Removing Years of Grease from a Pipe

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bigbeard

Might Stick Around
Apr 9, 2020
70
451
Canada
I think you did the best job relative to their condition. Enjoy them! Did Granddad "move out" of the home, or the bigger move?

He's still going and is almost 90!

6 years ago, he left his home of 53 year to move in with us. That's when I brought the pipes.

Last year, he moved to a long-term care facility.

I can't wait to show him once the lockdown is over and I can visit him again.
 

karam

Lifer
Feb 2, 2019
2,341
9,012
Basel, Switzerland
Amazing job on the restoration!

Also, love this generation's approach to fixing things: if it works it works, and nothing is ever thrown away! I find the approach is the same no matter what country you're from, I'm from Greece and can vouch that my grandparents fixed stuff in exactly the same way, for example my grandpa used used glue and wire to fix his broken dentures :)
 

bigbeard

Might Stick Around
Apr 9, 2020
70
451
Canada
Amazing job on the restoration!

Also, love this generation's approach to fixing things: if it works it works, and nothing is ever thrown away! I find the approach is the same no matter what country you're from, I'm from Greece and can vouch that my grandparents fixed stuff in exactly the same way, for example my grandpa used used glue and wire to fix his broken dentures :)

Thanks, Karam.

My Dad always called my Grandpa (his father-in-law), "The man of the $20 solution".

Grandpa could fix almost anything for $20 or less. Often $0 using parts from his shop.
 
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mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
Don't be afraid to use water. Don't soak the briar, but running the tap over it is fine. Most pipe manufacture involves some use of water. Acetone is pretty volatile, so use it outdoors or with good ventilation, open windows or air circulation. Your grandfather was a real old time pipe smoker. Use those pipes and patch 'em up and use 'em some more. What a great tribute to bring them back to use. I think they're about broken in.
 

maulragoth

Part of the Furniture Now
Jan 30, 2018
579
6,078
Really appreciated seeing the restoration, what a grand tribute to your grandfather as well. Very cool.
 
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May 2, 2020
4,664
23,771
Louisiana
I’m a bit late to this thread, but for future reference, I’ve had very good results with a cheap kids’ electric toothbrush and a high-octane libation. I put a little rum or whiskey in a shot glass and dip the toothbrush and go at it. It’s worked great for me, especially on plateaus with rim darkening. The toothbrush I use looks like a Crayola Crayon Cost me like $6.
 
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Dworkin

Lurker
Apr 24, 2020
19
46
Folks,

A slight side issue. I have been doing similar cleaning (to the OP) on old pipes and find an odd thing with the stems. A little soapy water and a toothbrush and the stems have changed colour! They have gone from near black to a light khaki. On another pipe just smoking it has changed the end of the stem to light khaki. These were old pipes, with no shine on the stems.

Weird. :confused:

D.

PS - Great job, OP, and a tribute to your Grandad.
 
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May 2, 2020
4,664
23,771
Louisiana
Folks,

A slight side issue. I have been doing similar cleaning (to the OP) on old pipes and find an odd thing with the stems. A little soapy water and a toothbrush and the stems have changed colour! They have gone from near black to a light khaki. On another pipe just smoking it has changed the end of the stem to light khaki. These were old pipes, with no shine on the stems.

Weird. :confused:

D.

PS - Great job, OP, and a tribute to your Grandad.
Sounds like oxidation. Some of the members here have had good luck with micro mesh pads. I usually just buff them with some no-scratch compound. If that doesn’t work then I sand them as lightly as possible, finishing with 1,000 grit sandpaper, and then buff.
 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,568
27,070
Carmel Valley, CA
A light coat of mineral oil will put them back to where they were before the brushing and cleaning. It won't remove the oxidation that was uncovered, which you may or may not wish to spend time on.
 
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Buckler

Starting to Get Obsessed
May 25, 2020
103
148
NSW, AUSTRALIA
Mate, that is a killer restoration!! Looks SO good now!!

Thanks to everyone for the excellent advice. It took a month of work.

Tonight, I had my first smoke out of the pipe I used to watch Grandpa smoke 35 years ago.

It's a Brigham 5-dot made in Canada with a vulcanite stem.

Vulcanite feels so good in the mouth.

Strangely enough, the stem won't go into shank with a rock maple filter. I smoked it without the filter.

View attachment 30100

View attachment 30101

View attachment 30102

The pipe had a lot of cherry aroma from whatever Grandpa used to smoke. Captain Black and Half-and-Half were his primaries. I used Kosher salt and vodka. It reduced the cherry by about ¾.

View attachment 30097

I used Murphy's Oil Soap and a soft toothbrush for a LOT of scrubbing. It removed the grease and the finish.

View attachment 30098

A nice coating of mineral oil and a good buffing made the briar beautiful.

View attachment 30099

The vulcanite stem (left) was my biggest fear. Plenty of vodka-soaked pipe cleaners, oxiclean and micromesh cleaned it up beautifully. A bit of olive oil and buffing made it shine.

View attachment 30106

View attachment 30107

Thanks again to everyone.
 
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jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,568
27,070
Carmel Valley, CA
All threats should be reported to the Mods...... :)

Agree. Great job. How did you treat the stem of this one?
semi-clean-pipe-4-a-jpg.26160
 
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