Thanks for the advice, May I ask how I would go about lacquering the pipe again afterwards?
I really have no idea the difference between briars but I suppose it is good to hear someone here loves Algerian briar
You don't want to do that, leave it bare and wax it. Most folks will strip the lacquer off a smooth pipe if its lacquered and leave it off. After you strip the lacquer off just polish the pipe and wax it. Lots of threads on various waxing methods here.
Also may I ask what you would recommend I use for waxing as pipe supplies are quite scarce where I live and is waxing and polishing the same thing or are they different steps ? I would think you wax and then polish but do I then use different substances for polishing and waxing?
First you polish the pipe, then wax the pipe, then buff the wax. You can use renaissance wax, paragon wax, or if you have buffing wheel you can use straight up carnauba wax. All available online.
Small holes or imperfections that are filled with putty or some other material to hide them prior to the finish coat of lacquer being applied. I'd just smoke the pipe as is or give it a coat of wax.
There may be voids or gaps where the briar root grew around a small piece of rock or dirt. The gaps may get revealed during carving, so the holes are filled with putty. Those are the fills.
Agree with Reloader. Doesn't look too bad. I would just smoke it and enjoy it. I have a few pipes with some fills and I don't worry about them too much. Either way, nothing I've seen should affect the smokability.
