Savinelli Problems

[MortarMessiah]

I own six pipes all straight billiard. I haven't been smoking for very long, a out 6 months. I've had problems with the finish coming off the Savinellis. A Tortuga 106 and a Cumberland 803. I guess I'm smoking too hot, but I really don't think I am, the bowl is barely warm. When it happens to the first pipe I figured it was the pipe but now my second Savinelli is doing it too. I've only had maybe 4 smokes out of it. Burley. I don't let bowl get too warm. So I don't know. I'll post a picture of them in a min. Is this a common problem with Savinelli? How can I fix this, or re finish them?

 

[MortarMessiah]

 

[MortarMessiah]

I don't know if y'all can tell by the pictures. But the finish is coming off. I swear I'm not smoking hot. It's worth noting both these models are on the smaller size. Maybe that's part of it, I don't know. What y'all think? And what can I do about it?

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's just the wax. Happens to all waxed pipes over time.

 

[MortarMessiah]

Should it come off in the first couple bowls?

 

[MortarMessiah]

I ain't smoked but maybe a few bowls

 

[MortarMessiah]

Good to know it's normal though

 

[Snook]

Are your hands by chance covered in alcohol while holding the pipe? That might wear away the finish.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Part of pipe smoking that doesn’t always get mentioned to new smokers is that pipes require maintenance—cleaning the internals after smoking is a must if you want to avoid funky flavours later, and if you care about the looks, you woll also need to take of the exterior.

Below is a photo of several microcrystalline waxes that can be used to polish the exterior of your pipes.



The Paragon wax in the foreground was intended for smooth finishes, and the Halcyon II for sandblasted and rusticated; both are out of production now, but can sometimes be found.

Renaissance and Von Schneider are museum quality microcrystalline waxes. I can heartily recommend either one for use on Briar and Meerschaum. You can get a small 65ml tin of Renaissance, which is probably enough to last you a good, long while.

The Le Crayons a Gratter Conservator wax is wetter, has a more pronounced solvent smell (which goes away quickly) and will offer a slightly higher sheen. It works well. I haven’t tried the Decatur yet, but it can be found easily.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Should it come off in the first couple bowls?

It sure can.

 

[MortarMessiah]

Are your hands by chance covered in alcohol while holding the pipe? That might wear away the finish.

I thought about this, like a chemical or cleaner or something from work. That's possible maybe. Like today I got off work, and picked up my pipe. I don't think I had anything on my hands though. I work with sheet metal.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Part of pipe smoking that doesn’t always get mentioned to new smokers is that pipes require maintenance—cleaning the internals after smoking is a must if you want to avoid funky flavours later, and if you care about the looks, you woll also need to take of the exterior.

Below is a photo of several microcrystalline waxes that can be used to polish the exterior of your pipes.

View attachment 360366

The Paragon wax in the foreground was intended for smooth finishes, and the Halcyon II for sandblasted and rusticated; both are out of production now, but can sometimes be found.

Renaissance and Von Schneider are museum quality microcrystalline waxes. I can heartily recommend either one for use on Briar and Meerschaum. You can get a small 65ml tin of Renaissance, which is probably enough to last you a good, long while.

The Le Crayons a Gratter Conservator wax is wetter, has a more pronounced solvent smell (which goes away quickly) and will offer a slightly higher sheen. It works well. I haven’t tried the Decatur yet, but it can be found easily.

A jeweler's cloth does a fine job as well.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

A jeweler's cloth does a fine job as well.

View attachment 360368View attachment 360369

Yup.

 

[sardonicus87]

Yep, here's two examples. I don't polish my pipes, and I am a holder rather than a clencher, this is what happens.

Also bear in mind if you over-polish a pipe, you'll loose some of the finish, and if you have particularly corrosive sweat, it can further pull the finish. In my case, I have eczema (dyshidrotic/hyperhidrotic hand eczema, basically my hands stay extremely dry because they don't retain moisture, so if I am wearing gloves or they get wet they pour sweat, but if my hands in the open air they're dry as a bone).

This first is a Ropp and I took both of these pics, first is when it was brand new and unsmoked, second is now after about 10 smokes:


Here's my Peterson, one is a screenshot when I bought it and it arrived looking exactly like this, the second pic is how it looks today after a year and a good 50+ smokes:

 

[MortarMessiah]

It sure can.

I'm glad to hear it's common and I didn't get sold a janky pipe or to know I'm not hurting the pipes.

 

[MortarMessiah]

Yep, here's two examples. I don't polish my pipes, and I am a holder rather than a clencher, this is what happens.

Also bear in mind if you over-polish a pipe, you'll loose some of the finish, and if you have particularly corrosive sweat, it can further pull the finish. In my case, I have eczema (dyshidrotic/hyperhidrotic hand eczema, basically my hands stay extremely dry because they don't retain moisture, so if I am wearing gloves or they get wet they pour sweat, but if my hands in the open air they're dry as a bone).

This first is a Ropp and I took both of these pics, first is when it was brand new and unsmoked, second is now after about 10 smokes:
View attachment 360378 View attachment 360379

Here's my Peterson, one is a screenshot when I bought it and it arrived looking exactly like this, the second pic is how it looks today after a year and a good 50+ smokes:
View attachment 360380 View attachment 360381

Nice! Good looking pipes. I'm glad it's just normal wear I thought I really messed up my pipe.