Dr Grabow Golden Duke post 2000 AD

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PipeMake

Lurker
Jun 17, 2025
33
22
I have started trying to refinish and super de ghost a dr grabow golden duke i was gifted along time ago. It wasnt defective other then having a cigar leaf ghost. I was given a good size quart bag size sampel of pure cigar leaf once upon a time and smoked the whole thing down.

I let teh poor thing site in 91% isopropyl for an hour until the rim finish started scraping off like donut glaze. Let it have a full 22 hours in it. The IPA turned a dull brown/tan.

The coating was helped along with 0000 steel wool and elbow grease. The pipe has only a few spots at the inside top of the chamber that have any of the coating left.

My qusestion is did I somehow stain the briar itself with pipe juice by soaking it? It has a nice color tone to it, but a few spots seem to be more of a bare wood. I was taking practice draws and tasted CHERRY...

I havent smoked a cherry blend in it before.

Is it even possible to remove the stain, or should i just wax it up nice?
 
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Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,958
23,522
Humansville Missouri
IMG_1623.jpeg

That sells for $3.25 at any Dollar General.

You have 4/0 steel wool and surely some olive oil, mineral oil, or any other oil, even cooking oil.

Lookie here

Before

IMG_1658.jpegIMG_1657.jpegIMG_1656.jpegIMG_1655.jpeg


After

IMG_1651.jpegIMG_1652.jpegIMG_1659.jpegIMG_1660.jpeg

That is an extremely high grade straight grain Algerian briar Bertram 125 and don’t expect a Golden Duke to color that mahogany reddish color in a half dozen smokes.

But 100% acetone, steel wool, and oil will strip off the varnish and any grime and make it look new.
 
Last edited:

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,958
23,522
Humansville Missouri
i have the ingredients but dont know the methodology. the use of the oil to remove dirt is odd in some ways

First, cotton ball soaked in acetone. That cleans.

Then oil the stem and stummel and use the steel wool. Watch the lettering and don’t take it off.

You’ve raised dirt and grime. Use the acetone again.

Oil and steel wool again.