One Of My Most Hated Things To Do To A Pipe

[Dshift]

There are a few things I hate more than stem work, when it comes to pipe restorations, but having to top and bevel the inside edge of the rim is definitely worse! Not because it's hard to do, it actually feels quite rewarding, but because it alters the original pipe too much in my opinion, Pluss a big loss of material.
This being said, i just have to follow my code and do what I think is best for the pipe. I know a lot of you like your patina and I do too, to an extend, but leaving completely burnt wood on a restored pipe is something that i just don't do. If it's a very pipe maybe, but for a modern pipe, especially one considered to be a fancy dress one, it just doesn't suit it and is just a reminder for someone's misuse and abuse.
Here is the before:

Like always I decided that this needed sharing after I was done, so yet again there are no proper before photos

And the after:

I did the color matching quite well , but it got a bit lighter after the buffer, so i will probably have to darken it a bit more. This ferndown stain was quite tricky to get right, but keep in mind that i was working with raw briar as a starting point, it was also quite on the orange side actually.
Here is a photo of the pipe from the side too - the color difference looks way too dramatic on the close up, in real life the top is just a shade or two lighter than the rest.

 

[Byrd]

Yea, that rim needed some attention! You did a great job cleaning it up though. Stain is sometimes hard to match unless you do the whole pipe.

 

[doctorbob]

What's that middle pipe in the picture?

 

[Dshift]

What's that middle pipe in the picture?

It's a Hasso Baudis

 

[Scottmi]

Beautiful and appreciated work! Sadly, I have to be considered in the misuser/abuser category. Don't even know how to avoid it.

 

[Brad H]

There are a few things I hate more than stem work, when it comes to pipe restorations, but having to top and bevel the inside edge of the rim is definitely worse! Not because it's hard to do, it actually feels quite rewarding, but because it alters the original pipe too much in my opinion, Pluss a big loss of material.
This being said, i just have to follow my code and do what I think is best for the pipe. I know a lot of you like your patina and I do too, to an extend, but leaving completely burnt wood on a restored pipe is something that i just don't do. If it's a very pipe maybe, but for a modern pipe, especially one considered to be a fancy dress one, it just doesn't suit it and is just a reminder for someone's misuse and abuse.
Here is the before:
View attachment 437558View attachment 437559
Like always I decided that this needed sharing after I was done, so yet again there are no proper before photos

And the after:
View attachment 437560
I did the color matching quite well , but it got a bit lighter after the buffer, so i will probably have to darken it a bit more. This ferndown stain was quite tricky to get right, but keep in mind that i was working with raw briar as a starting point, it was also quite on the orange side actually.
Here is a photo of the pipe from the side too - the color difference looks way too dramatic on the close up, in real life the top is just a shade or two lighter than the rest.
View attachment 437564

Love the turtle.

 

[Dshift]

Beautiful and appreciated work! Sadly, I have to be considered in the misuser/abuser category. Don't even know how to avoid it.

You mean burning the rim with your lighter? Easy- pipe lighter and paying attention.

 

[anotherbob]

I now know why some restored pipes seem just slightly off. The fun with any restoration is that you'll never get it to the original state, if you do a good job you'll get it to where it seems like the original state.

 

[xrundog]

Topping a pipe is never my first choice. But if it’s burned or really banged up I’ll do it. The trick is to not take off so much it alters the proportions of the bowl.
There’s a difference between patina and damage. Where one draws that line is a personal choice.

 

[doctorbob]

It's a Hasso Baudis

I thought so, he worked within a fairly narrow aesthetic. You should sell it

 

[Scottmi]

You mean burning the rim with your lighter? Easy- pipe lighter and paying attention.

Well I'm not rightly sure. I don't think is is the lighting, but the general smoking. For example, every pipe i smoke develops this darkening on the stem-side. I regularly see older pipes with quite a lava? on that side, too. Here's a Radice of mine with about 15-20 smokes... (and new, below):

 

[Dshift]

Well I'm not rightly sure. I don't think is is the lighting, but the general smoking. For example, every pipe i smoke develops this darkening on the stem-side. I regularly see older pipes with quite a lava? on that side, too. Here's a Radice of mine with about 15-20 smokes... (and new, below):
View attachment 437879
View attachment 437880

Darkening and even a ton of lava is perfectly fine and doesn't need beveling but there was quite a deep lighters burn on the opposite side. It already looks bad on the photo, bit after all the completely burned material was removed it was just too big to leave like that. The darkness on your radice is just residue - q tip with saliva will make it like new in no time