Don't be Afraid to Modify your Pipes

[atjurhs]

So far I have had 3 pipes that I've done a fairly significant modification and two others that I've taken a drill bit the stem and/or the shaken to open them up and let them breathe.
The first pipe I modified is a beefy Italian Author shaped Rossi. I wanted a SUPER dull bowl, and after trying several different methods I finally stumbled upon a way of doing it.
The second was a Rattray natural colored Apple. I want it not just black, but black and SUPER glossy. After reading several diffenent post here and on woodworker's forum, I experimented around and got. You could see yourself in it.
The third pipe was a King Size Billard, the outside of the bowl diameter is about an inch/three-quarters, and the height was two and a quarter. I loved the pipe but found it was often hard to smoke because of the bowl height, so I cut a quarter inch off the top and now WOW what a difference that made, sure it changed the look of the pipe a little, but not much but became a great smoker.
moral of the stories, don't be afraid to modify your pipes
Todd

 

[ashdigger]

The ONLY pipes I Mod are my Falcons. I've shortened three of them up quite a bit. I definitely agree though, they're your pipes so do what you want.

 

[kanse]

I second this notion.

A pipe that smokes bad does not deserve to be treated with too much respect for it's integrity.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

The appropriate word of caution here is: "if you have utterly no concern for resale value".

And: "If you're not afraid of destroying your pipe".
I've exploded (not an actual explosion) four or five stems thus far trying to drill them out, not expensive pipes, and obviously I wasn't happy with the stock stem to begin with, but things can go wrong.

 

[aldecaker]

Frozen, what were you using to turn the drill bits? I chuck them in a T-handle tap wrench and turn them by hand, myself.

 

[atjurhs]

I don't even chuck them in a T-handle, although that's not a bad idea. I just turn them with fingers, only go up 1/64" and measure alot as I turn them.
Oh yea, I also flatten the bottoms of several, not all, of my pipes. I liked them when they can sit flat should I not have a pipe holder handy.

 

[davet]

I also flatten the bottoms of several, not all, of my pipes. I liked them when they can sit flat should I not have a pipe holder handy.

 

[aldecaker]

It's OK, Dave. He only does that to his Dunhill Shells and family-era Barlings.

 

[mso489]

A little customization often makes me feel more attached to a pipe, like Forever stems for cobs, or a new stem for a pipe with great briar but a rapidly oxidizing stem. I might go to a trusted pipe repair person for pricier pipes, but in most cases, you can do these mods yourself.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Almost every stem that I exploded was with an 11/64" tapered bit, trying to get the taper of the drill to follow a little too close to the taper of the stem.

A couple of stems also had tenons that were too thin and with drilling slightly off center it just blew out the side.

Ok and then there was the time I clamped a stem between two 4x4's with my feet, but the rest of them I was trying to be reasonably careful.

I prefer to use my heavy duty 10 Amp DeWalt drill for these projects (pretty sure this is the one: https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWD215G-2-Inch-10-AMP-Handle/dp/B001TL0BXU These things are amazing), with that much torque it's easier to go really slow.

One lesson I learned (probably from the last example) is to move the clamp (rubber grips on a regular vice) progressively with the depth that you're drilling so as not to torque the stem apart.
I've only had one stem go south when just drilling out to 1/8", that being one of the cheap pre-formed Vulcanite stems on a Cobwarden. Oddly enough that turned out fantastic given that I don't clench, so chopping the stem in half and carving out a small bit from the middle of the stem works wonderfully, I almost prefer it.
The biggest success I had was drilling my Silver Spigot Ferndown Churchwarden stem to 1/8" bore (Yes it's a $400 pipe but the stem can't be worth that much, right? Besides, it shipped with a smaller spare stem), it's obvious that the stem was originally only drilled at 1/16" for about the last 3/4 of the way, that just wouldn't do.

The funny part there is that at first I thought I had the hole way off center, but then I realized it was actually the slot in the mouthpiece drilled way off center and I actually sort of fixed it. Anyway, it's probably the only Churchwarden I know of with a full 1/8" bore from one end to the other, whether by skill or luck I'm quite pleased with the results on that one.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I just scrape all of the nomenclature off of my pipes. It makes them all smoke so much better. ::

 

[jpmcwjr]

How come we're not seeing illustrations of this bravery??

 

[akfilm]

I've been getting a lot braver about modifying my cheaper pipes, my high end pipes or my favorites I won't touch, but it's fun to play around with cheap ones or estate finds.
This was a WDC that I have, never liked the finish on it, it was almost black and couldn't see any grain it was just nasty, and I hated the carved wings on the side that were sloppily done. So I sanded it down, did an oil finish, and buffed. I also took a dremel and rusticated the leaves and now I like it a lot better. This is a fun and cool smoke, and after the visual work really enjoy it. Sorry no before photos.

This was a boardpipe churchwarden that was maybe $30 bucks. One of my first pipes and my first churchwarden. I broke the stem pretty early on and never really smoked it, I through it in a box and forgot about until this winter. I had an extra churchwarden stem that I filed to fit, then sanded and rusticated. I did stain it but don't have a photo of the stained finished version.

Original:

rusticated with the stem being fitted.

My most surprising transformation, a very small pocket size pipe that was super cheap.The lacquer was to thick that it looked like plastic and there was no indication that it was even wood. I tightened up and cleaned the stem and then polished off the ugly finish and just did an oil rubbed finish.

Before:

After:

 

[grouchydog]

I just love putting my stamp on my things.
I don't have a gun or guitar that I haven't done SOMETHING to to "make it my own". Probably half of my pipes (yeah, all eight of them ) I've changed somehow, either to strip the bowl varnish out or polish the tenon a bit because I like them a pinch loose. I don't know much more about pipemaking, so I'm afraid to tear into them like I would a guitar or a 1911...

 

[atjurhs]

jp,
How come we're not seeing illustrations of this bravery?? []
Because posting pics on this forum are a PITA. Every other forum I'm on it's easy, super, super easy. Heck, some forums even have a link to post a pic directly from your own machine, not some URL that you have to load a pic up to. If you want pics, have the forum make it easier to post them!

 

[georged]

Click to select pic, click on returned link, paste in body of your comment. (I just now timed doing the random photo below. Took four seconds)
https://postimage.io/

 

[jefff]

I just tend to buy them and smoke them. If they don't smoke well for me, away they go.

 

[balkisobrains]

There is also the Photo Test Thread stuck in one of the sub-forums where you can practice posting photos. ::

 

[didimauw]

Yes, I modify my inexpensive pipes. Wether it be the stem is too tight, color of finish, etc. Nothing extravagant though.
And yes, ever since I found out about postimg I can post pictures much easier!