Painted pipe?

[jpipes]

Hello, I've had this pipe for around 3 years now and yesterday I was smoking it (using matches because I have to recharge my lighter) and after I had finished, I noticed some little bubbles on the rim. At first I thought it was humidity but when I tried to clean them they just wouldn't come out. I pressed harder and one of them burst, and it was as if I had peeled off some painting.

I took a photo of it:

So what I wanted to know is, is the pipe painted? Barnished? Is it of some sort of fake wood? I don't know what to think, really.

P.S.: I'm sorry I can't explain better, but with english not being my first language and the whole situation just being so strange...

 

[oldmansmoking]

That's not paint but the varnish/coating on the pipe. Had a few of my cheap pipes go like that.

It will not effect the way it smokes but will not look pretty.

You can leave it, rub it/sand it. Or take it all back to wood and restrain.

The choice is yours.

 

[cortezattic]

Welcome to the forums. :clap:

What brand of pipe is it? It looks like it was stained to a very dark color, then lacquered to conceal some fills. I had a Rattray's pipe treated in this way and I removed the lacquer with sandpaper to reveal beautiful grain (except for the minor fills).

 

[sablebrush52]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like a lacquer failure. Can't see your image as photofuckup is preventing your image from being displayed on remote servers. There is a "how to" section at the top of the main forum page that will tell you how to upload an image to the PM site, and that will allow anyone and everyone to see your images.

 

[jpipes]

Thank you all for your answers.

The pipe is labeled "Knight", and a quick internet search showed me that the company is either defunct or too cheap to have a website; either case, the pipe is a cheap one so I guess it has to do with the varnish. I am a bit afraid to try and sandpaper it, but I might just give it a go.

Here's the picture again, reuploaded to the PM servers:

 

[sablebrush52]

Yep, looks like the coating has failed. If you have some wood working skills you can dissolve off the coating and refinish the pipe. Lots here do. Otherwise you can sand the area or leave it alone. "Who Made That Pipe?" shows an entry for a "Knight" pipe made by Oppenheimer Group in England, which may or may not be correct.
If you're looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy smoking a pipe, have you tried out cobs?

 

[danielplainview]

Acetone will remove the clear coat. It'll have to be waxed and polished afterwards if you want it shiny.

 

[oldmansmoking]

You can get Knight basket pipes from E A Carey's, they are poor quality and give a terrible smoke.

I would get a Cob - diplomat, or an estate Falcon.

 

[jpipes]

I never considered cobs before, but I searched them out and they are really very cheap. For the prices that they go for I can only get imitation wood pipes, and I really don't think that they are used for what I want them for 8O

So I think that's what I'll go for, because all that work sanding and revarnishing the pipe just doesn't seem worth it, given that it is just a cheap pipe. Thank you all very much!

 

[mikethompson]

It's your money, and you're pipe, and I don't make your decisions - but - if you want to change your pipe and are on a budget (and who isn't?) Have you considered an estate pipe?
An estate pipe is just a fancy sounding way of saying a used pipe. Generally you can get a very nice pipe for a reasonable price.

 

[skaukatt]

Also, there are a number of "quality" briar pipes that can be had for under $100 if you wanted to go that route.

 

[sablebrush52]

I don't know why the directions didn't work for you, but I had no problem. Maybe the video would work better for you.

I can't help you with identifying the pipe. Likely an artisan maker, maybe a hobbyist. Nice looking pipe!

 

[mso489]

jpipes, I might suggest a Missouri Meerschaum Dagner pipe, offered at the MM website. It's a cob with a nice acrylic bit (more durable than the standard MM bit), it has a good big bowl, and sits on its base (very conveniently). It's only about $24, expensive for a cob but still inexpensive. Since MM cobs can last for years, go ahead and get a nice one.