booknpipe
Junior Member
Posts: 133
Favorite Tobacco: Burley
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Post by booknpipe on Aug 3, 2020 17:01:22 GMT -5
I have an unfinished Stanwell 185 on the way and was wondering if it needs any kind of special care? Having read differing opinions on the web about how it might age and darken I think I may give it a coat of olive oil for the first few smokes. Anyone have any experiences to share about unfinished pipes?
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Post by instymp on Aug 3, 2020 17:11:26 GMT -5
I just smoke them.
They change after time smoked.
But if you want to change appearance differently.....
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Post by pepesdad1 on Aug 3, 2020 18:14:51 GMT -5
Olive oil will turn rancid and possibly reduce the favorable appearance of your pipe...carnuba wax applied with a buffing wheel is your best bet to keep finger prints and oil from your skin from affecting the surface of the wood pipe.
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Post by adui on Aug 3, 2020 18:20:51 GMT -5
Easy, just finish smoking it.. Oh wait you were referring to the wood, not the tobacco in the bowl  Seriously, I would wax it personally. As was already said Caruba is good, but if you dont have a buffer any good wood wax will at least help. Even just rubbing it down with bees wax is better than nothing. Or just let it age naturally. |
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Post by Cramptholomew on Aug 3, 2020 19:59:55 GMT -5
A spit coat of Danish oil will help. After that, you could use a spit coat of halcyon wax.
Let the Danish oil dry for at least 24 hours before waxing.
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peeps
Junior Member
Posts: 133
Location:
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Post by peeps on Aug 4, 2020 1:43:52 GMT -5
It will NOT remain a virgin.
Smoke it and fondle it.
Embrace the change.
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Post by briarpipenyc on Aug 4, 2020 8:12:28 GMT -5
I make my own "briar balm" from unrefined/unscented bee's wax and coconut oil. Melt enough bee's wax into a few ounces of coconut oil, or olive oil, so that you are left with a soft paste when the mixture cools. Pour it balm into an empty tin box for storage. Sucrets boxes work fine.
Rub your fingers over the waxy paste and then rub down your pipe. Done. You won't need much. When the briar pipe heats up as it is smoked, the wax and oil on the surface and what's left on your fingers will be drawn into the briar surface. After a while, a beautiful, aged patina, will develop.
I've been using this waxy paste for years....and it works. A few ounces will last a lifetime.
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Post by daveinlax on Aug 4, 2020 11:40:30 GMT -5
I have several unfinished “Natural Virgin” pipes and I have never waxed them but I’ve had good results coloring them them by just carefully smoking them without touching the warm briar.  |
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booknpipe
Junior Member
Posts: 133
Favorite Tobacco: Burley
Location:
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Post by booknpipe on Aug 4, 2020 16:01:40 GMT -5
I make my own "briar balm" from unrefined/unscented bee's wax and coconut oil. Melt enough bee's wax into a few ounces of coconut oil, or olive oil, so that you are left with a soft paste when the mixture cools. Pour it balm into an empty tin box for storage. Sucrets boxes work fine. Rub your fingers over the waxy paste and then rub down your pipe. Done. You won't need much. When the briar pipe heats up as it is smoked, the wax and oil on the surface and what's left on your fingers will be drawn into the briar surface. After a while, a beautiful, aged patina, will develop. I've been using this waxy paste for years....and it works. A few ounces will last a lifetime. Do you use this on all your pipes or just on unfinished briars? |
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jay
Junior Member
Edward's Pipes....only Edward's pipes....and Buccaneer in the bowl
Posts: 442 
First Name: Jay
Favorite Pipe: Edwards handmade
Favorite Tobacco: Buccaneer, Special Balkan, Scottish Moor
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Post by jay on Aug 4, 2020 17:07:27 GMT -5
The advantage of the waxes is that they don't clog the pores of the briar, which in turn allows the bowl to wick moisture away and to the outside of the bowl. The oils from the tobacco will start coloring the bowl pretty quickly. In fact, it wasn't unusual for some of our customers to wipe their brows with a warm bowl (I have no idea what else they may have wiped, and never cared to ask!) in order to add more color to the bowl.
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Post by exbenedict on Aug 4, 2020 17:47:58 GMT -5
I have two unfinished pipes and one olive wood. All have darkened nicely over time. Just give them a good buff with a rag after each use to keep the individual spots from becoming darker than the rest.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Aug 4, 2020 19:20:29 GMT -5
I have two unfinished pipes and one olive wood. All have darkened nicely over time. Just give them a good buff with a rag after each use to keep the individual spots from becoming darker than the rest. Hey, Bro...^^^^^good to see you back! |
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Post by briarpipenyc on Aug 4, 2020 20:05:01 GMT -5
I make my own "briar balm" from unrefined/unscented bee's wax and coconut oil. Melt enough bee's wax into a few ounces of coconut oil, or olive oil, so that you are left with a soft paste when the mixture cools. Pour it balm into an empty tin box for storage. Sucrets boxes work fine. Rub your fingers over the waxy paste and then rub down your pipe. Done. You won't need much. When the briar pipe heats up as it is smoked, the wax and oil on the surface and what's left on your fingers will be drawn into the briar surface. After a while, a beautiful, aged patina, will develop. I've been using this waxy paste for years....and it works. A few ounces will last a lifetime. Do you use this on all your pipes or just on unfinished briars? All my pipes get the treatment. The patina, after about a year, is rich and beautiful from rubbing the briar with your waxy fingers. Rusticated/blasts get that old, buttery, warm glow. Nice. |
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Post by briarpipenyc on Aug 4, 2020 20:11:05 GMT -5
In addition to my "briar balm" comments.....I should tell you that bee's wax and oils will DARKEN virgin, unfinished briar. Those blonde, briar pipes .....will definitely darken over time.
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 4, 2020 20:21:11 GMT -5
I have a Radice Clear Poker that at one time was blonde. Over time it's turned dark brown, kind of like what happened to my wife's hair. 😉
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Post by exbenedict on Aug 5, 2020 12:09:37 GMT -5
I have two unfinished pipes and one olive wood. All have darkened nicely over time. Just give them a good buff with a rag after each use to keep the individual spots from becoming darker than the rest. Hey, Bro...^^^^^good to see you back! I haven't been gone, just been lurking without much to contribute. No worries. Thanks! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2020 16:00:24 GMT -5
It's best to seal bare wood. I would go down to the hardware store and pick up a can of neutral Danish Oil. It will seal the wood, darken it just slightly, bringing out the grain and you won't really have to do anything else to the pipe unless you want to. It will also smell nice. But I would then apply a polish such as Carnuba wax (since it's easiest to find).
I just stripped the finish off an old Peterson, applied Danish oil three times, then added some beeswax and polished that in. It looks beautiful and the wood is sealed. It's also very close to what a quality old pipe would have looked like back in the day.
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