'm slightly more attentive nowadays, I like to think...