First Estate Restoration/Clean Up. Nording Freehand.(Pic Heavy)

[jttnk]

Finished my fires "resortarion" although it's really more like a clean up of a nice pipe in fairly decent shape. But, you gotta start somewhere.

Reamed, Salt/Alcohol, clean shank, soak and micromesh stem, Obsidian Oil, Buff and wax with Drill Mount buffing wheel.
I am a little converened with a ring like light section near the top of bowl. Mostly on the front. I looks like it's washed out color. Same with the end of the shank, just below the black plastic ferule? end cap? (correct(term please) I am not sure if maybe I spilled a little 151 Alcohol on the those areas by accident. I wiped it off pretty quick. Any suggestions of what that could be or how to make it look a little less noticeable?
Thanks for looking, first time, so be nice if it's a crappy job, but I will listen to advice on how to improve.
Jason
Before:

During: Oxyclean Soak, reaming, plateau scrubbing

Finished: waxed, buffed, wiped with soft cloth.

 

[mikethompson]

Very nice job on a very nice pipe! Bill is gonna love this one I can tell.

 

[mso489]

Impressive clean-up on that nicely shaped stem. I like the plateau on the briar. Success is a good place to start, so I think you scored on this one.

 

[puffy]

Beautiful

 

[jttnk]

Thanks for the compliments. I am concerned about the light areas on the front of the bowl and end of the shank. I’m afraid I just don’t dig the fade. It looks messed up. A friend who is much handier than I said maybe best to strip down and restrain. That may be more than I can do.
Might try with his help. High gloss finish on a pipe is typically what? Just stain and wax? Stain and linseed oil? We’ll see how it goes.

 

[danimalia]

Looks great to me. I think the faded areas just make it look like a well-loved, older pipe. But if they really bother you, I can understand wanting to re-finish.

 

[jttnk]

Read a bit more on Steve Laug’s site Reborn pipes. If you’ve not been there, it’s a must! Alcohol soak, sand, soak, stain, sand buff, wax. I still think I’ll enlist some expert help if I decide to try it.
Danimalia, thanks for the positive way of looking at things.

 

[didimauw]

I love that shape. Beautiful. And nice work!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Nothing like a freehand, great job! I've pressed Copenhagen pouches to faded areas to give their color back.

 

[ukbob]

Well done,nice job.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, good so far!
You might try a touch of mineral oil (or Obsidian) and rub it in the faded areas. Might be surprised. Might not.....
As to finish, I've read that many high end carvers use a few coats of very thin shellac before carnauba.

 

[jttnk]

Thanks again everyone. I'll try some obsidian oil. I just looked at my stem (pardon the pun, I'm not showing you pictures) it's not quite as oxidation free as I thought. The overnight pipe gremlins brought some splotches back. I also noticed a spot of ooops, to much flat file sanding near the button. Soak and micromesh again.
Maybe try Cap'n embers lighter trick. I hate funky colored vulcanite stems. Jet black is a must.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Looking great! Well done!

 

[trubka2]

Nice work, looking good! How's she smoke? I haven't tried embers's lighter trick (too scary for me yet), but he got me on to Magic Erasers - just go to town with one of those things, and I bet that last bit of oxidation will come right off. It's fairly hard to overdo it unless you're worried about logos, etc. Hit it with some toothpaste after, and ta-da! Oh, and really slather the oil on there and let it sit for a couple days - took me a while to learn that lesson. I've had a few estate pipes with faded spots (from sun exposure, maybe?). After a few months of just smoking them and handling them, the spots are pretty well gone now. I don't know, though, my first instinct is always to do nothing and just smoke it if it tastes good. Call it anti-perfectionism. ::

 

[jaytex1969]

Those fades look like they exist on the before pics, also. I don't think you've altered the finish as much as uncovered it from dirt.
I think it looks swell. If you don't like the lighter spots, make this your automotive maintenance pipe and your grubby mitts will have a nice, even dark patina back in no time!

 

[jttnk]

Obsidian oil helped, thanks jpmcwjr.. looks more natural now, less faded. Second wet sanding with micro mesh pads. Then tried white compound on drill buffer. Much better deeper shine and clean.
Trubka, I haven’t had a chance to try her out yet. Most likely tomorrow night. I’m a 1 bowl a day guy. Most likely try out with Balkan Sasieni. It will be an English pipe most likely.

 

[mikethompson]

Mineral oil is just incredible. I've just gotten into cleaning up pipes and that stuff is a must have for sure.
If you lose the white stamping on a stem in the future, you can just rub a white on over it to restore it. That's not applicable to this pipe, but maybe for your next one.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Very nicely done!

 

[jttnk]

First smoke tonight. The always good Balkan Sasieni. Smokes wonderfully. Thick walls no overhearing. Feels great in hands and stem smooth and comfortable. Now of course I want to find another one try and restore.... perhaps RAD setting in!