The Howard "Feed N Wax" pictured above is a somewhat different formulation than mentioned up stream.
School me on Keeping Briar Looking New
- Thread starter Briar Lee
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
The Howard "Feed N Wax" pictured above is a somewhat different formulation than mentioned up stream.
I prefer a subdued shine on my briars and therefore am not of the carnauba wax crowd.
Ballistol is a mineral foodsafe oil and works miracles. You can also clean your puppy's ears with it
So does recorder oil ; it is vitamin E added twice refined linseed oil, odourless and thin as water.
Brings the grain really alive and to an amazing soft shine.
So does Mark Hoover's restoration balm.
Just one layer of renaissance wax protects the briar and gives a nice silk like shine.
Occasionally I reach for a carnauba wax that can be applied and polished out with a soft cloth.
All things considered I prefer recorder oil. And yes some nose-, or forehead smoothies of course.
When a child I saw old men rubbing their pipes on their noses . it looked like a mysterious ritual .
Little did I know ; it somehow felt very intriguing.
Abandon the olive - or any vegetable oil .
Whatever oil you apply, a drop or two will do and after a while wipe of the access .
Ballistol is a mineral foodsafe oil and works miracles. You can also clean your puppy's ears with it
So does recorder oil ; it is vitamin E added twice refined linseed oil, odourless and thin as water.
Brings the grain really alive and to an amazing soft shine.
So does Mark Hoover's restoration balm.
Just one layer of renaissance wax protects the briar and gives a nice silk like shine.
Occasionally I reach for a carnauba wax that can be applied and polished out with a soft cloth.
All things considered I prefer recorder oil. And yes some nose-, or forehead smoothies of course.
When a child I saw old men rubbing their pipes on their noses . it looked like a mysterious ritual .
Little did I know ; it somehow felt very intriguing.
Abandon the olive - or any vegetable oil .
Whatever oil you apply, a drop or two will do and after a while wipe of the access .
Last edited:
People keep saying no to olive oil. Is that based in observed fact or theory? In my experience it works great, and I've never had any bad experience with it. Great for stems too.
When it comes to our pipess there is no such thing as an oberved fact.
Or is there
Or is there
Vegetable and fruit oils will turn rancid eventually.
Olive oil on the surface of pipe is seldom a problem as it'll get rubbed off before it turns.
I just got in five splendid condition old 7 and 5 point star Three Star Lees, that I could have just put out on display and smoked as they were found.
But wouldn’t that be, too easy?.
An Everclear soaked paper towel removes a lot of patina. Easy use of 4/0 steel wool takes care of light carbon on the rims. Then grape seed oil may be theoretically better than olive oil or nose oil (which is what I think these were finished with). Nevr Dull polishing wadding, just a pinch, restores gold stars to new.
I smoke my pipes during the day wearing a pure soft wool business suit, and neither my pipe nor suit, or tie, should give off an artificial looking shine. It’s just not becoming, you know?
Thanks to my friends here I ordered in a two piece jeweler’s cloth.
What a nice addition to my pipe maintenance gear!
I think the red cloth is coarser, the yellow cloth softer and finer.
After grape seed oil then a bit of beeswax the jeweler’s cloths make them look, like a new soft shoe.
NEW SOFT SHOE
But wouldn’t that be, too easy?.
An Everclear soaked paper towel removes a lot of patina. Easy use of 4/0 steel wool takes care of light carbon on the rims. Then grape seed oil may be theoretically better than olive oil or nose oil (which is what I think these were finished with). Nevr Dull polishing wadding, just a pinch, restores gold stars to new.
I smoke my pipes during the day wearing a pure soft wool business suit, and neither my pipe nor suit, or tie, should give off an artificial looking shine. It’s just not becoming, you know?
Thanks to my friends here I ordered in a two piece jeweler’s cloth.
What a nice addition to my pipe maintenance gear!
I think the red cloth is coarser, the yellow cloth softer and finer.
After grape seed oil then a bit of beeswax the jeweler’s cloths make them look, like a new soft shoe.
NEW SOFT SHOE
I'm of the opinion if it's your pipe rub what the hell you want on it especially if it's free. I peronally wouldn't pay a penny for any 'magical' product but I'm not against those who do. A spit and polish even does me...When it comes to our pipess there is no such thing as an oberved fact.
Or is there
True . I not a magician, but I can do a little magic with basic stuff.
Shirt tails. I just wipe my smooth pipes down with my shirt tail same as how I clean my glasses. I'm a simple man. On rare occasion I'll buff a pipe on the buffing wheel with carnauba.
Ive used the Howard’s Feed ‘N Wax for years on my gunstocks. On a whim I used this on my pipes in the last couple weeks and have been pleased with the results. It’s food grade mineral oil, beeswax, and carnauba, I just apply and buff off with an old t-shirt. 
Last edited:
A Stanwell i just used the butcher block stuff on the stummel and obsidian oil on the stem. Not as shiny as buffed carnauba, but I like it this way. Easy maintenance, too. Buffed with that pink microfiber cloth on the left.
I keep my briar pipes looking good by never picking them up and never smoking them. As long as you smoke meerschaum pipes, your briar pipes will look shiny and brand new!
I have to admit, you've got me curious about Lee pipes—if I were to look for one to add to my collection, should I be looking for a five point star or a seven point star? Should I avoid ones with two stars and look for only three and five stars? Is the quality appreciably different when it comes to the five star period and the seven, and number of stars? Do they all have stingers?
I especially like the dog treat jar with the liver snap treat prominently displayed. My beloved bulldog had all kinds of high end treats but actually loved relatively inexpensive liver snaps most of all. Lots of smooth pipes there, thought you were a fellow sandblast devotee...
Gorgeous Stanwell @jcinpa !
I guess I’m odd man out, I like my pipes to look old and used. That’s why I drop them now and again, usually in the grass, sometimes in the river and unfortunately sometimes on the cement. This is what I tell myself at least.
I guess I’m odd man out, I like my pipes to look old and used. That’s why I drop them now and again, usually in the grass, sometimes in the river and unfortunately sometimes on the cement. This is what I tell myself at least.
I totally agree. My retirement Pete is showing signs of skin oil from my hands and I love it.
not down with dropping pipes. But I agree the used pipe look is where it's at. Rim darkening isn't a bad thing it a sign a pipe is used.
- Status