kirk13
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First Name: John
Favorite Tobacco: GH Black and Brown
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Post by kirk13 on Oct 18, 2018 17:33:25 GMT -5
I recently won a Falcon estate pipe in an eBay auction. I suppose for £5 I can't complain much,but it has arrived in a heavily used condition. I wonder if you could offer me some advice on the following...
1) The Stem and humidome
The exterior of the stem is fairly tarnished. Can I use a metal polish like Brasso to buff it up?
The interior of the humidome is caked up with what I assume is tobacco juice and tar residue. It's a sticky looking deep brown concoction. Any ideas on what I can use to remove it?
I've had the unit seeping in neat vodka over night,but it's made no impression.
2) The mouth piece
This is looking very dull,and weathered. Anything you'd recommend,or should I stick to my model building fallbacks of Brasso and toothpaste?
3) The bowl
The interior of the bowl is heavily caked with...well,I don't know what! Any ideas of how to go about restoring the bowl to its former glory,both inside and out?
Any ideas or advice is very much welcome!
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 18, 2018 17:37:19 GMT -5
Falcon makes a reamer for Falcon bowls. Throw the metal part away and buy a new one. 😁
Just kidding! If alcohol doesn't cut it, try boiling it. Did you use 90% alcohol? I reread your posts. Vodka isn't strong enough. You need Everclear or 91% rubbing alcohol.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2018 17:48:33 GMT -5
Try toothpaste on the stem, a few applications and hand buffing might do the trick. Also if you have access to what’s called the “ magic eraser “ made by Mr Clean, looks like a white sponge. I recently restored a Yello-Bole stem without damaging the yellow inlay circle on the stem. If your bowl has severe caking I have a set if four different sized reamers , start out with the smallest reaming tool. The set is available on Amazon or eBay. I don’t care to use the all-in-one adjustable pipe reamers, you can easily damage the inner chamber. If you have a strong rum try soaking the bowl overnight. Good luck.
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 18, 2018 17:52:21 GMT -5
You could maybe use ipa (iso propyl alcohol) which you can get at a pharmacy with little bother.
You can also get silvero (the silver equivalent to brasso). I've used it on military mounts and it works well.
You could try that and toothpaste on the stem, but you may need micromesh pads.
As for the bowl... I use a dremel with the sand paper bit on it. That does the job great. If you don't have one of those then a reamer would work too.
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Post by Dramatwist on Oct 18, 2018 19:14:09 GMT -5
...if the stem and mouthpiece are intact, you can do some or all of the above... scrub it up like you're doing dishes... if the briar bowl is foul, sandpaper works wonders sometimes...
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Post by peteguy on Oct 18, 2018 19:18:15 GMT -5
The stem suggestions here are good. Any very mild abrasive will work in a pinch. Baking soda tooth paste is an easy one to find.
The key to cleaning the inner metal is soaking it. Try dawn dish detergent, vinegar or even..... vegetable oil.
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Post by Dramatwist on Oct 18, 2018 19:22:04 GMT -5
...the cool thing about Falcons, as long as the mouthpiece is intact, is that they can be cleaned like they were "Tupperware"...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2018 19:41:34 GMT -5
With the stem & mouthpiece this is how I clean these estates. I insert a pipe cleaner into the stem. I then pour 91% isopropyl alcohol into the humadome,making sure the pipe cleaner is pulling liquid into the stem. I let it set, checking frequently adding more alcohol as needed and gently move the pipe cleaner to loosen the tars and other material in the stem. After an hour dump the alcohol and run clean pipe cleaners though stem. If still not clean you can either soak the stem again or dip pipe cleaners the alcohol and run though the stem.
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Post by clintonvilleleather on Oct 18, 2018 20:05:02 GMT -5
The base is alluminium. You should be able to use an alluminium pipe nail to scrape the crud out or a stick even. Not steel though as that would scratch it. After most of the gunk is out soak it again then wipe clean.
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haveldad
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Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
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Post by haveldad on Oct 18, 2018 22:03:29 GMT -5
Aren't falcon cheap? I'd just buy a new one lmao
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Post by dave g on Oct 18, 2018 23:43:35 GMT -5
Is the stem vulcanite or plastic? Just dull or oxidized?
Pictures would help tremendously.
An alcohol soak will soften the cake but elbow grease is still required.
Aluminum can be cleaned up with rubbing compound and polish.
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kirk13
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Posts: 674
First Name: John
Favorite Tobacco: GH Black and Brown
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Post by kirk13 on Oct 19, 2018 15:23:57 GMT -5
Cheers guys,thanks for the suggestions!
I'll report back presently👍
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Post by peteguy on Oct 19, 2018 15:34:07 GMT -5
Which one of my methods did you use to soak the inner tube and watch the grime fall out?
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kirk13
Full Member
Posts: 674
First Name: John
Favorite Tobacco: GH Black and Brown
Location:
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Post by kirk13 on Oct 19, 2018 20:45:54 GMT -5
Which one of my methods did you use to soak the inner tube and watch the grime fall out? I've been soaking pipe cleaners in vodka and pulling them through. We've gone from toxic brown to only mildly coloured. The first one brought a cascade of crud out! |
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kirk13
Full Member
Posts: 674
First Name: John
Favorite Tobacco: GH Black and Brown
Location:
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Post by kirk13 on Oct 19, 2018 20:49:31 GMT -5
Well,after a few hours of diligent work,I think we're getting there! I reamed out the bowl with a sheeps foot blade,and some furniture polish has restored the shine on the outside; I ended up digging out the crud from the humidome with my tamping tool,then mild scrubbing with both white vinegar and vodka.
It'll never win any beauty prizes,but it's a user again👍
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 20, 2018 3:56:41 GMT -5
Well,after a few hours of diligent work,I think we're getting there! I reamed out the bowl with a sheeps foot blade,and some furniture polish has restored the shine on the outside; I ended up digging out the crud from the humidome with my tamping tool,then mild scrubbing with both white vinegar and vodka. It'll never win any beauty prizes,but it's a user again👍 good to know you got it back to smokable. I've never heard of a sheep's foot blade. I would have thought a blade made of steel would be better. 😉 |
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kirk13
Full Member
Posts: 674
First Name: John
Favorite Tobacco: GH Black and Brown
Location:
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Post by kirk13 on Oct 20, 2018 4:12:56 GMT -5
Well,after a few hours of diligent work,I think we're getting there! I reamed out the bowl with a sheeps foot blade,and some furniture polish has restored the shine on the outside; I ended up digging out the crud from the humidome with my tamping tool,then mild scrubbing with both white vinegar and vodka. It'll never win any beauty prizes,but it's a user again👍 good to know you got it back to smokable. I've never heard of a sheep's foot blade. I would have thought a blade made of steel would be better. 😉 It's all about being recyclable mate😉😂 |
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