My First Pipe Restoration!

[pipebow88]

Well first I will apologize for not having any before pics of the pipe itself. I really didn't expect this finished job to turn out so well, so I didn't bother with them. After doing the bowl I did snap this before of the stem. Fairly scratched up and quite a few tooth marks.

Now the backstory on this pipe as well. This was one of my first earlier Boswell Pipes, and it wasn't much smoking time. I had sold it to a friend, who traded it to a mutual friend. At that point I started smoking more Virginias and really started to miss this pipe. So I text the friend who had it and he was willing to trade it for some cigars. I jumped on it, but the pipe had not been seeing the care it should have. The rim was charred beyond cleaning.
I topped it and started sanding the too of the bowl, as well as the smooth area on the shank. After quite a bit of time with micromesh it started taking shape. Went up to 12,000 micromesh, and rotated some face oil and micromesh several times. Then went after the stem with the micromesh as well. I'm beyond happy with the results, and thrilled to have it looking so nice again. This may be a start to something, would love to get some other pipes to restore now.

Sorry for the poor pics. Cell is all I have to take them with.

B

 

[rmason]

Your stem turned out amazing as well as your pipe, congrats on your first restore.

~Ron

 

[ssjones]

Hey, nice job! Micromesh really works well. That is a neat Bowell, he doesn't use Cumberland very often.

 

[pruss]

Nice job! Way to go on getting such a great result with your first resto.
Keep it up!
-- Pat

 

[petes03]

Great job! I bet you had fun too, didn't you? I know I do, it's a lot of hard work, but it's fun and rewarding!

 

[ejames]

Nice! Love that birdseye!

 

[pipebow88]

Thanks guys! The micro mesh is some impressive stuff.
Petes03, I had a blast. It had hurt me to see the mistreatment of this amazing pipe, and I enjoyed every second of bringing it back. I just wish I had a buffer. That would make it a little easier. I'm on the hunt for some more restorations already.

B

 

[pruss]

@pipebow88 - I bought a used bench grinder from craigslist for next to nothing, and then purchased the buffing kit from Beall. The info on Beall's stuff is here: http://www.bealltool.com/products/buffing/buffer.php Some other pipesters here have had luck with bench grinders purchased from Harbor Freight.
Congrats again pal.
-- Pat

 

[yazamitaz]

Great job Pipebow, that pipe is a beauty.
You just entered another very addictive part of our hobby. I only work on my own but Sam and Pruss have done some really nice work (that I have seen in person) as well as some others on this site. The best part of it is bringing something back to life. I hope to see more of your work here.
Dan

 

[pipebow88]

Roth, as far as I know the stem is real rubber. I have boswells with lucite, acrylic, vulcanite, and this cumberland. If I get a buffer I'll be sure to learn the proper way to do it, and use it no more than necessary. Though, with all of my hobbies a buffer has a lot before it on my list of wants.

B

 

[uberam3rica]

Looks like you did a great job! I'm no good at restoration. I send mine to a friend in Louisiana.

 

[tpollock]

Nice job on a beautiful pipe! Especially for it to be your first refurb you did a great job.

Tim