Show Us Your Best Restorations

[mikethompson]

I know there are some very talented restorers on this site that have taken just beat down pipes and turned them into things of beauty. I'm currently looking at getting Ric from Briarville to restore a nice old bulldog I have.
Lets see some before and afters of your work!
If I can find some before pictures of my 1950 Peterson I will post it up. A forum member here cleaned it up for me.

 

[mikethompson]

from here

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[rdavid]

Duane
I gotta ask... What is that gray coating in your bowls? Is it a thin layer of ash? Looks great whatever it is. Thanks.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I gotta ask... What is that gray coating in your bowls?

Irwin's cured their pipes with rum. To simulate that, I made simple syrup out of rum, painted the chamber with a very thin layer of it, then coated it with sorghum ash.

 

[mso489]

I'm always amazed by the before and after pictures on pipe restoration on Forums. It's amazing how new life and extra grain can be discovered in well-worn and even abused pipes, and the stem restorations look so good they look phony. They're more than just polished up, they're breathing with shine, like new. Once you can do that with an estate pipe, I don't think you'd ever buy a new one.

 

[madox07]

I am an amateur restorer myself, need to look up some pictures later on.

 

[Chasing Embers]

the stem restorations look so good they look phony. They're more than just polished up, they're breathing with shine, like new

The magic of toothpaste.

 

[mikethompson]

I was hoping that 'split' picture of yours would get posted Embers. Great job on that one!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I was hoping that 'split' picture of yours would get posted Embers. Great job on that one!

Thanks! That was very painstaking to put together and my phone was threatened with a hammer many times while trying to get the images lined up. :mrgreen:

 

[vorgath]

I agree with MSO.
I doubt I'll buy more than one or two new ones, and instead look for older ones.

 

[donjgiles]

Here is one from a generous Friend.

Ash felt bad for me for making the first Loewe Bulldog so aerodynamic, he sent me another to practice on.

Here are the results. More attention to detail and slower work make the difference for me.
Before

After

Don

 

[ashdigger]

That's great. :clap: :clap:

 

[danielplainview]

 

[danielplainview]

I misread. I thought you said best restorationist.

 

[Chasing Embers]

More attention to detail and slower work make the difference for me.

Absolutely. Gorgeous work!

 

[mau1]

Duane, I have to ask, and I know this sounds silly, but what brand of toothpaste do you use? What do you stay away from?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Duane, I have to ask, and I know this sounds silly, but what brand of toothpaste do you use? What do you stay away from?

Not silly at all. I use plain old Colgate. I avoid anything with baking soda or any other powdered abrasive additives.

 

[mau1]

The basic white Colgate, no corrosive teeth whitening additives, got it. I will give it a shot. I'm using Oxiclean but some part of me questions whether or not the stuff is doing damage in the long run. I may be over thinking it though.