restoration help

[changojoe]

Hello!!! i came across some very nice briar's in a antique store for only $5.00 bucks !!

the bad thing is that the stems where nasty!!! teeth marks, chewed up!!!!

where do you buy new stems?? could these stems be repaired ??

my next question is what kind of stain do you recommend for re-staining the bowl.

 

[wallbright]

Hey Changojoe, a link to the pipe restoring tips thread can be found here. I am fairly new to pipe restoring so I cannot give you exact details what to do but maybe you can find it somewhere in that thread. I know that Chuck, Bob, and UncleArthur will for sure be able to answer your questions. But in the mean time check the thread out there are some links to some external articles that may help. If you can post some pictures of your recent acquisitions we would love to see them. Hope this all helps.

 

[cortezattic]

Walker Briarworks is your source, and they do restorations & deodorization too!

 

[unclearthur]

If the stems aren't too badly chewed up you can use needle files gently. Followed by superfine wet or dry sand paper used wet. From there I go to my buffer.

 

[chuckw]

Vulcanite will return to it's original shape when heated. I use a heat gun to lift tooth marks if they aren't too bad. Stem replacement will run you about $20 to $30 if you decide to go that way. I use Tim West www.jhlowe.com.

Aniline dry is the preferred stain for pipes. You can find it at any shoe repair shop worth it's salt.
Luck to ya.

 

[unclearthur]

There are a number of places on line to buy stems. The problem is they are mostly available only in lots of a dozen (for vulcanite ) and they still have to be properly fitted to the pipe. Chuck's suggestion of Tim West is an excellent one. Heck of a nice guy and does superlative work.

 

[wallbright]

Man I had a stem that fit way way too tight on the pipe. I tried to get it out after putting it back together and it snapped! Now I guess I am left to tape on the stem rather than pay $20 to get a stem for a $10 pipe lol. Any other ideas guys? I dont care what it looks like honestly. It is a large pipe and the grain is beautiful, only problem is the owner before had it in a rack and just above the heel of the bowl is scratched super bad. I got it from a lot I bought on ebay. It is a nice pipe and feels good in the hand but the stem never fit all the way and now it is broken.

 

[unclearthur]

Shoot a picture of the victim and let me guess what can be done .

 

[wallbright]

Unclearthur,
Here are some pictures of the scratches and then a picture of the snapped stem.

 

[unclearthur]

Weeeell! Best I can say for it is scrounge a stem that will fit with a bit of adjustment or send it off to Tim. No hope for that stem.