Do You Save Money by Refurbishing Pipes?

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brass

Lifer
Jun 4, 2014
1,840
11
United States
Just wondering. How much equipment do you need? It seems that the capital investment required for tools, buffers, etc could get to be pricey. Plus you would need room for at least a work bench?
I guess what I'm asking is what does it take to get started and will I really save any money?
I can easily see why it might worthwhile just for the pride of accomplishment. Tying flies doesn't make much economical sense, most people do it for the pleasure of tying and for catching a trout with a bit of feather and thread you put together yourself.

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
60,666
From Forums posts, I'd say you can do a lot with a few basic tools and a reamer. I'm not a big fan of reamers for my own pipes, but if you buy caked pipes, you need one. You could build a set of tools slowly, and only to your chosen level of investment. I don't think you have to start out with hundreds of dollars of gear.

 

ericthered

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 29, 2014
511
4
Suffolk, VA
I'm sure someone has provided a better answer while I've been typing, but here is my take. Understand that I am just getting started in pipe restoration and do everything by hand. My thoughts are based upon what I've read and learned from others here on the forums.
There are a LOT of factors involved. If you are just restoring a few pipes now and then for your own use, power tools aren't necessary. The difference power tools make is a time savings over doing the restoration by hand. If you are trying to get into the pipe repair market and want to do more volume than a few here and there, then the power tool investment is necessary.
In my view, the biggest advantage restoring pipes affords is making higher-end pipes more accessible to someone with a limited budget. If you are able to get a beat-up old Dunhill (or any other desired marque) and restore it to clean, working condition, then you've not only given yourself the satisfaction of accomplishment, but obtained a high-end, presumably fine-smoking pipe in the process that you may not have been able to afford otherwise.
Another way to look at it is how important is "sweat-equity" to you? Pipe restoration takes some time, especially by hand, so if you place a monetary value on those man-hours, then the cost savings diminish somewhat.

 

jackswilling

Lifer
Feb 15, 2015
1,777
25
Does reloading your own ammunition save money? In theory yes. A slow speed buffer will set you back $200 plus and the rest of the tools would not cost more than that I believe, so if you get a deal on some estate pipes, I believe you could save money assuming you zero out your time.

 

buroak

Lifer
Jul 29, 2014
2,178
1,141
NW Missouri
brass, The equipment requirements depend on your restoration goals. The equipment I currently use consists of some oak dowels (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4"), sheets of sandpaper (120, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 grits), a set of finishing pads (3200-12000 grits), an old Kleen Reem reamer (which I use infrequently), a bottle of Everclear, pure acetone, a soft-bristled toothbrush, some shank brushes, pipe cleaners (regular, fluffy, and bristle), paper towels (regular and "shop" varieties), Walker Briar Works Stem Cleaner/Deoxidizer, Walker Briar Works Carnauba Wax, Paragon Wax, Halcyon Wax, and a soft polishing cloth from a shoe polish kit. As far as space is concerned, I am getting by at my well-lit desk and the utility sink next to my clothes washer. The results I get are good enough for me, but I am not pulling off the transformations you see coming off the benches of ssjones and danielplainview. Regarding savings, I imagine my equipment has been more than paid for with the savings I get by buying pipes that need work. I have not been good about taking before and after pictures, but I am doing so with my latest refurbishment, so I will post pictures of what can be done with my pretty limited kit.
EDIT: I forgot to include a set of four needle files I use for stem work.

 

cosmicfolklore

Moderator
Staff member
Aug 9, 2013
35,804
84,505
Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC
The main reason I have refurbished pipes for myself is that I just don't like many of the new designs or many of the artisan pipes out there. I don't know why in the heck it is so hard to make a dublin with a sleek long tapered stem, but I cannot find anything made recently that comes close to this simple design. They all either want to use a pound of briar to make the walls as thick as a bank vault, or they want to use some funky saddle bit, or any number of other various weirdnesses that turn me off. Thick stems also turn me off. I know, I know, I am just picky. But by buying estate pipes that look way better than what is available new, I get what I want.
And, no I don't use any fancy tools. A cup of acetone to remove all of the initial gunks, then alcohol, then I sand and take the chamber back to wood. Then I stain the pipe to my liking, and sometimes will make a new stem. The only tool that I have that I would not be able to make a stem without is the Pimo tenon cutter. Other than that I use files and sand paper. No lathe, nor power tools of any sort. I can whip out a new stem in a couple of hours.
But, if I could find what I want being made without having to customize my own, I would gladly pay. Saving money has nothing to do with it for me. *Well, except for a few makers that I would love to have one of their pipes, but they are just out of my reach. Other than that, it's all for my own pleasure in making something for myself.

 

buroak

Lifer
Jul 29, 2014
2,178
1,141
NW Missouri
Another way to look at it is how important is "sweat-equity" to you? Pipe restoration takes some time, especially by hand, so if you place a monetary value on those man-hours, then the cost savings diminish somewhat.
I believe you could save money assuming you zero out your time.
Time is a very important consideration. I enjoy the challenge and sense of accomplishment to be had from refurbishing a pipe, so I do not really consider time a cost. I have even started working on friends' pipes because I like the work.

 

jgriff

Can't Leave
Feb 20, 2013
425
4
Assuming you don't buy heavily damaged pipes, you'd be surprised what a $5 butner reamer or $10 senior reamer, some Oxiclean, and micro-mesh pads can accomplish. Most estate pipes that I've run into need a good ream and some minor stem cleaning and they are perfectly functional from there.
Most of the tools are probably either already around a decent workspace or will end up functional for your own pipe maintenance anyhow.
I almost wouldn't look it at as material costs, it's almost all labor. How valuable is your time?

 

pruss

Lifer
Feb 6, 2013
3,558
373
Mytown
Interesting question, and responses, thanks for starting the conversation.
I refurbish and clean estate pipes because I enjoy it, it's my quiet place. Fortunately, the re-sale of refurbished pipes allows me to indulge in my other hobbies; namely, buying pipes for my pipe collection, tobacco for my cellar, and tools and paraphernalia for my pipe cave.
Yes, refurbishing estate pipes helps me save money. In fact, for me the hobby is cost neutral. I don't buy new "stuff" when I don't have funds from selling pipes to pay for them. In addition, buying and refurbishing estate pipes has allowed me to increase the quality of my pipe collection without paying premium retail/estate prices for ready to smoke pipes.
The key tools required to dive into the hobby have been well described above. But I'll add that a buffing setup doesn't have to cost $200. Many people have great success using small motors (like washing machine motors) to drive their buffing wheels. These can frequently be had for free or sub $25 on craigslist, and then simply need to be mounted to a bench. I use a bench grinder which I bought for $80 mounted on a stand alone steel stand. It is a high speed grinder, and I do not have a step-down so I use 4" wheels to get into the sweet spot for buffing.
This all to say, that getting into refurbing pipes needs not be an expensive proposition; and yes, it can save, or even make, you money down the road.
-- Pat

 

ejames

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
3,916
25
I'm like Pat in that I've used refurbing and repairing to help pay for my hobby, although I use the money I make to buy tools and materials for making pipes and tampers instead of pipes etc. Recently though I decided to stop doing refurbs/restorations and repairs so that I can use my shop time to concentrate on making pipes and tampers,even though there are more tools and materials I'd like to have.
As has been said you don't need a shop full of tools. Nice results can be had without them.

 
Jan 4, 2015
1,858
12
Massachusetts
I agree, excellent results can be had with a minimum investment in tools and equipment. What is harder to acquire is the skill and understanding. That just takes time and practice. But the best part of it is that it keeps me from sitting in front of the TV eating a lot of things I shouldn't. I do it because my favorite pipes are no longer made but can be found on the estate market in reasonable numbers. There is a certain satisfaction in smoking a pipe you brought back to life. And it will allow you to improve your collection at a very modest price. There is a lot to be said for developing the skills that goes beyond monetary value. I bet I wouldn't be far off base to say most of us do it because it gives us great satisfaction. The more of it you do the better you get at it and the satisfaction just keeps getting better.

 

voorhees

Lifer
May 30, 2012
3,833
944
Gonadistan
I do a bit of refurbishment on my estates. On most a simple cleaning and polishing will do. I have a buffer, sandpaper and enough tools and a dremel to help me along. I also love doing it, but I have yet to part with my finished results. :D

 

newbroom

Lifer
Jul 11, 2014
6,424
10,790
North Central Florida
Some people successfully restore absolute pieces of excrement and transform them into swans. I mean those things with holes in their stems and cracks in their bowls...

Others take something with intrinsic beauty and value and skillfully enhance its attributes.

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
19,196
13,707
Covington, Louisiana
postimg.cc
I'm like Pat & Ejames. Pretty early on, I learned that if I was willing to restore an estate, that I could more easily afford the pipes I was seeking. I have maybe $100 invested in my workshop setup (but found my buffing motor in my parents basement). As time went on, I started selling my refurbed Estates and reinvesting in pipe on my wish list. Like Pat, if I don't have pipe sales cash in my account, I don't make a purchase. That keeps me in check
@Brass: If you want to venture up to Hagerstown, I'd be happy to show you my workshop in person and let you try out a few techniques (buffing, etc.). I'll PM you my cell.

 

newbroom

Lifer
Jul 11, 2014
6,424
10,790
North Central Florida
guess what I'm asking is what does it take to get started and will I really save any money?

So you want to save money? Really?

They say time is money. Do you waste time? The luxury of time. Time's a wastin. Time is on my side, on my front, on my top (big time), and on my back. Time takes a toll. There's a good one. How would you like to pay for that sir?

I guess I could hang around and chat with you for say...a half hour? That oughta cover it, eh?

 
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