Repairs, Restoration, Titillating ...

[aussielass]

As a newbie, I've just bought a heap of really daggy old pipes I itend to play with and practice on insofar as stripping them down, re-finishing them and just generally tidying them up, no repairs per se.
However, I'm finding it difficult going through & searching the forum, especially when I don't know all the correct terminology, or the words people use to ask for help can sometimes be almost unrelated, so the info remains hidden. I've found a couple of good threads, but it's soooo frustrating and difficult to find all the info I need.
I'm wondering if a section for "Repairs, Restoration & Titillation" isn't in order so that those of us with issues can ask, show pics etc. and others can advise. Alternatively, for bigger jobs, those who're able to repair, make new stems, refinish, rusticate etc etc can put themselves forward. i.e. after a week of searching I've established I could probably ask UncleArthur to make up new stems.
Also it would be a great place for people to recommend different maintenance products over others, their own recipes, tips and hints etc. all in the one spot.
What do you think? And if someone puts up a link to such a section, this technophobic 'ol fool will die of embarrassment!

 

[philip]

Dianne, if you look under the tab for Groups, I see there is a group called Pipe Making. Maybe that will help. I don't know how active the groups are, but it may be worth a try.

 

[cortezattic]

I think that dedicating a distinct forum topic to pipe repair issues is an excellent suggestion.

Something like "Ask Uncle Arthur". Maybe Kevin can get a luminary from the pipe repair world like

Lewis, Norwood, Tinsky, Walker, or West, to do an advice column for both repair and maintenance.

 

[mp31guitar]

Great idea cortezattic.

 

[philip]

Ditto. I haven't done any repairs or restorations yet (nor even titillating ), but I think it's something I might like to learn.

 

[aussielass]

Cheers for that link Philip - I'll certainly have a look through it but I am hoping a dedicated forum section where we can put up photos, list unique (and not so unique) problems, get all sorts of opinions etc would be well received and, I imagine, used heavily.
Thanks for the PM's all, much appreciated - however I have to say, searching forums and me, well we just don't seem to understand each other. I always blame the search mechanism instead of my technophobia. I know there's some weird-asssed way to search any particular forum using google & an even weirder text string you have to remember but, meh, you gotta know the words the boffins use in the first place.
I've worked with shellac & waxes for decades on antique furniture restoration so have a bit of a head start I guess, but pipe restoration, to my mind, is going to be a whole different ball game. Imagine if one of the expert gurus was to write up an instructional thread listing all the potions for stripping old finishes, adding new ones, grades & steps of sandpaper, what to do with daggy, disgusting stems etc. It would be a fantastic resource for people all over the world methinks, especially in countries like mine who don't have more than a handful of pipe shops and we're all forced to smoke Dr. Pat, blaaaargh!

 

[spyder71]

I am currently working very hard to learn all this information as we speak and think you have a great idea. Maybe I should start keeping a journal for a later artical/how to contribution based on a newbs adventures.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I've actually been meaning to go through a step-by-step in my own general restoration process. There's a lot of good information and a couple of other forums as well that have quite a bit of this information. I learned mostly online and I'm still learning different tricks and techniques.

 

[aussielass]

Hi Bootlegg, it would also be a great place for folks like you to list your particular skills and willingness to help other members with their repairs (worded carefully so as not to offend any sponsors who may offer a repair service - I know that, for my part, I cannot afford B&M store prices for any mortal thing and, besides, I prefer dealing one on one with a fellow enthusiast).

 

[matchstickman]

Youtube has great videos that have been put up by some really nifty guys who have a lot to teach about restoration. I did a couple myself on a really cheap and easy way to restore a pipe stem. Check out youtube to maybe get you started.

 

[scotrob]

@matchstickman
indeed- thats how I got started, through you tube...smokingpipes.com produced a great series of about 4 vids, which take you through their restoration process and have lots of valuable information on them. See link for first one in series:
Estate pipe restoration
also, ichbinmuede has produced a very neat and simple guide to restoration for beginners; I dont have the link for this to hand but he can be contacted or you can search through the forums to find it

 

[aussielass]

Yikes boyz, I'm talking about titillating, fixing, fiddling & farting around by HAND, not settin' up a bleedin' ruddy great workshop with noisy machines - that's what men like UncleA & Bootleg are for, bless them!

 

[scotrob]

@aussielass
lol- I only have a small hand held engraver and some micromesh sheets for buffing and sanding, and thats all I really need for restoration usually...the vid just gives general advice about polishing and sanding, but you can certainly scale it down and use their methods with just ordinary tools

 

[olderthandirt]

Aussielass brings up an excellent suggestion, we could really use a sub-forum here dedicated to pipe maintenance and refurb.
Really brief thumbnail for now, I'll echo scotrob in that I use the simplest of household items to refurb estates and garner pretty fair results.

Old tee shirts, dish soap, soft toothbrushes, q-tips, Iso.

Added to that the specialty items such as pipe cleaners, tons of em', Micro-Mesh sanding pads and Paragon wax for periodic hand waxing, a block of carnauba applied with a hand drill in a vise for longer lasting results.

 

[scotrob]

@olderthandirt
i second the pipe cleaner comment- you will get through LOTS of these