Bought this bent dog off eBay for $10 knowing it would need fixing. Other than the major issue, the pipe is in good condition and I assume it had light use.
What do you repair experts think? Fill and band, or fill, or band?
Should this be a fill or band fix?
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Bought this bent dog off eBay for $10 knowing it would need fixing. Other than the major issue, the pipe is in good condition and I assume it had light use.
What do you repair experts think? Fill and band, or fill, or band?
Banding a square/diamond shank is a very tricky business. Especially if you use nickel instead of silver (and that pipe doesn't rate $ilver). Meaning I don't recommend trying it yourself, and be prepared to be disappointed at the fit you'll get if you send it off for a utility-grade repair.
Given that, and since you have so little money in the pipe, I'd just fill it and hope for the best. Square shanks are more crack-prone than round ones because of the unequal wall thickness around the mortise, so if it has survived so far, it probably has grain orientation in the area that favors durability.
Given that, and since you have so little money in the pipe, I'd just fill it and hope for the best. Square shanks are more crack-prone than round ones because of the unequal wall thickness around the mortise, so if it has survived so far, it probably has grain orientation in the area that favors durability.
Is there a crack that propagates to the mortise? If not, you could just fill it or leave it be. However, it's important to consider that thermal expansions of different materials cause cracks. If you end up smoking it too warm, that could make things worse. That being said, if it's a good smoker and you have the cash to have a band put on it, I say band it up. It would look very good with a nickel silver band on it like the Peterson 80s or 999.
One alternative... send it out and have the shank shortened to eliminate the cracked section. Assuming there is no other structural damage related to the crack, it should be a non issue. Will require shortening the tenon as well, but considering the small amount of shank lost, it would be a small amount of tenon as well. I don't think it would effect the aesthetics and visual balance at all based on how small it looks.
"One alternative... send it out and have the shank shortened to eliminate the cracked section"
This is the direction I would go. Make it go away.
This is the direction I would go. Make it go away.
I wouldn't put 20 or more bucks into a ten dollar pipe, unless it's otherwise perfect. I'd fill it, set it and forget it.
She a good smoker as is? Hope so.
She a good smoker as is? Hope so.
It's a rare $10 pipe that is that well cut, though. Looks a lot like a Dunhill P (which is highly sought after).
http://www.glpease.com/Pipes/Collection/dunhill.html
Besides, rescuing such stray pipes is like rescuing puppies and kittens... besides the immediate satisfaction, it makes the Pipe Gods predisposed to send special stuff your way in the future. :D
Filling at the stem joint poses some special challenges. If you don't get it right the stem will not fit flush to the shank. That in turn will make it more likely that you will get the bit broken off if the pipe is ever dropped. It's a nice looking shape. A little investment ($) might be worthwhile. Cutting it down will probably result in the need for a new stem as it's highly unlikely the shortened shank and the original dimensions will be exactly the same. It's a nice shape and you're in it for short money, getting the repair done by a pro might be the best option. Any irregularity in that joint will show up sharply, the mating surface must be at 90 degrees to the tenon or there will be a gap. Very hard to do by hand, even a skilled one.
Well I received a very thoughtful Pm from Fnord. After reading it through this morning, I couldn't keep the pipe. It goes to him.
If he would like to share the story, that is up to him, but in my opinion. He should be the owner of the pipe.
If he would like to share the story, that is up to him, but in my opinion. He should be the owner of the pipe.
:
Guys:
In the late 70's - early 80's I remember reading a Look/Life article on the Rhodesia "Troubles" and there was a wonderful pix of a Rhodesian farmer with a pipe very similar to AF's hanging out of his mouth. (Do you older hands remember how good their shooters really were?)
A few years later I was teaching English in a Scottish school in Argentina alongside a wonderful couple from Rhodesia - part of the very sad white flight that sent Zimbabwe tumbling under Robert Mugabe's heavy handed reign. I was visiting with the wife, Wanda, one morning during a shared planning period and she told me that one of her sons had served with the Selous Scouts back home.
I love history, it was my major in school, and military history has always been a special interest. When Wanda mentioned the Selous Scouts I began gushing my admiration for their success rate in fighting the "terrs" and how the world will never again see the successful wide deployment of horse mounted warriors in modern combat. (Please don't judge me harshly. I was all of 22, full of piss, vinegar and myself.)
Wanda's eyes filled with tears as I spoke and she finally said, "Please don't say anymore. One of my sons was a Second Leftenant with the Selous Scouts and he died two years ago when his horse stepped on a mine."
Open mouth. Insert foot. Die a thousand deaths. Look for deepest hole to crawl into.
So, long story short, I immediately fell in love with Kelley's pipe, made him a modest but "Adam Smith Proud" offer and he graciously accepted. That burner might never get repaired - much less smoked. If it just remains another pipe on the rack then I'll be okay with that... but it won't. It'll be right up there alongside my grandfather's Half & Half pipe tool and his favorite ashtray, a chewed to hell Sav given to me by the old friend who started this pipe smoking hobby for me and a few other burners, tampers and kind words from some folks here who continue to light my path, (my favorite Cajun, Mr. ejames, Beekeeper, Pruss and his new family, Mod Al, Dean, Allan F., Kelley, Shikano53, Marine Yaz, Harris, Rothnh, et al).
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Fnord
In the late 70's - early 80's I remember reading a Look/Life article on the Rhodesia "Troubles" and there was a wonderful pix of a Rhodesian farmer with a pipe very similar to AF's hanging out of his mouth. (Do you older hands remember how good their shooters really were?)
A few years later I was teaching English in a Scottish school in Argentina alongside a wonderful couple from Rhodesia - part of the very sad white flight that sent Zimbabwe tumbling under Robert Mugabe's heavy handed reign. I was visiting with the wife, Wanda, one morning during a shared planning period and she told me that one of her sons had served with the Selous Scouts back home.
I love history, it was my major in school, and military history has always been a special interest. When Wanda mentioned the Selous Scouts I began gushing my admiration for their success rate in fighting the "terrs" and how the world will never again see the successful wide deployment of horse mounted warriors in modern combat. (Please don't judge me harshly. I was all of 22, full of piss, vinegar and myself.)
Wanda's eyes filled with tears as I spoke and she finally said, "Please don't say anymore. One of my sons was a Second Leftenant with the Selous Scouts and he died two years ago when his horse stepped on a mine."
Open mouth. Insert foot. Die a thousand deaths. Look for deepest hole to crawl into.
So, long story short, I immediately fell in love with Kelley's pipe, made him a modest but "Adam Smith Proud" offer and he graciously accepted. That burner might never get repaired - much less smoked. If it just remains another pipe on the rack then I'll be okay with that... but it won't. It'll be right up there alongside my grandfather's Half & Half pipe tool and his favorite ashtray, a chewed to hell Sav given to me by the old friend who started this pipe smoking hobby for me and a few other burners, tampers and kind words from some folks here who continue to light my path, (my favorite Cajun, Mr. ejames, Beekeeper, Pruss and his new family, Mod Al, Dean, Allan F., Kelley, Shikano53, Marine Yaz, Harris, Rothnh, et al).
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Fnord
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