The Estate Pipe FAQ/Photo/Tricks of the Trade Thread

[Branzig]

Most of what I learned was from your original thread, Brandon.

Glad I was able to help so much!

That was the reason I made the thread to begin with to get more people into restoring estates!

[Haebar]

I just got some older unsmoked pipes which have the CP for Charatan in the stem. The vulcanite stems are significantly oxidized. How do I clean these stems up without messing up the symbol?

[JustTroItIn]

I just got some older unsmoked pipes which have the CP for Charatan in the stem. The vulcanite stems are significantly oxidized. How do I clean these stems up without messing up the symbol?

While I have not tried it myself, I have read that putting Vaseline on the symbols prior to the Oxyclean treatment will do the trick. Hopefully a veteran estate restorer can jump in and validate or call shenanigans.

[Demuths1770]

I just got some older unsmoked pipes which have the CP for Charatan in the stem. The vulcanite stems are significantly oxidized. How do I clean these stems up without messing up the symbol?

i have used Vaseline or a petroleum jelly product on my last two soaks in oxy clean. they where a dr. grabow and a medico with the little logos and hod no issues

[Haebar]

Thanks fellows! I will try the vaseline on them.

[Cool Breeze]

OK guys. Need a little help here. This is my first time trying to bring back an old estate pipe and I'm running into an issue.
This is a Willard, and isn't a bad looking little pipe. I think for $10 at a flea market I did okay. That is assuming I can fix this issue.

This is what the pipe looks like (not that that is an important fact).


And the stem (where the problem is):


The problem is that the draw is terrible, even with an empty pipe. You can remove the stem and just try to draw through the stem and it is the resistance of a thick milkshake. I've ran several vodka soaked pipe cleaners through it and nothing seems to work. Do I need to get a needle and dig around in the metal end there? (I know that sounds stupid but I don't know what the metal thing is called. lol) I haven't done anything yet because I don't want to eff it up worse than it already is.

Help a rookie out guys.

[Branzig]

The problem is that the draw is terrible, even with an empty pipe. You can remove the stem and just try to draw through the stem and it is the resistance of a thick milkshake. I've ran several vodka soaked pipe cleaners through it and nothing seems to work. Do I need to get a needle and dig around in the metal end there? (I know that sounds stupid but I don't know what the metal thing is called. lol) I haven't done anything yet because I don't want to eff it up worse than it already is.

Help a rookie out guys.

The metal thing is called stinger

So are you able to pass the pipe cleaner through the stinger? As in, does the pipe cleaner come out from one end to the other? If so, then digging in there wouldn't help much. It is already clear most likely. If the pipe cleaner won't pass, then I would soak the stem in Oxi-clean and see if that breaks up whatever is blocking it.

If that doesn't work, remove the sucker. Some just pry off with a pair of pliers. Others, you have to hack saw off....being very careful not to cut off too much thread! Otherwise the pipe won't screw back in...don't worry, it sounds more scary than it is.

Hope that helps!

[Branzig]

FYI to anyone who is interested...

I am working on posting my old "How I Restore An Estate Pipe Thread"

Much thanks to @Emperor Zurg .... without him reposting it would of been close to impossible....hopefully I will have it up in the next few days!

[Cool Breeze]

No, the pipe cleaner does not pass all the way through the stinger.

What good is that thing anyway?

[Branzig]

No, the pipe cleaner does not pass all the way through the stinger.

What good is that thing anyway?

They were designed to make a cool, gurgle free smoke. They're supposed to remove moisture, think of them as a condenser.

Some stingers will just not pass a pipe cleaner. If you can't pry it off with pliers, then I would just hack saw it off. If you don't like it that is.

The only pipe that I keep a stinger in is a collectable one. Removing the stinger in say a classic Kaywoodie destroys its value because the classic 4 hole drinkless system is one of the defining characteristics of those pipes.