1930's Comoy's 498 Extraordinaire

[ssjones]

My workshop is far from organized but my workbench is set up and it was good to be able to work on a pipe again. I finished this 1930's era Comoy's Extraordinaire this evening. Full details are on the Reborn Pipes blog.

Comoy’s 498 Extraordinaire Restored (1930’s)

By Al Jones This is the first restoration I’ve done since moving from Maryland to Louisiana. My work bench is setup again in my garage but my tools and supplies are still scattered about the …

rebornpipes.com

Before



Finished, not prefect, but the remaining patina seems fitting.

 

[captainsousie]

Jealous but happy that you got the old girl ready to go again.

 

[OzPiper]

Nice job, Al
Beautiful grain

 

[kcghost]

Wonderful grain on the bulldog!!

 

[ssjones]

Wonderful grain on the bulldog!!

That grain was surprising on an Extraordinaire. Here's a 498 I previously owned, that grain was not so nice.

 

[PipeSmokingDude]

That is a bloody gorgeous pipe! To think this pipe was there with Al Capone and all the famous people of that bygone era…you should feel satisfaction with every puff! I just love history.

 

[BingBong]

It's sort of half Rhodesian and half Bulldog. Nice pipe!

 

[ssjones]

thanks, and the good news is my cleaning regimen worked, it smokes great without any ghosting.

 

[georged]

Bulldog ring cleanification without risk of damage:

Cut a piece of 2 mm(ish) thick soft(ish) plastic into a postage stamp size rectangle, then sand the entire length of one of the long edges so the profile of the edge matches the angles of one of the bulldog's rings.

Then hold it more-or-less still while turning the bowl "into" a contoured corner of the widget, plowing the crud out.

Grind the opposite long edge to the shape/profile of ring #2 (they're never quite the same), and repeat.

No chance of chipping, scratching, chunking an edge, etc.

NOTE: do not be tempted to use a pointed/sharp tool made of metal. Trying to follow a tiny, moving, arched/curved trench is much trickier than it looks, and there's no rewind button after slipping, scratching, or chipping.

The end-edge of a plastic blade, however, just slides along like a phonograph needle. It's virtually foolproof.

 

[jhowell]

Bulldog ring cleanification without risk of damage:

Cut a piece of 2 mm(ish) thick soft(ish) plastic into a postage stamp size rectangle, then sand the entire length of one of the long edges so the profile of the edge matches the angles of one of the bulldog's rings.

Then hold it more-or-less still while turning the bowl "into" a contoured corner of the widget, plowing the crud out.

Grind the opposite long edge to the shape/profile of ring #2 (they're never quite the same), and repeat.

No chance of chipping, scratching, chunking an edge, etc.

NOTE: do not be tempted to use a pointed/sharp tool made of metal. Trying to follow a tiny, moving, arched/curved trench is much trickier than it looks, and there's no rewind button after slipping, scratching, or chipping.

The end-edge of a plastic blade, however, just slides along like a phonograph needle. It's virtually foolproof.

"virtually foolproof" - Have we met? <grin>

 

[BenMN]

Really nice work.



Also, this is delightful

[...]
Finished, not prefect [...]

 

[ssjones]

Bulldog ring cleanification without risk of damage:

Cut a piece of 2 mm(ish) thick soft(ish) plastic into a postage stamp size rectangle, then sand the entire length of one of the long edges so the profile of the edge matches the angles of one of the bulldog's rings.

Then hold it more-or-less still while turning the bowl "into" a contoured corner of the widget, plowing the crud out.

Grind the opposite long edge to the shape/profile of ring #2 (they're never quite the same), and repeat.

No chance of chipping, scratching, chunking an edge, etc.

NOTE: do not be tempted to use a pointed/sharp tool made of metal. Trying to follow a tiny, moving, arched/curved trench is much trickier than it looks, and there's no rewind button after slipping, scratching, or chipping.

The end-edge of a plastic blade, however, just slides along like a phonograph needle. It's virtually foolproof.

Great tip, thanks! I've struggled for the right way to clear the rings. I've tried fishing line (fly line leader material) with a modicum of success.

NOTE: do not be tempted to use a pointed/sharp tool made of metal

Guilty.....and after making irreversible marks on the briar, I abandoned that method (with a pick).

 

[FurCoat]

I've used a tooth pick to get out the gunk.

 

[jhowell]

I've used a tooth pick to get out the gunk.

Same here...

 

[huntertrw]

Even at a distance your beautiful pipe could be readily identified by most pipe-smokers as a Comoy's due to its distinctive and delightful graining. May it be a good companion to you henceforth!

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

Pipe looks like its got a lot of history and stories to tell

 

[boffosquid]

Great looking pipe - thank you for sharing.

Love the tip on bowl ring repair from George - going to tuck that one into the brainbox.

 

[stewartu]

Very nice.

 

[ssjones]

Geez,I just noticed that I butchered the spelling in the thread title.(corrected)

 

[huntertrw]

That distinctive tiger-stripe grain identifies that pipe as a Comoy's even at a distance, and it's beautiful. I hope that it smokes as good as it looks!