Repairing Hole in Bottom of Clay Peterson

[runscott]

I have an old clay Peterson that is unsmoked because a hole was knocked out of the bottom. It's hard to see from the chamber photo, but the hole is exactly at the draft hole.

My plan is to push a little bit of plaster/egg white mixture in from the inside of the chamber, let it dry, then, from the outside, add white CA glue for strength.

Thoughts?

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Fireplace mortar

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My thoughts are... these are cheap enough that you could easily replace it. I know, I know,,, it's hard to let go. I used to have a friend of mine that was a potter that always said when someone broke one of his ceramic pieces, "humanity has been making pots since we first stood up, and if the shit didn't break, we'd be up to our necks in it."

 

[runscott]

My thoughts are... these are cheap enough that you could easily replace it. I know, I know,,, it's hard to let go. I used to have a friend of mine that was a potter that always said when someone broke one of his ceramic pieces, "humanity has been making pots since we first stood up, and if the shit didn't break, we'd be up to our necks in it."

I agree that they were made cheap and they look cheap, but ... the Peterson dutch clay is still expensive. I saved the following assertion from the auction description of someone who seems to be the favorite ebay seller of members here: "In 1937 they stuck with the 12 and discontinued the 8. The 8 is a classic Dutch Billiard system which is equivalent to the later 313." It's not true, of course, as this pipe was made well after 1937, but they did discontinue this shape before stopping clay pipe production altogether.

But the guy I acquired it from felt the same way you do - he gifted it to me because he didn't want to deal with the hole. So I completely get it.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Plaster might be strong enough on its own. I would consider putting a piece of silicone tubing into the draft hole and pack the plaster carefully from the outside (easier to push from the larger end of the hole into the smaller one). A very thin layer of amber CA diluted with clear CA might match the outer patina.

 

[runscott]

Plaster might be strong enough on its own. I would consider putting a piece of silicone tubing into the draft hole and pack the plaster carefully from the outside (easier to push from the larger end of the hole into the smaller one). A very thin layer of amber CA diluted with clear CA might match the outer patina.

Thanks. I had to buy medium/thick white CA glue for some ivory repairs, so I will dry some of it and see what color results.

 

[ssjones]

Fireplace mortar

Is that available in white? I thought only black, but never had a reason to search.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Is that available in white? I thought only black, but never had a reason to search.

It is available in white. Well, sort of. Pics look grey, but it’s listed as being white.

 

[AroEnglish]

Any update on the repair?

 

[runscott]

Any update on the repair?

No, I had a couple of estates arrive and I've been restoring them. I have the clay and a few briars that need pipe mud, so I'll probably work on all of them this weekend.

 

[runscott]

It is available in white. Well, sort of. Pics look grey, but it’s listed as being white.

In the pic that shows the grey mortar, the dried stuff on the walls of the pail are white.

 

[AroEnglish]

No, I had a couple of estates arrive and I've been restoring them. I have the clay and a few briars that need pipe mud, so I'll probably work on all of them this weekend.

Looking forward to how it turns out.