My second Pipe by Lee, a two star pipe with some rudimentary rustication came in the mail a couple of days ago. I knew from the pictures that it was going to be nasty, but that was an understatement.
I don't believe the pipe was EVER cleaned. Although it was not heavily smoked judging from a lack of heavy cake buildup, it was a gooky tar filled mess.
It would not pass a pipe cleaner in either the stem or the bowl and the stem was severely oxicdized.
I went to work on the stem right away and used micro mesh pads, a flame, and obsidian oil on micro mesh to knock away the oxidation. It worked and I am left with a nice black stem with two inlaid gold stars that shine.
The inside of the stem and the pipe itself were another matter - or another matter.
I used nearly 30 pipe cleaners, working on the stem and opening up the mortise.
It took a paper clip to unblock the stem several times as each time I unblocked it, it blocked up again soon after. I am still not sure that I have removed all of the tar from inside the stem.
Right now, I am giving the bowl and the stem an alcohol and salt bath.
What a mess.
The outside of the bowl is a worn stain mess.
Still, the pipe has promise.
If I can retain the outside of the bowl, and should the pipe's chamber be removed of gook, this pipe may once again smoke like a champion, if it ever once did.
Who knows?
So, what pipes have you worked on to try an gain that reborn pipe experience?
I don't believe the pipe was EVER cleaned. Although it was not heavily smoked judging from a lack of heavy cake buildup, it was a gooky tar filled mess.
It would not pass a pipe cleaner in either the stem or the bowl and the stem was severely oxicdized.
I went to work on the stem right away and used micro mesh pads, a flame, and obsidian oil on micro mesh to knock away the oxidation. It worked and I am left with a nice black stem with two inlaid gold stars that shine.
The inside of the stem and the pipe itself were another matter - or another matter.
I used nearly 30 pipe cleaners, working on the stem and opening up the mortise.
It took a paper clip to unblock the stem several times as each time I unblocked it, it blocked up again soon after. I am still not sure that I have removed all of the tar from inside the stem.
Right now, I am giving the bowl and the stem an alcohol and salt bath.
What a mess.
The outside of the bowl is a worn stain mess.
Still, the pipe has promise.
If I can retain the outside of the bowl, and should the pipe's chamber be removed of gook, this pipe may once again smoke like a champion, if it ever once did.
Who knows?
So, what pipes have you worked on to try an gain that reborn pipe experience?
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