“Pipe by Lee” Bulldog Cleanup

[Parsimonious Piper]

Picked up a Pipe by Lee bulldog in pretty good condition. The rustication and rim needed a little cleaning with Murphy’s Oil Soap. Otherwise the stummel was in good condition.

Some light chatter on the stem that came out well enough with a light Bic treatment.

As seen in the previous pic and the next, the stem was pretty oxidized, almost obscuring the brass stars. The stinger was also dirty, so I left it on during an OxyClean bath.

After the soak I hit it lightly with wet 220-600 sandpaper, then 1500-12000 micro mesh. Finished the bowl with a drop of olive oil (hat tip RebornPipes) since I didn’t want to wax the rustication, and a touch of Decatur wax on the stem. Still a couple things I may revisit, but for a light cleanup it turned out well. (That’s a lighting artifact on the bit…not a ding or discoloring.)

 

[donjgiles]

Nice job!

 

[cshubhra]

Very nice!!!

 

[weezell]

Nice...

 

[scloyd]

Nice looking pipe. Well done!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

220 sandpaper, hmmm... do many other folks start sanding at such an aggressive grit? I'm just curious. I'm not a restorer at all. So, this isn't a backhanded question.

 

[scloyd]

220 sandpaper, hmmm... do many other folks start sanding at such an aggressive grit? I'm just curious. I'm not a restorer at all. So, this isn't a backhanded question.

That's a great question. Was the 220 grit sandpaper used only on the teeth chatter? Or the entire stem? I ask because I've cleaned up a few pipes and I'm always looking for tips and tricks.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Excellent clean up!?

 

[BROBS]

220 sandpaper, hmmm... do many other folks start sanding at such an aggressive grit? I'm just curious. I'm not a restorer at all. So, this isn't a backhanded question.

no

 

[whsergent]

Thats a nice pipe and nice resuscitation, idk even know about that brand.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

That's a great question. Was the 220 grit sandpaper used only on the teeth chatter? Or the entire stem? I ask because I've cleaned up a few pipes and I'm always looking for tips and tricks.

If the oxidation is bad (after scrubbing with paper towels plus the OxyClean soak) I start with a light touch with the 220 grit based on recommendation from Steve at RebornPipes.com, then follow it with 400/600…all wet. For mild oxidation I try a Magic Eraser first and/or skip right to micro mesh.

In this case, the worst of the oxidation was on the tenon end, so I did use the 220 on the whole stem. Had to be very careful not to round any edges or damage the brass star inlays.

 

[scloyd]

If the oxidation is bad (after scrubbing with paper towels plus the OxyClean soak) I start with a light touch with the 220 grit based on recommendation from Steve at RebornPipes.com, then follow it with 400/600…all wet. For mild oxidation I try a Magic Eraser first and/or skip right to micro mesh.

In this case, the worst of the oxidation was on the tenon end, so I did use the 220 on the whole stem. Had to be very careful not to round any edges or damage the brass star inlays.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the response.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

Thats a nice pipe and nice resuscitation, idk even know about that brand.

Manufactured from the mid-1940s until somewhere around 1970. There’s very little information about them. What I have been able to find indicates they were very competitive with—and priced the same as—Dunhills and Kaywoodies (which were higher quality pipes then). The 7-pointed brass stars were used until roughly the mid-1950s, when they switched to a 5-point star. They were rated 1-5 stars. I’ve never seen a 1 or a 4, have a couple 2s, a bunch of 3s (one with the original box), and one 5.

All I really know about them based on the ones I have is that from 3 stars up they have nice grain, they’re drilled and shaped very well, and even the 2s are great smokers.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

And if anyone has more information, catalogs or adverts, I’d love to know more about them or their seconds lines: Briarlee (or Briar Lee depending on the source) and Gold Coast. I have one Briarlee, but the stamping is such that I can’t tell if it’s one word or two. Lower quality grain, but smokes great.

 

[ssjones]

I personally never go lower than 400.
Nice job not rounding that stem/shank junction!

I never heard of Lee, so I can't help there.

 

[AlabamaDan]

Nice job. Good looking pipe.

 

[bullet08]

nice looking pipe!

 

[mikethompson]

That's a very aggressive grit for me, but whatever works for you is what is important.

Nice cleanup!

 

[AlabamaDan]

I used a worn 220 grit and a light hand on my stem when I started it, then a series if micro mesh grits and it turned out nice. I was nervous at first.