To sand or not to sand? (briar bowl inside)

[Dyakoff]

Dear gentlemen,

If you get a moment to spare on my question I would be much obliged.

The pipe in question has sentimental value, since it was my first pipe and it was a birthday present from my wife.

It went through all newbie mistakes possible through 5 years of use.

Lately after picking up some knowledge here and there I am beginning to think I should start taking better care of it and probably “start anew”.

I have cleaned the bowl with alcohol to get a better understanding of the amount of damage my unskillful behaviour has inflicted on the briar.

What would your professional opinion be:
A) should I sand the bowl
or
B) should I smoke it properly and the caverns will “heal” with cake?

Thank you in advance

 

[Honkytonk Man]

No expert. But the caverns you refer to, aren't they in the cake? If it's cake, it'll fill during more smokes.
Only when the cake has built up too much, you might want to, very carefully try sanding it.
I have experienced the same, without issue.
Actually, I don't think there's too much, if any issue with the bowl of your pipe. Don't, for goodness sake, go sanding the rim.

 

[Chasing Embers]

As shallow as the cake is on that one, you could really go either way.

 

[anotherbob]

I'd leave it as is. That just looks like a pipe that's seen moderate use and little maintenace.

 

[didimauw]

Just keep smoking it! I see no need to sand it down. Better chance of ruining it that way, than just smoking it! Just remember, slow and cool, not fast and hot.

 

[orlandofurioso]

The bottom of the bowl shows "fresh" briar, which is good.
The rim looks fine, only needs a carefull cleaning.
If I were in your shoes ( which I am of course not ) I'd carefully sand the interior of the bowl
just a little further with some fine sandpaper wrapped around a proper sized dowel
and then proceed as in the videos :

If the spiderwebbing is in the cake only, no worry.
It then makes for a very personal choice : to sand, or not to sand

 

[mikethompson]

I don't think he's referring to sanding the rim, just the inside of the bowl.

Doesn't look too bad to me, but I would probably sand it gently, and do a regular cleaning like I would on estates. That should somewhat 'reset' the pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

wrapped around a proper sized dowel

Or the end of a finger. In many cases, a wet paper towel will easily clean softer cake away without risk of damaging the chamber or rim.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Or the end of a finger. In many cases, a wet paper towel will easily clean softer cake away without risk of damaging the chamber or rim.

Around my index finger for sure .
Ideally we should have several properly sized and shaped dowels and clad them with aprox. 3 mm.
foam like the mouse pad stuff. If we when wrap sand paper around them it will give more "feeling " when sanding
and the paper will somehow "go" with the chamber. It may seem unsignificant, but it makes a hugh difference.
Do you take my meaning ? Does this makes sense

 

[Chasing Embers]

If we when wrap sand paper around them it will give more "feeling " when sanding
and the paper will somehow "go" with the chamber. It may seem unsignificant, but it makes a hugh difference.

Yeah, my finger does well enough without egregiously over thinking it.



A wet paper towel will also make short work of rim buildup without employing the use of an improvised prison shank as well.

 

[LotusEater]

I’m not sure if I’m missing something but that just looks like a bit of cake.
A couple scrapes with a pipe or pen knife and it should look much better.
Then sand it if you want to.

 

[boilerman19]

Yeah, my finger does well enough without egregiously over thinking it.

View attachment 176349View attachment 176350

A wet paper towel will also make short work of rim buildup without employing the use of an improvised prison shank as well.

Lol holy hell! How long did that take to build up? I obviously do not smoke enough

 

[Chasing Embers]

Lol holy hell! How long did that take to build up? I obviously do not smoke enough

No kidding I've smoked for decades and have only ever seem such buildup on estate purchases. The seller said it was from a family member's collection and hadn't been smoked since 1985 but it must have been a favorite.

 

[Hillcrest]

It seems those pits and spiderwebbing are in the carbon layer you are beginning to build up. I would continue smoking it to build up more before doing any scraping, reeming or sanding. As for the rim, dip a paper towel in some black coffee and you can use it to wash that residue right off. Works great. A tip I learned on this forum ! Just a suggestion. Best wishes and good luck ! Very nice pipe by the way.

 

[Dyakoff]

As for the rim, dip a paper towel in some black coffee and you can use it to wash that residue right off. Works great.

I would like to thank everyone for for advice and special gratitude for the coffee tip. It had an incredible and immediate impact. Just wow.

 

[Hillcrest]

I would like to thank everyone for for advice and special gratitude for the coffee tip. It had an incredible and immediate impact. Just wow.

You are welcome here. I've only been a member for 10 months but it has been an incredible learning experience. The other members here are experts !! Almost every question you could possibly have has been asked and answered here with unbelievable instruction, tips, tricks, and short cuts. Use the search function too ! When your briar pipe starts to taste bad ... clean the airway with some alcohol on a pipe cleaner then fill the chamber with salt and some alcohol and let it sit for 24 hours....the salt absorbs the tannins and oils. Wipe out salt and pipe is completely refreshed like new. Coffee and salt and packing looser than I did are instructions I learned here that changed everything. Good Luck and enjoy the journey. If only there were sites like this for everything else in life !!

 

[woodrow]

You can sand the inside of the bowl a bit if you want. But I’d just smoke it. Wipe it out with alcohol and continue.