Dr Grabow Viscount- First Restoration
- Thread starter AlabamaDan
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For me, it was just convenience. I bought a pack of nine Micro-Mesh pads for about $15. If I was going to clean up/restore pipes more often, I would probably go with auto sandpaper.
I didn’t know auto sandpaper went to 12k grit. The micromesh will probably last longer.
there is not a chance in hell you will need to go up that fine in paper.
I would be surprised if most pipemakers go past 320 grit on the stem.
Looking good. I had one estate pipe I picked up at a antique shop that I did the salt/alcohol treatment three times. It was nasty.
Well after 25 hours and 40 minutes I took the stem out of the bath and dumped the salt from the bowl.
Interesting that not much appears to have changed since this morning.
Interesting that not much appears to have changed since this morning.
After about 45 minutes of pipe cleaners, Magic eraser the stem looks a little better, but I was expecting black. The smell seems to be gone, but it’s a little like the alcohol now. I think there’s still cleaning to do as I hope to have a pipe cleaner come out clean like cleaning a gun. Too much to expect?
Hit the stem with micro mesh pads. Go with 1500-12000 grit pads and you’ll get the high gloss black shine you want.
As Parsimonious said, now comes the hand work. The bath brings the oxidation to the surface you have to polish the brown stuff off with micro mesh or magic erasers or toothpaste etc... then it shines and you can lightly apply mineral oil then rub/ buff in after 15 min or so.
Looking good!
As for the micromesh, it gives the stem a mirror like finish. Definitely worth the investment IMHO. If it is good enough for Al and Don, its good enough for me.
As for the micromesh, it gives the stem a mirror like finish. Definitely worth the investment IMHO. If it is good enough for Al and Don, its good enough for me.
Did a little sanding today. I think it is black now but still has that stupid little flaw. I’m mostly angry that I caused it. 
I do nd some micro mesh from other projects and used it today. 3200-3600-4000-6000-80000. The stem is starting to look better. Not sure what to do about that little spot. 
The stummel still smelled bad and I am afraid it will ghost when I smoke it. So another salt bath shouldn’t hurt.
The stummel still smelled bad and I am afraid it will ghost when I smoke it. So another salt bath shouldn’t hurt.
In addition to the salt/alcohol bath, I strongly suggest filling the bowl and shank with damp coffee grounds and letting it sit for a day or so, until the grounds are dry. I've used this method a few times and it really sucks any lingering smells from inside the pipe. Assuming of course you've given the inside of the shank a good cleaning.
I’m not sure how clean a pipe can really get but this is how my pipe cleaner looks after I scrub it now looks pretty good to me. At least compared to what it was anyway. Thoughts?
Well my restoration has turned out to be more of a deep cleaning so far. I guess to restore it I would need fix the nicks on the rim and repair that spot on the stem. It also still has a nasty smell after two cleanings. I’m not a coffee drinker so getting grounds will have to wait until I source some.
I the shine so far is just rubbing it with my hands. I guess it’s my natural oils.
I the shine so far is just rubbing it with my hands. I guess it’s my natural oils.
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