My First Take On Restoring Estates (Heavy Pictures)

[smokeybear]

Here is how the two pipes were shipped to me, not the worst condition but pretty good actually. Its my first time so i didn't wanna start it at skill level 10. First off i wanna thank Pruss, Pipe Novelist and Ghost for there guidance and advice.
Kaywoodie Relief Grain 135

GBD Collector Prehistoric 501

I started with Reaming down the uneven cake. I used a cheap reamer and a grinder bit yes i know its unconventional but it works really well you just need to be careful not to dig into the briar.

Next was a the hard part i still need to do this more but my arm was getting soar. Using cotton Pads, cloths and q-tips merged with saliva i scrubbed the rims as clean as i can get them in an hour.

Then i went at the shank with 99% iso alcohol with a shank brush it was dirty in there let me tell you. Four pipe cleaners later the shanks were cleaned.

Then I prepped them for a Alcohol/Cotton ball treatment, I chose cotton over salt because of the clean up. Worst case i do it again with salt if it doesn't work well. I found that i needed to add more alcohol with the cotton. I plugged the shanks with foam earplugs thanks Pipe Novelist and Ghost for the tip. Put in two cotton balls each added drops of alcohol then filled the pipes to just below the rim with more cotton and again added more alcohol.

When that was finished i preceded to the stems. The GBD stem was in excellent condition so all i did was pass a pipe cleaner with alcohol and a dry one after that. The kaywoodie Stem was a bit more dirty inside and out. No bite marks or oxidation thank goodness, but there were scratches and some leaf lodged in the stinger. I took care of it with a water soaked magic eraser and poked at it with pipe cleaners until i broke through.

Here they are last night its been 10hrs i just added more alcohol this morning i will post an update pic once i get home.

And now if i can just decide what to smoke while i wait mmmmm....

 

[pruss]

Thanks for posting the work in progress Smokey. Nice to see how this is working for you. One thing I do with hard to clean rims, is switch to a cotton tea towel. It has just a little more vigour than the cotton pads and with elbow grease and saliva does a good job on the rims.
Keep the pics coming, it looks like you're doing well.
-- Pat

 

[smokeybear]

Thanks Pat i will give that a try once the treatment is done.

 

[ghost]

Great start! You'll get hooked on restorations in no time.

 

[smokeybear]

Great start! You'll get hooked on restorations in no time.

Ya i can see that for sure im having a great time doing it. I'm motivated to get my garage cleaned up now so i can build a little work shop. At least there i can enjoy a pipe while i work.

 

[plateauguy]

I love to see restoration pictures, especially if they are done at every step. Great job.

 

[hfearly]

By the way those stingers come out if you pull hard enough. I always take them out and throw them away - they don't do anything while smoking except not letting you pass a pipe cleaner. ;-)

 

[gwtwdbss]

Looking good!

 

[smokeybear]

Hfearly ya that's what lots of people been saying I figured ill give her a go with the stinger and if I don't like it I will take it out. Although I don't think these are the pull out stingers cause the threads for the stem are attached to it if anything it needs to be cut to remove.

 

[jah76]

Smokey that looks like it's coming along nicely.
I used to use salt, but I swear it gives the bowl a funny taste. Almost like you need to do salt THEN cotton balls with alcohol. Yet at the same time I feel like the salt works better.
I always use a lighter on the inside of the bowl after I'm done. Gets rid of any liquids and fuzzies.
I second the notion of cotton cloth on the rims. Old cloth diapers are awesome for this. Saves a ton of cotton pads.
Thanks for posting these pics. Motivates me to grab my estate box.

 

[pruss]

I used to use salt, but I swear it gives the bowl a funny taste. Almost like you need to do salt THEN cotton balls with alcohol. Yet at the same time I feel like the salt works better.
I always use a lighter on the inside of the bowl after I'm done. Gets rid of any liquids and fuzzies.

Interesting... I am going to have to try cotton balls for my next S&A.
I do S&A after reaming the bowl and scrubbing the shank, then I do a retort. After the retort I rub down the inside of the bowl with isopropyl alcohol and light it to affect a burn-off. Works wonders.
-- Pat

 

[ghost]

I still think S/A works better, but not by that much IMO. The easy clean up of the cotton has me pretty much using it exclusively now.
Carbon and the oven works well too, but I only use that for really ghosted pipes...

 

[smokeybear]

Good tips guys thanks.

 

[bryanf]

Very cool. Thanks for taking the time to make this post and great pictures. Really nice job! I like that Kaywoodie very much.

 

[ssjones]

Nice work, thanks for passing along the ear plug tip. I use wine corks, trimmed down, but that looks easier.

 

[ssjones]

Make sure you add your GBD to the "show us your GBD's" thread!

 

[captainsousie]

Great work on those restos. The grinder bit should work perfectly used carefully by hand. I have never found a threaded-tenon Kaywoodie whose stinger pulled out as the whole stinger is a single piece of aluminum threaded into the stem. Consequently, I would leave it in there for a while because it destroys the resale value. Resale value will matter when the true resto bug takes hold :P . Keep at it and have fun.

 

[soggycitybob]

Looking Great! I'm glad to know my process for cleaning estates is very similar. I applaud you for the extra work on cleaning the rim. I'll have to try the cotton pads myself on my next project.

 

[fnord]

Beautiful work, Andrew.
It's kind of fun, isn't it?
Fnord

 

[smokeybear]

Thanks for posting these pics. Motivates me to grab my estate box.

Do it im having a blast.

Very cool. Thanks for taking the time to make this post and great pictures. Really nice job! I like that Kaywoodie very much.

No problem its really simply to do and a great hobby/past time id encourage anyone into pipes to try it out at least once.

Make sure you add your GBD to the "show us your GBD's" thread!

Will Do for sure.

Great work, Smokey. Thanks for the "step-by-step" illustration -- a great way to explain the process from someone who is motivated, but new to pipe restoration -- fine job!

Thank you Roth i hope it helps those who thought of trying it on their own.

I would leave it in there for a while because it destroys the resale value.

I think ill leave it in just to keep it original, it would drive me nuts knowing it isn't complete lol

I'll have to try the cotton pads myself on my next project.

there great for alot of things but they are a bit flimsy like Pruss said you need something with a bit more Vigour.