I'll Stick to Pete's and Savinelli from Now On...

[lsnadon]

Brand new BC, not at all impressed with the finishing job. Started bubbling the finish on the first smoke, this is after the 3rd smoke.

No, I don't beleive I got it to hot at all, never had an Irish out Italian pipe do this to me.

 

[mso489]

That is a sorry finish. I've had longterm good luck with French pipes, but this illustrates that no brand or national source is without flaws. Peterson had a spate of complaints about quality control a few years ago, whereas all of mine have been trouble free. I did have one lithe French pipe that simply had too narrow an airway and no material there to expand it. Like you, I would tend not to buy another BC and be skeptical of French pipes, but in due time, you may want to try again if the right pipe came along, preferable an estate that cost little.

 

[Bluemonter]

From a woodworkers perspective, it looks like the 'finish' was applied over a stain that wasn't fully dried.
Heat drove the moisture right through...

 

[lsnadon]

I'm going to give it a few more smokes in the next 10 - 15 days, then I'll hit it with some refinisher and smooth everything out, then a good polishing job.... it'll be fine in the long run - must say though, I was a little surprised at how fast the finish eroded, starting on the first bowl. For a point of reference on me - this was # 26 in my collection of 15 Petes, 7 Savinellis, a Stokebye, and 2 MO Meershaums......, all smoked about the same.

 

[Bluemonter]

Now, if the person who was doing the finishing had been smoking a pipe and was relaxed and not rushed....?

 

[mso489]

I'm not a pipe restoration guy, but the thought occurs to me that another option is simply sanding off the finish and letting the pipe "finish itself." You can buy pipes this way, and they can turn out beautifully. Just a thought, as an option.

 

[Ethan]

That's not a good look...I prefer it when the time is taken to make trim rings flush with the shank as well. Speaks to the ability of the craftsman in my opinion to master fine details of the work.

 

[lsnadon]

Brand new (screenshot from that well know pipe seller's website)....

 

[Ethan]

Brand new (screenshot from that well know pipe seller's website)....

Definitely looks better from this angle.

 

[lsnadon]

Definitely looks better from this angle.

Yeah - I liked the way the trim was designed - it was pretty a few weeks ago.... It'll be pretty again.

 

[ofafeather]

You might consider contacting the vendor. Many will do something to make it right if they know about it. Some won’t. ?

 

[lsnadon]

You might consider contacting the vendor. Many will do something to make it right if they know about it. Some won’t. ?

I sent them them an email with the pic. I fully expect that they will make it right - I have no reason to beleive otherwise....

 

[anotherbob]

oh people have had this issue with Savs too.

 

[anotherbob]

Now, if the person who was doing the finishing had been smoking a pipe and was relaxed and not rushed....?

could ambient humidity throw off the process too. I assume it could. Might explain why this seems to happen at regular but low percentage among different factories.

 

[OzPiper]

Sorry to hear/see the problem with your BC.
I have only one BC - a bulldog bought in the '70s, which is still giving good service today.
I hope you manage to resolve this issue with the vendor. I'm sure they will come to the party.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Brand new BC, not at all impressed with the finishing job. Started bubbling the finish on the first smoke, this is after the 3rd smoke.

No, I don't beleive I got it to hot at all, never had an Irish out Italian pipe do this to me.View attachment 87763

Wipe it down with acetone to remove the rest of the lacquer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Now, if the person who was doing the finishing had been smoking a pipe and was relaxed and not rushed....?

Could be air bubbles in the lacquer. Peterson had an issue with that a few years ago.

 

[bullet08]

Luck of the draw. I only smoke Peterson. They are not perfect, but smokes amazing and looks pretty damn good.

 

[karam]

Can't go wrong with Savinellis.

 

[kcghost]

Pete's and Sav's have had their problems, too. Writing of large junk of the pipe world is a pretty drastic step.