Falcon Bantam Bowl

[FalconForever]

I've got an old Falcon Bantam bowl which I'd like to do something with. No suggestions of where to put it and yes Falcons are not everyone's cup of tea and yes it's not a real pipe and I'd be wasting time on a drilled out doorknob, etc, etc.

That done, is it possible to clean this up in a way that doesn't, in the hands of an amateur with limited skills and knowledge, bugger up the original finish and more than it is? Basically can the charring and soot be removed gently from the top to make it look a bit better or is it not worth the time and effort and best left alone?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wet paper towel.

 

[jaingorenard]

Not sure wet paper towel will do much for all that charred wood... It's good at taking off carbon from burned tobacco, but that rim looks like it's completely burned to quite a deep level.

Bear in mind that whatever you choose to do to clean it up you are likely to lose a lot of that burned material round the rim. Personally, I'm not sure it's worth the effort. But if you want to, there are loads of threads in this section on how to clean up bowls (basically, easiest way is with sandpaper).

 

[ssjones]

Top it below that crack, and smoke it! (400 - 1500 grit paper) You'll need a little stain or just put some wax on it. You can't make it any worse!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Not sure wet paper towel will do much for all that charred wood... It's good at taking off carbon from burned tobacco, but that rim looks like it's completely burned to quite a deep level.

Bear in mind that whatever you choose to do to clean it up you are likely to lose a lot of that burned material round the rim. Personally, I'm not sure it's worth the effort. But if you want to, there are loads of threads in this section on how to clean up bowls (basically, easiest way is with sandpaper).

From the photos I see no charring beneath the buildup. There may be none at all and a wet paper towel works wonders.

 

[ssjones]

From the photos I see no charring beneath the buildup. There may be none at all and a wet paper towel works wonders.

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Careful work with a worn piece of scotch-brite will get the same result in about a fraction of the time paper towels would require. But a paper towel, while not as effective also won't remove stain, so proceed with caution (and don't use a new piece of scotch brite).

 

[jaingorenard]

From the photos I see no charring beneath the buildup. There may be none at all and a wet paper towel works wonders.

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Looks to me like the cracks are in the briar due to charring?

 

[ophiuchus]

Just clean it, smoke it, enjoy it! I’ve seen pictures of old Brits smoking Falcons with burned out looking bowls and it looks kind of cool. Even liberating. You won’t feel compelled babying that one.

 

[FalconForever]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll have a careful go at it later and let you know how I get on.....

 

[grimpeur]

Just clean it, smoke it, enjoy it! I’ve seen pictures of old Brits smoking Falcons with burned out looking bowls and it looks kind of cool. Even liberating. You won’t feel compelled babying that one.

I second this, both for the reasons given, and a bantam bowl doesn't have much wood to spare for topping!

I'm intrigued by the contrast between how little it's been smoked, as evidenced by how clean the underside of the bowl is, and the extent of the damage. Someone really didn't like Falcons.

 

[FalconForever]

I second this, both for the reasons given, and a bantam bowl doesn't have much wood to spare for topping!

I'm intrigued by the contrast between how little it's been smoked, as evidenced by how clean the underside of the bowl is, and the extent of the damage. Someone really didn't like Falcons.

I wonder if they used those rocket type lighters on it, it does seem excessively burnt.

 

[anotherbob]

Wet paper towel.

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I second this. And want to add that it seems like it's in pretty a ok shape anyways.

 

[UB 40]

I've got an old Falcon Bantam bowl which I'd like to do something with. No suggestions of where to put it and yes Falcons are not everyone's cup of tea and yes it's not a real pipe and I'd be wasting time on a drilled out doorknob, etc, etc.

That done, is it possible to clean this up in a way that doesn't, in the hands of an amateur with limited skills and knowledge, bugger up the original finish and more than it is? Basically can the charring and soot be removed gently from the top to make it look a bit better or is it not worth the time and effort and best left alone?
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My Falcon looked similar, when it arrived two years ago. A Charred Rim on top one side burned out of round. I decided to take off a few millimetres with 400 grid sandpaper the bowl upside down on the sandpaper on a table and stained it new you can use fiebngs leather dye. Now it is like that: you can still see it is out of round, but it’s a perfect bowl to smoke. Any tars and residues on any bowl I remove with spit (better than water the enzymes work pretty fast) resting a while and rubbing it off with a finger or piece of cloth and repeat.

 

[ssjones]

7-8 years ago, I found a number of Falcons at a local shop and paid about $5 each for them.
I had a lot of fun restoring them. Some member here bought most of them.

 

[ssjones]

They aren't finished very well from the factory and a little white diamond and carnuba really makes a difference.

 

[FalconForever]

7-8 years ago, I found a number of Falcons at a local shop and paid about $5 each for them.
I had a lot of fun restoring them. Some member here bought most of them.

The bulldog is lovely. I have one like that unsmoked in my 'museum'

 

[FalconForever]

They aren't finished very well from the factory and a little white diamond and carnuba really makes a difference.

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Yep. I've given most of mine a buff with that. I also clean and buff after each smoking session with a microfibre cloth. They look pretty good.

 

[FalconForever]

They aren't finished very well from the factory and a little white diamond and carnuba really makes a difference.

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Yep. I've given most of mine a buff with that. I also clean and buff after each smoking session with a microfibre cloth. They look pretty good.

 

[FalconForever]

I decided I didn't want to do too much to this bowl having no plans for it (I got it buying something else). So I just use the spot and polish method with paper towels and then microfiber cloths. Followed that with a light polish and buffed. I lightly reamed the inside and then polished the stem it came with.

Not too bad. Better than it was but I'm not challenging anyone to pipe restoration awards.... I didn't want to go further as the finish was starting to rub a little.

 

[UB 40]

Looks good!