'53 Dunhill cleaning/restoration

[ChiefBroom]

I picked up a birth-year Dunhill on eBay with a little help from Argonaut. I know very little about pipes, but this one appears to be in excellent condition.

It came from a Seller in GA (where I was born), who had acquired it at a show in Richmond. I assume the pipe was cleaned. There isn't much cake in the bowl. But it still smells of tobacco -- not an unpleasant scent all, except perhaps slightly stale. I don't have much experience to serve as a frame of reference.

My plan is to apply the Kosher salt and Everclear method to freshen to pipe. Thought I'd invite comments/suggestions here before charging ahead.

 

[Commander Quan]

The S/A treatment won't completely eliminate that smoke smell but it should help in neutralizing any remaining flavors unless the former owner smoked something really stanky. Run a pipe cleaner with the tip dipped in ever clean down through the bit and then follow with a dry one until it comes out clean, and then give the bit a quick rub with alcohol to kill any cooties, then give it a rubdown with Chapstick or coconut oil and you'll be good to go.

 

[OtherMoe]

I find the S/A treatment leaves the pipe smelling of sweet tobacco. I guess that's why they also call it sweetening the pipe.

That's a beauty pipe BTW, congrats!

 

[ChiefBroom]

The S/A treatment won't completely eliminate that smoke smell but it should help in neutralizing any remaining flavors unless the former owner smoked something really stanky. Run a pipe cleaner with the tip dipped in ever clean down through the bit and then follow with a dry one until it comes out clean, and then give the bit a quick rub with alcohol to kill any cooties, then give it a rubdown with Chapstick or coconut oil and you'll be good to go.

Thanks. Dumb question, but you rub it down inside and out?

 

[Mike H]

Wax the outside. Everclear / salt the inside.

Congratulations, on the pipe!

 

[conroygc]

Great pipe, it'll serve you well for years!

 

[ChiefBroom]

While dripping in alcohol, a few drops missed the inside of the bowl. When I wiped of the outside of the pipe, the cloth picked up a brown stain. I looks about the same as what comes out on alcohol soaked pipe cleaner. Suppose it's some kind of wax/stain or just smoke residue?

 

[nortac]

You probably lost a little bit of stain there. Try to keep the alcohol off of the outer surfaces of the briar. A bit of re-waxing will help out. When inserting an alcohol soaked pipe cleaner, I tilt the pipe so the stem is lower than the bowl to keep excess alcohol from running down the outside to avoid damaging the stain of the briar. Also when adding alcohol to the salt /alcohol mix, I use an eyedropper or syringe to add a few drops at a time. while letting the S/A treatment sit, I also keep the stem lower with a pipe cleaner in it. It wicks the tars away and they drip from the protruding pipe cleaner coming out the mouth piece. I usually place the pipe in an old egg carton in a way that the tarry resins drip into the carton to minimize the mess. I do the S/A treatment with the pipe assembled, others do it with the stem removed. I feel my way protects the outside of the bowl better. YMMV.

 

[ChiefBroom]

You probably lost a little bit of stain there. Try to keep the alcohol off of the outer surfaces of the briar.

What I was afraid of.

 

[the_edski]

While dripping in alcohol, a few drops missed the inside of the bowl. When I wiped of the outside of the pipe, the cloth picked up a brown stain. I looks about the same as what comes out on alcohol soaked pipe cleaner. Suppose it's some kind of wax/stain or just smoke residue?

That is the finish on the outside of the pipe. You could either be dulling the wax or stripping off the stain, especially if it is an alcohol-based stain. Rule of thumb: don't let alcohol touch the outside of the pipe!

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Awesome pipe! Congrats Chief.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Awesome pipe! Congrats Chief.

Thanks. I certainly didn't ruin it, but I wish I'd been a little more careful.

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Thanks. I certainly didn't ruin it, but I wish I'd been a little more careful.

Eh mistakes happen. Do you have any pictures? If it bothers you a lot I am sure there are people that can fix the stain for you.

 

[Commander Quan]

I use a medicine dropper to get the alcohol into the pipe.

 

[ChiefBroom]

I use a medicine dropper to get the alcohol into the pipe.

What I was thinking I needed. Oh well.

 

[Whiskey Badger]

A little uneven stain is just a character mark... It might not look bad when it dries if it was just a little bit. Try not to worry about it and consider it part of the restoration process!

I wish I would have seen the thread earlier or I would have warned about that part.

 

[jiminyshiznit]

That's a beautiful pipe! Congrats on a sweet birth year Dunhill that's from your neck of the woods, even!

I use a syringe to add the alcohol.. works well.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Don't sweat a small blemish. As others have said, it is just character. It is nigh impossible to keep a pipe pristine when it is being smoked.