Got three new estate pipes today! Need some rehab advice :D

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

I went out and picked up three new estate pipes at a second hand store today that I'm excited about. I got a Bob White thats sooooo comfortable to hold, an older very beautiful kaywoodie, and a very odd looking yello-bole pipe. It's the yello-bole that I need some rehab help on.
The pipe itself seems to be in decent shape. I hope the rehab is going to turn around quickly. The pipe is mostly metal. The bowl screws off and the metal screen is still there and very clean. It's the bottom part of the bowl and the stem of the pipe that are black. (on the inside) I'm not sure what to soak this in to clean it up. Any ideas?
pictures to follow soon

 

[yoru]

I use isopropyl alcohol, most people say not to but use grain alcohols instead (clear liquors)--- you might try salt but if the bottom of the bowl and stem are metal too salt won't work.
Really one of the most effective ways to clean a pipe with is saliva. Put a que-tip under your tongue , spin it, then clean with it. Saliva breaks all these tars and sugars and burns down quiet well really. If you don't believe it, chip off a piece of pipe-cake and put it in yer mouth, see if it don't turn liquid right quick. heh heh

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

here are some pics
First, the Bob White (I love this pipe)

Second, the kaywoodie

Third, the trouble maker

 

[romeowood]

Hey letsgo, sounds like you got some good finds at the junk shop! There are loads of threads and even some videos on the site with regard to cleaning / refreshing estate pipes, but I'll chime in with a couple basics:
Clear out any cake, preferably with a reamer made for pipes. I use a homemade converted woodworking tool, the main intent being removing the buildup and not scratching the wood in the chamber.
Get some Everclear or other 90% + spirit (you too, yoru!). I'm neither qualified nor inclined to get into the chemistry of it, but I would advise against isopropyl alcohol (generally isolated in the US by production methods that involve sulfuric acid)--stick with grain or wood (methyl) alcohol. Bristle pipe cleaners and the alcohol, along with a bit of elbow grease, will take care of a lot of the rehab. Note that the alcohol will strip finish and stain from the wood portions of the pipes.
For removing the "ghosting" of previous tobaccos, I advise an alcohol retort, but procuring the apparatus can be difficult. THe salt method does an ok job for mild ghosting. Greg Pease recently wrote of his activated charcoal and baking in an oven method in his blog on this site. Note that salt + alcohol + metal can be detrimental to aluminum or steel portions of your pipes.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON"T TRY TO RUSH!! The rehabilitation takes time, as does everything associated with smoking a pipe. You'll be best served letting it take time; therein lies the true beauty in the sport.
And post some pics of those pipes when you can! Before-and-after shots are always fun.

 

[romeowood]

Ah, you posted pictures before I was done typing--good on ya! Fantastic grain on the Bob White, I can see why you're in lurve :clap:
They're in better shape than I thought--stick with alcohol and a bristle brush for the insides (after you ream the cake out by hand), and yoru's advice about cleaning the top of the rim with spit is sound indeed. To remove the "chatter" (tooth marks) from the stems you can buff them out with a rotary tool or VERY FINE sandpaper (start with 400-work down to 1000 or 1500; then rub with rottenstone or similar buffing compound, then shine up with carnauba).

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

I just finished a full restoration on 2 of the pipes I had gotten last week with that pipe stand, and they came out very well. My yello-bole spartan is now in my mouth more then it's not. It's just a great pipe, and after cleaning and buffing it, a very pretty one. My other restore is my daily smoking pipe, it's a winston club and I really have come to like it.
I just don't know how to approach that mostly metal yello-bole pipe. the part of the bole that is wood is in really bad shape on the outside. It looks like this thing has seen much better days. It feels and looks like there is no finish on the wood at all. I got the cake reamed out with the spoon attachment of my pipe tool. I really would like a real reamer but I can't seem to find one. I called to about 15 different tobacco stores and most of them had no clue what I was talking about As pipe restoration is quickly becoming a new hobby I would really like to get something that doesn't hurt my hands as much as this little spoon.
What can I soak this metal part in that it wont hurt the metal but still lossen up the tar build up?

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

not to mention the three pipes combined was $18 :D
Any guess on the age of the bob white? I'm not sure how to date pipes yet. it has a number on the side 106s

 

[unclearthur]

Everclear or 151 rum will safely soak the garbage loose in your pipe. DO NOT use denatured alcohol the poisons will likely linger. if the bit is removable I suggest that you take that off and clean it separately paying special attention to the area that flares out . After that it's down to lots of bristle type pipe cleaners to get all the goop out of the stem.

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

will 151 damage the metal? I used scotch before to good results but wasn't sure it would hurt the metal.

 

[ejames]

I have never used anything but isopropyl alcohol to clean my pipes-with no problems what ever. also on metal pipes hot water and soap works-stems too !

 

[ejames]

For a reamer you can't beat the Castleford. It's cheap but works well. My Kleen-Reem (Like a Senior) has been collecting dust since I bought one.Available in a bunch of places.Check here http://www.google.com/search?q=Castleford%2Breamer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a

 

[ejames]

The bowl for your metal pipe probably just needs refinished.Get some good wet or dry sandpaper,3m,Norton etc. Get it online or at a auto paint supply store. You'll need 360,400,600 and for a really nice finish some 800 grit. If you wanna go nuts and don't have a buffer Micro-Mesh brand sanding pads will put a nice shine on it. You can shine up the metal part with some OOOO steel wool and for a nicer shine finish it off with Brasso polish or Nevr-Dul,both will require some elbow grease . I prefer the Nevr-Dul. Most hardware stores should have it.It is an abrasive impregnated cotton wadding and can be used on stems also.

 

[unclearthur]

I have used Nevr-Dul for MANY years for about any metal polishing you can think of. Wonderful stuff

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

followed some pro advice on this one and here is what I ended up with. It really did shine up like a new penny, and I can't wait to smoke it.

I soaked it in soapy water, and then scotch. I buffed up the metal with some toothpaste, and sanded down the bowl to a very smooth finish. I stained the bowl and buffed it all up. It was a longer project but well worth it :D

 

[unclearthur]

Looks pretty darn nice!

 

[fshu2]

how does that one smoke? looks like it would get warm.