The No Name French Surpise

[woodrow]

Sometimes they really do fight back. This was originally a yard pipe, lightly smoked. I had no idea why.

I scrubbed the pipe with Murphys, and after a two day soak in alcohol the finish was untouched. I couldn’t figure out what I had and reached out to some restorers. It was urethane. That’s right, URETHANE. That’s the surprise. No wonder it hadn’t been smoked.

I had work to do. I couldn’t have used paint remover, but decided to sand. I’d lose the rustication but at this point I really didn’t care. Virtually I threw everything I had at it.
If anyone runs into this situation use the water solvable paint remover from your hardware store. For sanding I used steel wool, and different sanding grades.

After sanding, I tried a two tone approach with a darker bottom. I did had trouble blending the top and the bottom, but worked out rather well. I did not get too much of a contrast between the top and bottom of the pipe, but for a cheap yard pipe I think I got my moneys worth. I do like this shape.
I’m looking forward to a smoke this fall.

(The pics from beginning to end thru the process)

 

[SBC]

Yes, that turned out nicely!

 

[mso489]

Do I have it right that this is a French pipe finished in urethane? I'm surprised. St. Claude, and the French pipe industry overall, is highly traditional and competitive. I'm amazed that any French pipe maker who finished a pipe in urethane wouldn't be scorned out of the business. Maybe some customer did this refinish, if it was a used pipe. I don't think you want to smoke urethane on the inside of a pipe or heat it on the outside finish either. It looks like you've put it right. I like my French pipes -- Genod, Chacom, Ropp, EWA, BC -- both for design and durability.

 

[burleybreath]

Don't believe I've ever seen a de-rustication before. Makes one wonder why it was rusticated in the first place. Great looking pipe, now. I'm impressed.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That’s right, URETHANE.

Some artisans use a diluted mix of polyurethane, alcohol based stain to seal the stain on a pipe. Acetone could've removed it without sanding. Looks a bit more like a blast than rustication though. That's a great end result!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

polyurethane or lacquer?
Lacquer mixed in various recipes of wax and oils is rather common.

 

[woodrow]

Do I have it right that this is a French pipe finished in urethane? I'm surprised. St. Claude, and the French pipe industry overall, is highly traditional and competitive. I'm amazed that any French pipe maker who finished a pipe in urethane wouldn't be scorned out of the business. Maybe some customer did this refinish, if it was a used pipe. I don't think you want to smoke urethane on the inside of a pipe or heat it on the outside finish either. It looks like you've put it right. I like my French pipes -- Genod, Chacom, Ropp, EWA, BC -- both for design and durability.

i agree. The first picture is AFTER iso Murphys and iso alcohol. I could have used acetone but was rather wary.
Next time it’ll be some water soluble paint remover. It’s good stuff. Smells a bit citrusy.
For a no name yard pipe it might smoke okay. Hope so. It took a while to remove the urethane.

 

[didimauw]

That's so much better than the original! Nice job!

 

[Chasing Embers]

polyurethane or lacquer?
Lacquer mixed in various recipes of wax and oils is rather common.

Polyurethane, especially on blasts while some use shellac.

 

[Nevaditude]

I usually hit like cuz of the great things you say, BUT… for this time, I’m gonna hit love cuz of the great Dana Delaney avatar! I just picked up the complete series set of China Beach. Its my choice for this winter‘s shop show! Always like the show AND her. She be smoking with or without the pipe. A great choice Embers, chasing Dana!

 

[MilesDavis]

Sometimes they really do fight back. This was originally a yard pipe, lightly smoked. I had no idea why.

I scrubbed the pipe with Murphys, and after a two day soak in alcohol the finish was untouched. I couldn’t figure out what I had and reached out to some restorers. It was urethane. That’s right, URETHANE. That’s the surprise. No wonder it hadn’t been smoked.

I had work to do. I couldn’t have used paint remover, but decided to sand. I’d lose the rustication but at this point I really didn’t care. Virtually I threw everything I had at it.
If anyone runs into this situation use the water solvable paint remover from your hardware store. For sanding I used steel wool, and different sanding grades.

After sanding, I tried a two tone approach with a darker bottom. I did had trouble blending the top and the bottom, but worked out rather well. I did not get too much of a contrast between the top and bottom of the pipe, but for a cheap yard pipe I think I got my moneys worth. I do like this shape.
I’m looking forward to a smoke this fall.

(The pics from beginning to end thru the process)

Good work!

 

[MilesDavis]

When I first started out restoring pipes, I used boiled linseed oil followed by wax. It wasn't long before I realized the error of my ways.