Professional Refurbishment.
Take a look at those
old discarded pipes (discoloured, sour, damaged) - some of them may easily
justify the cost of a professional repair or refurbishment. The bowl will
be reamed, cleaned and sweetened with "mead", and the whole pipe
polished to restore its dignified appearance - only the dents will remain
as a reminder of past pleasures.
As well as replacement mouthpieces, a hole in the bowl or a cracked shank
can be repaired.
You won't be able to buy a new branded pipe for the R100 to R150 the
professional job may cost you. Bring in your pipe for assessment.
D I Y Refurbishment
Here is a step-by-step
procedure:
There are 4 distinct
cleaning processes:
1. Removing the build-up of tars and juices which collect inside the shank
and mouthpiece, and in the base of the bowl. Work over a tray or dish
lined with paper. Remove the mouthpiece from the pipe. Use a bristle
cleaner dipped in a solvent (eg Savinelli
Pipe Clean, or some form of alcohol) to really scrub the inside of the
shank and mouthpiece. (You could pour just a little solvent into the base
of the bowl and work the bristle cleaner through from the slightly tilted
shank.) Try not to splash the solvent on the outside of the bowl or mouthpiece.
Be careful not to start a hole in the base of the bowl through excessive twisting
- and for very bent pipes go easy round the bend in the mouthpiece.
You have finished when the pipe cleaner comes through clean.
2. Keeping the carbon layer under control. When necessary, ream the
carbon layer inside the bowl to an even thickness of about 1.5mm (R1 coin)
- the T-shaped reamer from Savinelli or the precise, high-tech Senior reamer will do the job comfortably. Wipe the inside of the bowl with a little
of the solvent.
3. Polishing the vulcanite mouthpiece to remove the bitter taste. Remove
the oxidation from the mouthpiece with a mild abrasive (eg Savinelli
Stem Polish or Jeweller's Rouge). This might require vigorous and lengthy
rubbing (a whole TV programme). If very dull and green, a buffing wheel is
a big help - remove the mouthpiece to prevent accidental breakage. Take care
not to buff too hard on one spot - the vulcanite may burn. If the logo is
stamped on the mouthpiece it will possibly disappear.
(A recent comment from a customer was that a buffing wheel is necessary
when using "jeweller's rouge" but that he found a good hand rub
sufficient when using Savinelli Stem Polish regularly.)
Watchpoint - water based cleaners or abrasives (eg Handy Andy,
Vim) or alcohols (eg Meths, benzine) may add to the discolouration of the
outside of the mouthpiece - extra polishing will be necessary.
4. Beauty treatment for the outside of the briar bowl. Polish the outside
of the bowl with a wax polish (eg Savinelli
Bowl Polish) and a clean cloth. Again a buffing wheel can help - remember
to remove the mouthpiece before starting.
(Corncobs shouldn't need a polish, but a beechwood will appreciate it once
the varnish has worn off.)
Finally, leave the
pipe to stand bowl down for at least 24 hours before smoking.
NB Read about cleaning
your Meerschaum - a very different process.
Prevention is better
than Cure!
1. Don't oversmoke a pipe (especially your favourite) - it will become saturated and turn "sour".
Do rotate your pipes to allow each to dry out properly.
2. Do polish the mouthpiece regularly, don't let the oxidation get the upper hand.
3. Do allow the carbon layer to build in your new pipe - right to the bottom of the bowl - and then keep it reamed to about 1.5mm thickness to prevent cracking.
4. If yours is a filter pipe - do use the filter or use the adapter. Don't smoke without one of them, even once, it can lead to an ill-fitting mouthpiece through a swollen shank. This is almost impossible to rectify.
5. To prevent breakage, do hold close to the join when removing the mouthpiece from the bowl, and don't remove the mouthpiece until the pipe is cool.
6. Don't use a sharp pointed instrument to clean out the bowl - you may drill a hole in the bottom.
7. Do hold your pipe by the bowl (not the stem) when "tapping out" the ash; and don't knock it against a hard surface - you may break the shank or mouthpiece or crack the bowl. Fit a "cork knocker" to a handy ashtray.
The general principle to bear in mind is that the cleaner and drier you keep your pipe, the more enjoyable it will be to smoke - and the longer it will continue to give pleasure.