How Glossy or Shiny Do You Like Your Pipes ?

[tschiraldi]

I will not buy a varnished, lacquered pipe. I have them waxed once a year, which reminds me, they are due now. I'll take them to Jesse at Blue Room Briars because I am the least handy person on the planet and I would undoubtedly ruin them if I did it myself, especially the stems.

 

[Scottishgaucho]

Most of my small collection of pipes are 'old' estate pipes therefore come used without a shine. I don't have a buffer nor do I have any waxes suitable for a briar pipe.
When they first arrive I just give them a hand buff with the wife's dusting cloth. If the grain looks nice I'll grab a shelled walnut or a pecan, break it in half and give the bowl a rub with it which leaves a coating of nut oil...then give it a rub with the duster.
I don't do it very often though...it's a bit of a faff and the wife gives me a row for using her duster!!

 

[mso489]

I am partial to no wax or other cleaning products, to avoid residue, and only hand buffing with a jewelers cloth with slightly abrasive, then soft cloth, or just a bandana. This is self-serving, to keep it simple, to allow a certain amount of natural patina with use, and to preserve stamping and the finish, whatever it is. Yes, I've traded off pipes with too glossy a finish, notably a Ben Wade panel blast that just never looked at all natural. I have one or two pipes with high gloss finishes that look fine and smoke well, that I enjoy, but I don't buy many of those.

 

[BROBS]

I like pipes with a soft waxed glossy finish. After a smoke, I always clean the pipe with some pipe cleaners and buff the bowl with a soft cloth impregnated with Halcyon wax or Mark Hoover's "Before and After Restoration Balm" ahead of the next smoke.

I'm put off by pipes with a high gloss varnished finishes, and have resisted buying pipes with that look - I'm referring to the high gloss polyurethane varnish used on floorboards.

Anyone on the Forums share my phobia ?

Is there a way of removing that high gloss varnish without affecting the underlying stain ? I'm afraid of (?) ruining an otherwise good looking pipe while attempting to "de-gloss" said object. Being colour-blind, I would rather not attempt a re-staining job if my wife's comments on my attempts to "colour-coordinate" an outfit is anything to go by.

That before and after balm is complete horseshit FYI

I bought a couple pipes from that guy and they were damn near ruined with that shit.

He has other shady restoration practices but I won’t get into that.

 

[cigrmaster]

If I want to shine up one of my pipes, I use a Dunhill shine cloth. It does a pretty decent job and I have had the same one for a few years now as I cannot even remember the last time I wanted to shine up a pipe.

My pipes look like someone has been smoking them, which happens to be the case. I smoke them and then after I am done cleaning the insides, I shine up my stems with Obidisian stem oil and then they go back into their rack where they belong. I honestly am not a big fan of shining up my pipes, too much work for my lazy ass.

 

[Jaylotw]

The buffed finish on my pipes lasts about a week...then they stay that way for eternity. I'm not one known for taking great care of my pipes, that's why I have a tough time putting up the cash for one that costs over $100. Now my guns and fishing equipment? That's another story...I keep them all nice and shiny

Your fishing stuff is shiny? Mines all covered in fish scales and mud and the cork handles are discolored from sweat and tears and Gulp juice except inside the reels, in there it’s clean and oily.

My pipes were probably once glossy. They aren’t anymore. Sometimes though I scrape some of the tar off the rim or wipe off the fish scales or worm guts or ‘sketti sauce or whatever gets on them. What’s finish mean?

 

[craig61a]

I wax my pipes after I smoke them. It's not so much that I like them shiny, which I do, but I think it also protects the briar from getting smudged up and dirty from my hands the next time I smoke them. And usually most of the wax comes off anyway from the heat and handling while smoking.

 

[Chasing Embers]

And usually most of the wax comes off anyway from the heat and handling while smoking.

That's the funny thing about waxing. It takes work to put it on but after a couple of smokes it sure doesn't last long.

 

[BROBS]

I usually reshine my pipes while they are warm with a dry paper towel. Works great.

 

[Swampdragon69]

That's the funny thing about waxing. It takes work to put it on but after a couple of smokes it sure doesn't last long.

All my pipes are estates. So being shiny and pretty is not my thing. The only wax is beeswax and it is for the stems. Oxidation will happen and mud brown is ?.

 

[Chasing Embers]

All my pipes are estates. So being shiny and pretty is not my thing. The only wax is beeswax and it is for the stems. Oxidation will happen and mud brown is

Those can be beautified too.?

 

[OzPiper]

That before and after balm is complete horseshit FYI

I bought a couple pipes from that guy and they were damn near ruined with that shit.

He has other shady restoration practices but I won’t get into that.

Brobs,

You're entitled to your opinion re: Before and After Balm, but I disagree.

Most of my pipes (smooth)are used estates and received in all states. After cleaning inside and out, a tiny bit of Before and After Balm and micromesh pads gets them to a lovely soft shine which only requires a gentle buff after a smoke. I've not had to re-wax any of my pipes yet (with 2-3 years use) with this method.

I do agree that with my blasts there is a noticable residue left after using the balm that hand buffing does not remove. Perhaps it's time to drag out my buffing wheels - and use it VERY cautiously.

 

[Swampdragon69]

Those can be beautified too.?

View attachment 58416

I have resurrected stems worse than that. Mr. clean magic Eraser and beeswax. No power tools.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've not had to re-wax any of my pipes yet (with 2-3 years use) with this method.

That's been my experience using a flame and wet paper towel for oxidation.?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have resurrected stems worse than that. Mr. clean magic Eraser and beeswax. No power tools.

I only used a lighter and a wet paper towel to remove the oxidation, and got the mirror shine with toothpaste. I don't use buffers on stems.

 

[OzPiper]

Those can be beautified too.?

Apart from really disliking the appearance of heavily oxidised vulcanite stems, I hate the sour, sulphury taste that spoils any blend you smoke.

View attachment 58416

 

[Swampdragon69]

That's been my experience using a flame and wet paper towel for oxidation.?

Cleaned up with magic eraser. Cold beeswax applied and melted in with a candle. Wipe off extra with old soft bandanna.

 

[Chasing Embers]

OzPiper:

Apart from really disliking the appearance of heavily oxidised vulcanite stems, I hate the sour, sulphury taste that spoils any blend you smoke.

Especially if you're dealing with oxidation in the airway.

 

[Grangerous]

Shined. Hey! My wife just hit me! I meant smooth Ouch! Waxed WTH?!!! Waxed, I like my pipe waxed.

 

[craig61a]

That's the funny thing about waxing. It takes work to put it on but after a couple of smokes it sure doesn't last long.

Well, it only takes a few seconds to reapply...