Water-damaged briar finish - advice needed

[Haebar]

I got this Bjarne freehand on Ebay in October 2014 and it has some staining that looks like it may have been caused by water or some other liquid. It smokes fine but I want to do something about the finish. Anyone ever run across this before and have some experience with it?

[JustTroItIn]

Have not had this problem myself but looks like an excellent opportunity to strip and re-stain. I don't imagine you would have to remove much of the finish and the pipe itself looks easy enough to work with.

[Nature]

Similar to a water ring on furniture, I would try a buffing first. If that is not enough, then start with a very fine sandpaper, like a #1000-1500 in the affected areas followed with buffing. I have used the back side of the sandpaper to polish wood before final buffing.

EDIT:
As an afterthought addendum, it appears as there is not a clear lacquer layer? It looks like an oil rubbed or stained finish. If just light superfine sanding/ buffing is not enough, you may need to finish with an oil rub (Tung or similar) and possibly a matching stain. Linseed oil takes on that orangeish hue over time. Both Tung and Linseed will have an odor initially, but dissipates with time as it cures. Neither should absorb beyond the surface layer to affect smoking. Other options could be waxes commonly used to finish pipes and wood, like carnauba.

Perhaps someone with more experience of finishing pipes specifically could chime in?

[Haebar]

Thanks for the guidance, fellows.

[TheHobbyist78]

You could try a product by Shellawax called EEE Ultra Shine Polish. It contains a Tripoli abrasive, and is designed primarily to be used as a finishing compound for wooden items on a lathe. The friction from the force applied by the buffing pad with the polishing cream to the wood essentially sands, polishes and seals all in one. While I realize that you probably won't be mounting this pipe on a lathe to refinish it, I will say that I have had excellent results on small items such as antique chess pieces as well as antique furniture by putting some polishing compound of a buffing pad and heating the object with a heat gun and simply rubbing it in.

[Haebar]

You could try a product by Shellawax called EEE Ultra Shine Polish. It contains a Tripoli abrasive, and is designed primarily to be used as a finishing compound for wooden items on a lathe. The friction from the force applied by the buffing pad with the polishing cream to the wood essentially sands, polishes and seals all in one. While I realize that you probably won't be mounting this pipe on a lathe to refinish it, I will say that I have had excellent results on small items such as antique chess pieces as well as antique furniture by putting some polishing compound of a buffing pad and heating the object with a heat gun and simply rubbing it in.

Thanks, I may try that!

[TheHobbyist78]

Thanks, I may try that!

Sure thing. Lee Valley Tools has it for around $28 per 8 1/2 fluid ounces. Rockler Woodworking also carries it.

[Haebar]

Sure thing. Lee Valley Tools has it for around $28 per 8 1/2 fluid ounces. Rockler Woodworking also carries it.

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[TheHobbyist78]

Thank you for the heads up, I appreciate it. Sure are an awful lot of nice folks here.