GBD 1353 "Seventy-Six" Restoration

[riff raff]

I found another GBD "Seventy-Six" series pipe on Ebay last week.  It came today and I spent the evening restoring it (whew, a warm sticky evening for sanding!).  I detailed all of the steps on the Reborn Pipes blog:
http://rebornpipes.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/gbd-oval-shank-pot-seventy-six-restoration/

Here's a before and after shot.

 

[Anonymous]

Impressive labor of love with impressive results. If pipes could talk this one would still be going:

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[Hiram-2011]

You definitely have a labor of love with restoring GBD pipes. Another wonderful job sir.

 

[riff raff]

Thanks guys.  I just finished the inaugural bowl of MM965, what a wonderful smoker.

 

[monbla256]

riff, that's one really nice job of re-furbing!  And that shape, for me at least, would be relegated to my fave flakes :twisted:
Question for you, after you soak a bowl with and in all that liquid, is just 24 hours sufficient for the briar to be fully dry to allow one to smoke it or do you usually give it a longer time to really dry out?

 

[riff raff]

It sat for almost two full days after the alcohol/salt soak.  I'm comfortable smoking the pipe when I can no longer smell the alcohol.

 

[Dutch]

Another fantastic restoration Al! That GBD is a little gem I am sure you will enjoy smoking immensely! :cheers::cheers::cheers:

 

[Harlock999]

You do some great work Al!
I can only imagine how nicely you keep your MG's and Triumphs!

 

[Brewdude]

Al you sure do fantastic work!


8)


Cheers,

RR

 

[riff raff]

Thanks guys, I'm very enamored with the way this one smokes and that shape, which is unique to my racks.

 

[CharlG]

Lovely pipe, and a job well done!

 

[somedumbjerk]

maybe i'm asking a dumb question, but can you go into a little more depth your trick with the hot knife and wet towel to get rid of dents? are you talking about dents in the briar? thank you! oh and great work!

 

[Anonymous]

Rather than the butter knife, I would suggest a cheap flat blade screwdriver. With the temper drawn out, they can be bent a bit and the mass is a bit better/lasting in creating steam.

 

[riff raff]

I already ruined a kitchen knife, so I'll stick with it.  That blade is a lot thinner than a scredriver would be, so it heats up faster.  I heat it (last 1" of the blade) with a propane torch.  I have a wet wash cloth handy, doubled up.  Place the wet cloth over the dent or mark, then carefully press the hot knife tip over the area for 15 seconds or so, until steam comes out of the cloth.  The steam makes the dents lift back out and this is a furniture restorers trick.  It takes a little practice to not scorch the briar, so practice on a beater pipe.  Most dents or creases pop out nicely.

 

[somedumbjerk]

sweet! thanks! i have a few beaters with some dents i'll try it on.

 

[riff raff]

Ok, but dont burn yourself -  juggling a pipe, wet cloth and a red hot knife is a little tricky.  

Sometimes I will mount a short ratchet extension in my wise and set the pipe bowl down on it.  If you over-do the steam, some times it leaches a little color out of the pipe, but the color darkens again when dry and buffed/waxed.   At least that has been my experience.

 

[somedumbjerk]

i generally use a piece of 3/4 rod that i bought just for this purpose. cut a chunk off, sand down to fit if it needs to be smaller, and flatten it a bit and put it in the vise. the pipes i make so far have all had 3/4 chambers so it's a nice tight fit. if i need to go bigger, i have a few old bicycle tubes that i cut up and zip tie on. the rubber is soft and grippy so it works well.

 

[riff raff]

That is a good idea, using a dowel and tire innertubes.