Rim Repair Options?

[lukasstrifeson]

Suddenly found myself with a lot of time on my hands recently (I'm sure you can guess why...) so I could cracking on a couple of restoration projects. Here's an estate pipe I'm working on with a little rim damage, so my question is: what's my best options here?


(top-right of pipe rim here, by my index finger):

(here's a zoomed in after the salt/alcohol bath):

Thanks in advance for any tips and suggestions! ?

 

[Sonorisis]

I don't know anything about this, really. But, I do see a lot of "restored" pipes on the web with beveled rims. There are conical stones, or 45 degree router bits, or spherical grinder balls, any of which could establish an even bevel as foundation for hand work.

 

[mikethompson]

You are referring to the part of the rim on the bottom on the bottom picture?

I guess you could sand down the rim around the bowl and restain. Another option would be to top the bowl as well.

 

[mso489]

To me, this is a less-is-more situation. It's not much damage so I sure wouldn't top the bowl, and I wouldn't do anything significant to reshape the rim. The bowl doesn't have much extra briar to work with, so a light sanding and perhaps a little stain for cosmetic purposes would spruce up the appearance but not take much of a toll on the briar. You could top the bowl and buff the finish and leave it looking sort of bright and new, but all-in-all, I don't think that would do the pipe any favors. To me, a little wear is not a bad thing.

 

[greeneyes]

A few passes of very high grit sandpaper will smoothe that out and be barely perceptible. Just work it evenly around the circumference.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I almost had to look twice to even see it. I’d smoke the hell outta that and not worry about it, but I understand what corona-boredom does to a man. I’d gently smooth it out with some 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000 in that order. If you have the sandpaper, that is. Make sure you treat the entire inner rim evenly, lest you end up with a weird out-of-round shape.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd either leave it alone or as an alternative, put a small chamfer on the inside of the rim. Wouldn't be noticed and would take away the slightly charred rim. I think that would be the least "intrusive" thing you could do and still achieve your objective. Myself, I would leave it alone. Pipes are to be smoked. Of course one should take care of them but over the course of time, they're going to experience a battle scar here and there. Gives them character.

 

[craig61a]

You could take the rim down slightly to the point where the buggered part is removed, but unless you have those skills and equipment, I'd leave it be. Not that noticeable really.

 

[mikethompson]

Just to repeat myself and parrot others, but it really comes down to your end game for the pipe. Is this a display piece or a smoker? Your use of the pipe, and the enjoyment you get from that use should be paramount.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. I think the general consensus seems to be "less is more", which I definitely agree with.

I think if I stain the pipe a slightly darker brown and give the bowl a carbon-coat, the charred rim should be all but invisible.

Will update with progress.

 

[BROBS]

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. I think the general consensus seems to be "less is more", which I definitely agree with.

I think if I stain the pipe a slightly darker brown and give the bowl a carbon-coat, the charred rim should be all but invisible.

Will update with progress.

I’ve fixed these by slightly topping the bowl then chamfering the inner rim until the burn is gone. Gives it a nice easy load taper.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Just finished working the stem to a concert piano black; (will probably do another coat of Obsidian oil and then wax it for smoking).

As with the bowl/chamber I'm debating sanding the inside rim a bit into a slightly beveled opening or leaving it as is and giving it a Castello Aristocratica stain... Personally leaning towards the latter. Will mull it over while I prep some other pipes for restoration...

It's a shame the paper is blocking the char on the rim in the second picture but it's really not a huge deal. Only when you look down the rim straight on can you notice the dents in the perfect circle.

I'm really quite pleased with how it's coming back to life, probably one of my best thrift finds/restoration projects.

 

[ssjones]

A few passes of very high grit sandpaper will smoothe that out and be barely perceptible. Just work it evenly around the circumference.

Ditto.

 

[jhowell]

Try staining first - you can always sand later...

 

[Scottishgaucho]

Nice pipe. ?

 

[lukasstrifeson]

For those following along:

Trying out a new technique to mimic the Castello Aristocratica finish (but with the more Danish red hue), stealing from the great Mark Rothko: infinite layers of highly diluted coats meticulously applied -

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Update #2: -

Sanding the inner rim down just a touch and applied this Aristocratic-ish stain and voila!

Being an (A) grade, the grains really weren't much to look at but wherever possible I tried to blend/sand it into that "flaming" transition.

The bowl cleaned down to the bare briar easily and was in pretty great condition but I decided to give it a super thin and light carbon coating mostly to hide the charred rim.

Toying with the idea of a thin (1-2mm) band to A) accent the colors a little and B) to hide the slight different in dimension from cleaning the stem. Any suggestions on hardware is welcomed.