S/A treatment on an Peterson Egg style pipe

[Trenton]

I bought a Peterson pipe that would fall in to the nasty category. It is an egg shape and looks like jwhite's avatar. I'm not sure how the previous owner was able to have his last bowl the cake was so thick so really no room for tobacco, The stem was cemented into the stem with tar. I had to drip alcohol where the stem met the nickel silver band and was finally able to free it. I spent two evenings cleaning out the tar which looked like jet and just as hard. Several ounces 95% ethanol, dozens of pipe cleaners and a half box of Q-Tips. The previous owner must of been an artist as the pipe was also smudged with paint of various colours. The paint came off reasonably easy, except for what looks like roller spray, which I still working on.

Anyway I have pipe that is reasonably presentable, but it certainly has a odour that just isn't appealing, so I did the S/A treatment, I noticed that the colour only traveled in a little over a 1/16" and there is no appreciable change in the odour. What I'm wondering is if I should continue with a couple more S/A treatments, maybe I didn't use enough alcohol although I thought I did, or might of I ruined it by using so much alcohol in cleaning the tar out that it has penetrated the bowl and stem?

I have one other question, and I did it on this pipe as well is in cleaning the stem I have lost some of the white paint in the "P" is it possible to touch up?

On a side note I have a cabin without telephone or internet access, TV is snowy at best but I get radio. So when I go to the Cabin I sit in my chair dog at my feet, radio on listening to the CBC and clean pipes and old razors. It is total relaxation.

 

[Jim]

Congratulations on your new pipe!

Did you ream the excess cake out? That may be whats holding you up- I like a really long rest after a A/s treatment, let it dry out completely and repeat.

 

[Trenton]

Thanks Jim

I did ream the bowl down to the thickness of a dime on the upper edge but it may need more at the bottom of the bowl. I'm not in any hurry and will let it rest for a month or so after the S/A. I have several more pipes to work on and been summer, many other chores to keep me busy.

 

[jwhite]

The cabin sounds like just my sort of place.

For the S/A treatment did you do the shank, as well as the bowl. Also I like to completely remove, or as much as possible without gouging the bowl, the cake on estates. The cake is what what holds most of the odor and flavor - great on a well broken in and maintained VA pipe Not so much on a funky estate. You could also try scrubbing the shank with bristle pipe cleaners and alcohol immediately after an S/A treatment. A lot of that tar and swill is rock hard and will soften up after a good soaking. No need to worry about too much alcohol on the inside of briar. Don't forget to give the stem's interior a good scrubbing with bristle cleaners and alcohol as well, that vulcanite can hold odor and tar as well. It will probably still have some remnant of the previous tobacco but it should be sweet and that will go quickly as you build a cake with a blend of your choosing. If your using ethanol be sure to give it a good airing out after, at least three days.

 

[pezdaddy]

Not sure if you still need to ream the cake out, but I'm not a big fan of scraping out the cake on my pipes. What I do is take a piece of sand paper (220 grit or whatever I've got laying around) and use it wrapped around my finger to sand out. But that's if I want to totally remove the cake.

 

[jwhite]

A good reamer, either the T-handled or senior reamers, work really well. But I like to use steel wool to finish off, it conforms to the shape of the bowl.

 

[Trenton]

Thanks Gentlemen I do need to get a good reamer. I got back last and followed your advice, well sort of. I cleaned the shank again after removing the Salt, was still bringing up gunk so I really worked on that. I also sanded the cake out it was really thick at the bottom of the bowl left a bit of cake. I just did the S/A treatment again last night and things seem to be happening. The problem area seems to be the shank.

I'm not sure why I decided to do this, most likely to see how challenging a pipe could be and to get it useful again, I wish I had taken before pictures.

 

[Commander Quan]

Walkers Briar Works can do an ozone treatment if you are interested intending it out. I have no idea what the cost is but I have heard that it does wonders to exercise those impossible ghosts.

 

[Tak]

I will second Walker Briar Works, if it's a really stubborn pipe. I bought an old Chacom early in my pipe days that had cake flowing up over the bowl and a rancid stink to it. Well beyond my comfort level in restoration. I found Mr. Walker through google, sent it off, and a few weeks later I had a practically new Chacom in my hand. The ozone machine completely removed any trace of smell other than briar, and Mr. Walker's skilled hand restored the pipe to where I get compliments at the smoke shop on its looks.

It may take some time depending on how much he has on his bench, but the man is a pro and will keep you informed of any progress and delays.

 

[Trenton]

CQ and Stephen thanks for letting me know about about Walker Briar works, I found the site, his prices seem very reasonable. I doubt that this pipe is worth the hassle to get it across the border. The ozone chamber is a great idea there is a large one here in town, used for restorations of big items, it is amazing how well they work.