Considering a little pipe surgery. Input please.

[990rick]

I have a half dozen pipes at this early stage. I have a few more on the way. One thing I've noticed is that I get a much more enjoyable smoke in the smaller bowls. This may well be due to the fact that I only smoke about a half a regular sized bowl at a time. Or even less. This means that I can end up tamping way, way down in a larger bowl, but in the smaller bowls (like my Kaywoodie Standard) I'm smoking a much fuller bowl. Anyway, I'm thinking seriously of cutting down one of my larger-bowled pipes. Possibly my Old Master Deluxe. Or maybe my Frank Medico. But I don't want to act in haste, so I'd sure appreciate some input. Neither of the pipes I'm considering chopping down are rare or even collectible (in terms of resale value) as far as I know. The were just nice, moderately-priced pipes when they were made and I only paid about $8 each for them. My plan of attack at this point is to use a very fine tooth saw, then to smooth off the roughness of the cut with increasingly fine grades of sandpaper. I recently used some 800 grit paper to remove many years' worth of crud from the top edge of the Frank Medico and it came out very nice. So, whaddaya think?

 

[unclearthur]

It can be done. You will end up with something on the order of a pot shape. I would find a purely junk pipe to experiment on.

 

[pstlpkr]

I agree completely with Arthur.

Be careful. And, using your fingers.... count to ten before you saw away, and again after you finish. If you can count to ten without taking your shoes off... you did good. :D
Good luck!

::

 

[juni]

Or eleven if you aren't wearing trousers...

 

[puffintuff]

I was thinking about doing the same thing, I like wide, shallow shapes, they seem to smoke better for me. Never got around to cutting. I would just draw a line around the bowl about 1/4 inch or so and cut as close as you can.
Let us know how it turns out. Post some pics.

 

[buckeye]

i would use a disk sander. would be a lot easier than sawing. a few pipes i made thats what i used to make the bowl not as deep.

 

[papipeguy]

Wouldn't a prince shape give you the same thing? They usually have a wider but shallower bowl.

 

[marmal4de]

Wouldn't a prince shape give you the same thing?

Isn't the prince shape Kaywoodie's proprietary name for apples? I thought I read that somewhere.

 

[hobie1dog]

Go for it...funny, I am just the opposite....I'm always wanting a larger bowl pipe to smoke.

 

[unclearthur]

The prince shape was designed for the prince of Wales way back. Usually short and fat. I will see if I can scrounge up some pictures.

 

[lonestar]

Yep it can be done, I've doctored a few pipes myself.

I would say if you have access to a belt sander, it would work better to sand it down rather than cutting it.

You will probably need to file it flat before you get around to sanding it smooth, and its tougher than it looks to make the briar perfectly even across the top.

Then you will need to be able to stain it to match the rest of the pipe, or if you cant make it match, at least stain it to a nice looking contrasting color.

 

[puffintuff]

I will see if I can scrounge up some pictures.

unclearthur, I never miss an opportunity to show off a pipe.

 

[marmal4de]

That pipe is spectacular! Nothing like an apple either, thanks for the lesson in pipe shapes guys!

 

[cortezattic]

Go back and re-read lonestar's post. Then take his advice.

 

[colorduke]

I like the smaller bowls also ,i do have a few larger one's but they are for just relaxing,i myself wouldn't cut them down just get a couple grabows or what ever brand you like with smaller bowls.

 

[990rick]

Well first off, that Savinelli is just drop-dead beautiful! I am going to proceed with my experiment, but will probably try having a go with my Dremel tool first. If that doesn't work out well I may go for the belt sander approach if I can figure out how to hold it still. I know I'll be ruining any resale value, but I'm not concerned about that. I'd just like to be able to fill a bowl in a good smoking pipe and still stick to my tobacco diet. I'll get the picture thing on this forum figured out so I can post both before and after photos. Thanks for the input and the humor.

 

[lonestar]

I would clamp either the pipe or the sander, preferably the sander.

That would give a lot more control over how the material was removed

 

[igloo]

I would buy a new pipe .

 

[papipeguy]

Here's a nice reference chart for pipe shapes.
http://www.iwanries.com/Pipe-Shape-Chart-C1465.cfm

 

[seakayak]

I have a Torben Dansk purchased as an estate pipe several months ago. It's a great smoking pipe, but the rim is so seriously charred that sections of the bowl near the top are actually burned to the extent that it's slightly mis-shaped. You've given me the courage to gently take a bit of fine sandpaper to the problem. Refinish with a little carnuba wax and I just might have myself a "new" pipe. Thanks, guys.