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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 18:53:30 GMT -5
So I took a flyer on a couple of pipes from the same seller on e-bay. I knew the first one, the Dr. Grabow Riviera was in pretty rough shape but hopefully sound. The seller's description included "The stem fits great and it smokes well. It is a nice little pipe which is broken-in, ready to smoke, and with patina from tapping ash out yet no cracks." A fairly generous description given the photos.   That is indeed some "patina" I've been wanting to try my hand at basic restoration; this pipe should give me that chance! The second pipe is a GBD St.CLAUDE 1054RL Number 3. It is in much better shape so hopefully I'll be smoking it while I'm working on the Dr. Grabow. Still, things to learn. All told, I have less than $20 in both pipes including shipping, so I can't go too wrong. I'll be posting some pictures in process and you all can coach/critique me as you see fit. I'm here to learn! |
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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 18:55:42 GMT -5
Here are the GBD Pictures.   |
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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 19:03:04 GMT -5
First steps: Ran a bunch of pipe cleaners with Everclear through the stems. Finally got them clean. As expected, the Grabow was the nastier of the two. There will be minimal stem work; a little sanding and buffing. Reamed the GBD lightly. It wasn't built up much and I left a bit of cake behind. Wiped out the bowl with paper towel and Everclear. I'm soaking the Grabow stummel in 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, as you can see. It had been in about 1.5 hours when the picture was taken. So far so good; I think.   |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Nov 30, 2018 19:19:22 GMT -5
Uh...why are you soaking the Grabow? All you need to do is ream it out...I would think.
Suggestion with the type of surface on the Grabow...it is a carved surface I believe. I sanded the surface leaving the carved part dark...then buffed the pipe with Tripoli to get a contrast between the carved part and what stands out...on mine it looks a lot better, but it is up to you, of course.
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Post by beardedmi on Nov 30, 2018 19:21:33 GMT -5
That soak in isopropyl is gonna strip that pipes finish entirely, you went down a fair rabbit hole for the first time resto. Personally cleaner of some sort murphys oil soap or some other natural cleaner will produce simpler results so that you dont have to learn refinishing pipes so early.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 19:44:12 GMT -5
Your doing a great thorough job for cleaning and re-staining your pipes. Please post pictures once your finished.....have fun👌👍👍
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Post by roadsdiverged on Nov 30, 2018 19:55:56 GMT -5
^^^ I agree. I like "watching" the process.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 20:01:06 GMT -5
I like that Dr. Grabow Riviera pipe. It appears to be a pot, but I couldn't find a "letter" for the style of Riviera. Any help on that? Grabow has some beautiful lookers from their 1960's gift charts.
Let us see what the restoration looks like once its completed...
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Post by pepesdad1 on Nov 30, 2018 20:11:01 GMT -5
Looking forward to it!!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 20:34:30 GMT -5
I little heat from a small candle will raise the oxidation out of the stem. I use Mentadent tooth paste to remove the residue.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 20:35:00 GMT -5
Hey cool double post I hope the mods don't catch it and send me to the corn field.
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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 21:24:53 GMT -5
The GBD is pretty much finished, at least for my use. Wet sanded the stem with 320, 600, 1500 paper then buffed it with two light polishing compounds - a green & a white that I use to polish fountain pens. I use a slow, low hp re-purposed Dremel Shoe Polisher with loose buffs. The stem on the Grabow polished up well and I went ahead and buffed out the stem from one of my original 35+ year old pipes. Not perfect, but good enough for who it's for. I can tell that without a lot of experience, this isn't something one should presume to do for hire!   Sounds like I may have stepped off in it with the alcohol soak on the Grabow. I pulled it out after a couple of hours and reamed the bowl. It did ream easily. I will have to do some finish work on the stummel, but I planned on that as it was beat up with several chips on the rim. Should prove interesting. It will be a few days until I can source some decent dye from the boot shop an hour away. Until then... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 21:44:51 GMT -5
Kelly ^^^^^^ superb restoration on both pipes 👍👍. Smoke in good health for many years to come.
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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 21:55:18 GMT -5
Thanks Ted. We will see how the Grabow comes out. I figure no matter what, it will smoke just fine.
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Post by kxg on Nov 30, 2018 22:13:57 GMT -5
I like that Dr. Grabow Riviera pipe. It appears to be a pot, but I couldn't find a "letter" for the style of Riviera. Any help on that? Grabow has some beautiful lookers from their 1960's gift charts. Let us see what the restoration looks like once its completed... Here is the seller's description. That's all I have right now until I pull the pipe from the bath. "Great older Dr. Grabow rusticated pipe of POT shape. It is 5 1/4 inches long with a 1 3/8 tall bowl. The bowl is 1 3/8 across total, with the inner chamber being 13/16 inch wide." FWIW, I would agree with Walt that it is carved more than rusticated. I don't disagree that it is a Pot. |
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Post by william on Nov 30, 2018 22:35:25 GMT -5
Nice job. I am partial to that GBD. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Nov 30, 2018 22:36:52 GMT -5
Outstanding post, Kelly! Good on you! Experimentation... that's the way to do it.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Nov 30, 2018 22:43:44 GMT -5
Nicely done
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orley
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Post by orley on Nov 30, 2018 22:47:27 GMT -5
Nice job! You're on the right track. I congratulate you for buying a French GBD too. These seem to be over looked and less thought of than the English GBDs for whatever reason. I think they're just as good and I have a few myself. Thanks for showing us your process of restoration.
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Post by addamsruspipe on Nov 30, 2018 22:58:18 GMT -5
Very nice restore. I have always thought that smoking a pipe you restored yourself is just more enjoyable then any other pipe. |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Nov 30, 2018 23:00:31 GMT -5
That GBD is gonna grab ya when you smoke it...They are fine smoking machines.
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Post by Legend Lover on Dec 1, 2018 3:36:40 GMT -5
Looks like it's coming on well. What I've seen so far looks great. Soaking the bowl in ipa should be grand if you're happy to refinish the pipe, no?
Nice job.
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Post by kxg on Dec 1, 2018 21:49:00 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2018 21:56:18 GMT -5
Outstanding work I really like the Grabow yellow stem logo.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2018 22:11:19 GMT -5
Kelly, outstanding job on that Grabow. I think you now have a new hobby👌👍👍
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Post by trailboss on Dec 1, 2018 22:52:05 GMT -5
You did a nice job on the restorations! You learn something new everyday... banging a rim on an ashtray produces patina.  |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Dec 1, 2018 23:03:13 GMT -5
Kelly, fine job on that pot. I have a suggestion for you...something I did and am very happy with the results and that is to sand the surface of the stummel so that a lighter color is produced by taking the dark stain off the stummel leaving the carved part dark. I used tripoli to buff the surface after sanding the color off...including the rim top...you then have a two-tone effect and can see the grain of the wood on the surface...just a thought.
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Post by Legend Lover on Dec 2, 2018 10:06:57 GMT -5
Great job, kxg. I'm impressed at your work. |
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cgvt
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Post by cgvt on Dec 2, 2018 10:12:44 GMT -5
Nice!
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Post by kxg on Dec 2, 2018 10:38:38 GMT -5
Kelly, fine job on that pot. I have a suggestion for you...something I did and am very happy with the results and that is to sand the surface of the stummel so that a lighter color is produced by taking the dark stain off the stummel leaving the carved part dark. I used tripoli to buff the surface after sanding the color off...including the rim top...you then have a two-tone effect and can see the grain of the wood on the surface...just a thought. I've been giving your suggestion serious thought and will likely go that way. There are several surface dings on the pipe so a bit of sanding will serve to improve some of those. Depending how it looks, I may stain the surface and then polish, I really haven't decided. The grain on the rim is interesting so I'm leaving it pretty much natural and waxing it. This may turn out to be a decent looking and smoking pipe! Thanks for your help! |
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