I know that when looking at estate pipes it is most tempting to pick up the newest looking pipes first, but I have come to the conclusion that the best smokers are the ones that look the worst before I restore them. Does Any have this experience?
Estate Pipes for Smoking
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I have restored only three estates so far, so I can't really comment on the smoking qualities of newer versus well worn pipes. But what I can say is that even the most challenging looking restoration project will clean up nicely, so I wouldn't shy away from the really used ones. Where I have no experience is in patching and repairing bit thru stems, so I tend to look for pipes that have the stem intact.
I definitely don't shy away from the more used look as I really enjoy restoring them. Just a little bit of elbow grease most of the time yields a beautiful briar. As mentioned above... if it was used well then someone enjoyed it and there is a good chance that it will turn out to be a nice smoker.
Bringing back to life a 10-30-50-90 year old piece of art that brought satisfaction to different people over it's life is the best. Then enjoying a good smoke in something that you restored just makes the entire experience even better.
I don't restore pipes in any way, so I buy estate pipes in pristine condition. I look for certain names that I know are going to give a great smoke. My most recent estate purchase was a pipe made by Wayne Teipen. I have one of his pipes so I was confident that this latest estate would be a great smoker. I was correct in my assumption as this second pipe of his smokes as great as the first. I bought the pipe in pristine condition from Al aka ssjones who is a member here. I knew it would be ready to smoke out of the box as Al knows how to refurbish a pipe.
I have been shying away from estates lately as before my last one from Al I got a bunch that had been ghosted with that Lakeland sauce. The pipes arrived in pristine condition like the sellers said, but they were still ghosted. I recently sent 6 or 7 pipes to Walker pipe repairs to have them put in his ozone machine to get rid of the ghosts. If I don't get a pipe from Al or some other person I have dealt with in the past who I trust won't sell a ghosted pipe then no more estates for me.
I have been shying away from estates lately as before my last one from Al I got a bunch that had been ghosted with that Lakeland sauce. The pipes arrived in pristine condition like the sellers said, but they were still ghosted. I recently sent 6 or 7 pipes to Walker pipe repairs to have them put in his ozone machine to get rid of the ghosts. If I don't get a pipe from Al or some other person I have dealt with in the past who I trust won't sell a ghosted pipe then no more estates for me.
Harris, I think you should just sell all lakeland ghosted estates to me at a steep discount. 8O
I buy lots of estates, since I am poor compared to a great many collectors here. When I miss something in a pic, or find myself with an estate needing work, they go into the "to be dealt with pile". I have a slow rpm grinder I need to clean (deep deep cleaning) and get buffer wheels for, and other tools for restoration. I just never seem to have time. Grad school and trying to place a 10x20' shed on my smallish corner lot in a way that pleases both my wife AND the county inspector has just f'ing kicked my arse this winter.
I am only 46. I have plenty of time to restore these pipes. I look at it as putting a hobby in the bank. They are stored in pistol cases like my other pipes to help arrest oxidation and some are quite nice, and will be excellent once I learn to restore like the pros on here. =)
To your original point: Yes, some of the pipes with the most mileage are just amazing smokers. I have a super worn and repaired Dunhill I smoke all over, as it is never going to be worth much. That thing is a beast. Smokes like a champ! So, as long as you don't pay much, don't be afraid to take a shot at a worn estate.
I buy lots of estates, since I am poor compared to a great many collectors here. When I miss something in a pic, or find myself with an estate needing work, they go into the "to be dealt with pile". I have a slow rpm grinder I need to clean (deep deep cleaning) and get buffer wheels for, and other tools for restoration. I just never seem to have time. Grad school and trying to place a 10x20' shed on my smallish corner lot in a way that pleases both my wife AND the county inspector has just f'ing kicked my arse this winter.
I am only 46. I have plenty of time to restore these pipes. I look at it as putting a hobby in the bank. They are stored in pistol cases like my other pipes to help arrest oxidation and some are quite nice, and will be excellent once I learn to restore like the pros on here. =)
To your original point: Yes, some of the pipes with the most mileage are just amazing smokers. I have a super worn and repaired Dunhill I smoke all over, as it is never going to be worth much. That thing is a beast. Smokes like a champ! So, as long as you don't pay much, don't be afraid to take a shot at a worn estate.
wyfbane, gee if I knew you wanted my Lakeland ghosted pipes I would have sent them to you.
Forget about the county inspector, they don't need to know what you do on your own property. I wanted to heat my swimming pool with gas in R.I. I was supposed to call Dig Safe before I started the project. I had my guy lay 260 feet of gas pipe in one day and never called Dig Safe. No one ever knew what I had done, screw those agencies I say. :mrgreen:
Forget about the county inspector, they don't need to know what you do on your own property. I wanted to heat my swimming pool with gas in R.I. I was supposed to call Dig Safe before I started the project. I had my guy lay 260 feet of gas pipe in one day and never called Dig Safe. No one ever knew what I had done, screw those agencies I say. :mrgreen:
I agree. The worn pipes were probably loved for a reason. They are also likely well broken in. This isn't always true, but more often than not, in my opinion. YMMV.
I no longer have the tools, chemicals and so forth that I had 15 years ago, and I really no longer have the energy to undertake complete restoration jobs even if I still had the means. But I can handle ghost problems , and do. I have, however, had occasion to suspect on a fairly firm basis that some sellers what coat their bowls have covered up significant heat stress that emerges later. (I haven't heat stressed or charred a bowl on a pipe I have owned from new since a few years after I started smoking a pipe so when spider webbing shows up in such a pipe after a few smokes, I have my suspicions.)
I do appreciate the savings from estate pipes. However,while I have sold several estate pipes over time, I rarely if ever willingly part with a pipe that I have broken in from new. The best estate deals I have gotten on eBay have been from experienced eBay sellers who are not pipe specialists but know how to take really good pictures. It is a relatively rare occurrence that such an individual has what I am interested in, but two Castellos come to mind that I won last summer that were truly not even broken in, as the seller tentatively claimed and the pictures seened to promise. And I say they were good deals even though the auctions attracted a lot of bidders and I paid what I thought was full market value. I would never willingly sell either pipe for my cost.
I would not agree that a thoroughly smoked pipe indicates a well loved pipe that is a good smoker. Maybe, maybe not. A restored pipe, unless you know the ethics of the seller, could be a truly problem pipe. And just because a pipe has not been "professionally restored" doesn't mean efforts haven't been made to cover up problems somewhere along its journey.
I do appreciate the savings from estate pipes. However,while I have sold several estate pipes over time, I rarely if ever willingly part with a pipe that I have broken in from new. The best estate deals I have gotten on eBay have been from experienced eBay sellers who are not pipe specialists but know how to take really good pictures. It is a relatively rare occurrence that such an individual has what I am interested in, but two Castellos come to mind that I won last summer that were truly not even broken in, as the seller tentatively claimed and the pictures seened to promise. And I say they were good deals even though the auctions attracted a lot of bidders and I paid what I thought was full market value. I would never willingly sell either pipe for my cost.
I would not agree that a thoroughly smoked pipe indicates a well loved pipe that is a good smoker. Maybe, maybe not. A restored pipe, unless you know the ethics of the seller, could be a truly problem pipe. And just because a pipe has not been "professionally restored" doesn't mean efforts haven't been made to cover up problems somewhere along its journey.
mithrandir...perhaps this little refurb I just did will illustrate your point. Here is an estate which had been more than thoroughly 'enjoyed'. This pipe had essentially been smoked shut...
Because of the heavy mileage...it scared most guys off and went cheap. Just look at the mounds of cake on this full size dinner plate...
After just a wee spit shine, this one not only smokes again, but instantly jumped to be a top 5 burner for me, and she's gonna continue to get a workout. I'm sure it was a favorite for it's previous owner...or it would not have looked that way when I bought it. You're on the right track!
Because of the heavy mileage...it scared most guys off and went cheap. Just look at the mounds of cake on this full size dinner plate...
After just a wee spit shine, this one not only smokes again, but instantly jumped to be a top 5 burner for me, and she's gonna continue to get a workout. I'm sure it was a favorite for it's previous owner...or it would not have looked that way when I bought it. You're on the right track!
Beautiful pipe Joe. You can hardly tell it is a Stanwell in the before photos. Any tips for cleaning all the lava off the rusticated rim like that one?
Your the man Joe. That looks like a Stanwell #34. That's the pipe I have been chasing for several years but just keep missing. Makes me want one even more. Very nice restore on that. :D
I recall you posting not too long ago about the Stan 34...did you see this one on eBay maybe a month or so ago? It was an auction, and I won it for half the price I thought it would take...and the seller was in Denmark, no less! We need to find you one...you will not be disappointed!
Yes, I remember it with great sadness. I am happy to know it went to someone who could do it justice. I was in the hospital with my daughter for a week and did not have access to my computer. I had put it on my watch list but life got it in the way. I've only seen two come up on ebay in the last several years and missed them both. So I will keep the search alive. :D
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