Resto Question: Do You Prefer a Minimal or "Full" Pipe Restoration?

[dunnyboy]

Striping and restaining is absolutely NOT restoration in any sense, as nothing is being restored, it's being subbed out.

When an Old Master is undergoing restoration, structural repairs are made to the painting's support, the surface is carefully cleaned to remove accumulated grime, old "restorations" may be removed because they went overboard with the painting or did it badly, and damaged areas are patched and then overpainted as minimally as possible to minimize the damage. The overpainting is separated from the original paint by a barrier so that it doesn't affect the original and can be removed at a later date if necessary, without harming the original. Restoration renews the original. It doesn't replace it.

A total restaining isn't renewing the original, it's replacing it. So, no, re-staining is not restoration, unless done in damaged areas to renew the existing stain, or in the case of a topped rim, to re-stain to match the original finish.

Fascinating. I had no idea that museum-level painting restoration was designed to be reversible!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Fascinating. I had no idea that museum-level painting restoration was designed to be reversible!

At least when it comes to book collecting, archival repairs must be reversible—this is why water based PVA adhesives are used for repairing tears, etc.

 

[dunnyboy]

The only pipes I've ever had to deep clean are my own. Any pipe that requires more than that I've sent to Mike Meyers for a careful and restrained restoration. The only estates I've bought have been from SP, who limit what they'll accept for restoration and are excellent at doing that.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Don't get me started
My comments on the topic would be way too elaborate.
Anyway I like to deep clean/refurbish my pipes myself rather than buy a refurbished, let alone a so-called "restored" and "ready to smoke " one.
Overly buffed, polished and - waxed pipes make me feel very uneasy .
A poor restoration job is mostly irreversable.

 

[logs]

Pristine pipes are pretty but they're also boring. I want a distressed relic pipe, like this one... recovered from the Battle of Stalingrad. Truly shit-blasted pipes are difficult to find, even on ebay. The coolest most exquisitely battered ones are rarer than any vintage Dunhill. I suspect that most distressed pipes end up in the dumpster because nobody seems to want an old battered pipe unless it can be perfectly restored. Very sad if you ask me. These pipes have a story and I love them.