Second restoration: Vintage 1960s Kaywoodie Bent Bulldog

[Ropey]

Given my rather enjoyable toe-dip foray into pipe restoration (http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showth...ll=1#post46941) I decided to try it again!

IMHO the key is finding a pipe that's structurally sound -- no major gouges in the wood, a stem that fits securely and a bit that's not completely chewed. Everything else can be fixed relatively easily.

I've fallen in love with the bent bulldog style. At least a very specific, compact bent bulldog style pictured below. So I had to pick this up, a Kaywoodie Super Grain stamped 90C, indicating it was made between 1960-1963. Got it for around $20 though I could have picked it up for about $14 if some other dude hadn't wanted it almost as much as I did:

Ebay Seller's Pics








The finish and stem are pretty trashed and the rim charred but I believe the pipe looks worse in the pics than it actually is. I didn't notice any major defects in the wood and I think everything can just be sanded down lightly, restained, waxed and polished. Plus it looks like the stem's fit is exceptional for a 50 year old pipe, though it will have to be buffed thoroughly. Hopefully it will refinish well.

[Branzig]

Look forward to seeing how she turns out!

Hopefully you will motivate me to finally get to work on one of my 10 or so pipes I have sitting on my desk that I need to restore. Badly.

[Ropey]

Arrived today. The pipe was completely filthy. I scrubbed it down and nearly all the discoloration came off. The chamber won't even have to be reamed, everything came out with a toothbrush. Fortunately the seller's photos were accurate and there are no major flaws and hardly even any minor flaws. I can't see any fills, scratches or dents. There are a couple of tiny nicks that can be seen when held just right in the light, but I've seen worse defects on "new" pipes.

Here's what it looked like after a thorough scrubbing. Still has stem oxidation which I'll be removing tonight. But the disgusting dried saliva gunk is gone.

After 1st scrubbing:


Not sure whether I'll have to restain. I threw some olive oil on it to see what it would look like after a waxing and polishing and I'm not sure it needs much alteration. I'm not sure I could improve things much. There's still a small amount of char around the rim which could be completely removed with a sanding and restaining. Not sure it's worth the work though. Will think about it.

With olive oil:

[GWBowman]

Arrived today. The pipe was completely filthy. I scrubbed it down and nearly all the discoloration came off. The chamber won't even have to be reamed, everything came out with a toothbrush. Fortunately the seller's photos were accurate and there are no major flaws and hardly even any minor flaws. I can't see any fills, scratches or dents. There are a couple of tiny nicks that can be seen when held just right in the light, but I've seen worse defects on "new" pipes.

Here's what it looked like after a thorough scrubbing. Still has stem oxidation which I'll be removing tonight. But the disgusting dried saliva gunk is gone.

After 1st scrubbing:


Not sure whether I'll have to restain. I threw some olive oil on it to see what it would look like after a waxing and polishing and I'm not sure it needs much alteration. I'm not sure I could improve things much. There's still a small amount of char around the rim which could be completely removed with a sanding and restaining. Not sure it's worth the work though. Will think about it.

With olive oil:

Looks good. I don't believe I would stain it.

[Ropey]

Still trying to get the oxidation off the stem, it's really on there! Otherwise it smokes fine though the bowl is shallow and it's a quick smoke. A good addition to my small collection though. Didn't require as much work as I thought it would.