Comoy’s Specimen Straight Grain 229 Restoration [Pic Heavy]

[piffyr]

This Comoy’s Specimen Straight Grain 229 is the second pipe out of the batch of four that I’ve previously mentioned here: http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/1938-bbb-silver-mounted-poker-restoration-pic-heavy
It had a lot of the same issues as the pipe at that link and it brought a few of its own as well. Thankfully, no shank cracks this time, but the surface was just as deteriorated. There was also a dark stain along the top of the shank where something had been spilled/swiped. The most puzzling thing to me was a hard, crystalline deposit on the end of the shank. It was almost like old glue, but I could see no reason for it. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it and don’t care if I never do again.
See for yourself…

 

[piffyr]

The real problem came to light after I had cleaned the deposits from the end of the shank. There was a pretty good gap between the shank and the stem that had previously been filled with that stuff. I could see evidence of some indelicate tinkering at the end of the shank, but that didn’t explain the gap because the two faces didn’t meet and the space between was more or less even all the way around.

The pipe was thoroughly clean, the tenon wasn’t bottoming out (tenon: 18.3 mm / mortise: 19.7 mm), and there were no burs or steps inside the mortise. The cause was a complete mystery to me. I tried various, judicious tweaks to see if I could get even the slightest closure in the gap, but no luck. I was almost out of ideas and about to admit defeat. So, I called in the big guns and hit up George D. for an assist.
One of George’s suggestions was to massage the shoulders of the tenon a bit. I took a shot and knocked the upper shoulder…

… back toward the base by about 1 mm. Success! The shank and stem faces finally made contact. Thanks again, Big G!

 

[piffyr]

The joint wasn’t a perfect one though. With the two faces in contact, I could see just how much the unevenness at the end of the shank was throwing everything out of whack. It was damn close though and further tweaking had equal opportunity to make things worse as better. So, I decided to cut my losses and let it be. I may have been defeated, but I think I still retained some dignity.
Here’s the finished pipe…

(Sorry for the bad nomenclature photos – I’m better with pipes than cameras)

 

[wizhunter]

Your amazing with pipes, great job
Wiz

 

[georged]

 

[nevadablue]

Yep, what they said. Fantastic transformation.
So, where did you find that beautiful black stem? Oh, It was hiding inside the fake briar stem that the pipe came with?
I have always liked the color of the weathered stems when they get that far. My Soren was that way and I thought it was made that way.

 

[danielplainview]

Another homerun. It’s hard to pick just one shape, but the squat bulldog with a tapered stem might be my favorite.

 

[tschiraldi]

Look on! Prety!!!! Fine job, Sir! I'd be proud to own it!

 

[pepesdad1]

I have a "selected straight grain" Comoy pot with a tapered stem. Comoy could turn out a stem/button...was like having a piece of paper between your lips...they were thin.

 

[tschiraldi]

Oooooh Pretty!!!! Fine job, Sir! I'd be proud to own it!

 

[saltedplug]

NFS?
Venerable Brit-wood

Bulldog

S-curve stem.
Delicious!

 

[ssjones]

Specimen Straight Grain's are not very common, heck of a find (I don't recall seeing that one). Fabulous work, what a grain on that one.
Interesting fix for the tenon fitment. I guess the interior of the shank swelled little over time?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Wow, what a beautiful bulldog!!!

 

[georged]

Wow, what a beautiful bulldog!!!

.

 

[leacha]

 

[dmcmtk]

Specimen Straight Grain's are not very common, heck of a find (I don't recall seeing that one).

See ssjones's post here,
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/interesting-completed-ebay-auctions-british-pipes
:D

 

[piffyr]

NFS?

The pipe isn't mine, salt. I just do the work, post the pics, and blab about 'em.

 

[piffyr]

Interesting fix for the tenon fitment. I guess the interior of the shank swelled little over time?

There's obviously some sort of deformation in the mortise, Al. The fit wasn't over-tight or anything like that. It was smooth travel until it hit what felt like a hard stop, which is why I thought the tenon was bottoming out at first. Nothing inside that I could see or feel was causing it. It's still a mystery.

 

[ssjones]

Ah-ha, I am crazy!

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Beautiful pipe, great work.