How to Recondition Smoking Pipes
- 1). Open up straight pipes by running a 4 mm drill bit through the shank and funnelling the tenon. This reduces straight pipe wetness and improves performance. Eliminate wetness and poor draw in bent pipes by clearing the stem, particularly in the last inch. Install an adequate funnel at the button. Create a decent mortise/tenon gap size. Adhere to the principle that the cross-sectional area of the draft hole must continue through the button slot.
- 2). Cut out debris using a small craft knife. Dissolve any caked, residual tobacco using drops of vodka. Alcohol is an excellent cleaning fluid. A pipette or dropper can be useful, but is not essential. Continue cutting away the cake until the surface brightens and becomes smooth.
- 3). Apply a consistent diameter to the shank bore of as close to 4 mm as you can achieve. Drill it as far into the stem as you can go without breaking the components. This works consistently for straight-bore pipes; bent-angled pipes must be aligned on a case by case basis because each one is subtly different. If you are reconditioning a bent pipe, follow the same basic procedure. Take into account the angles and don't overdrill. Trial and error is best.
- 4). Funnel the end of the sleeve meeting the mortise to align it with the 4 mm shank bore, or at an angle to match off-centre bores. Bore the stem to 3.5 mm to create an accurate, tight fit between the two complementary components. Use a 3 mm drill bit to open up a 3.5 mm pipe bore to within 3/4-inch of the button. Larger drill bits will damage the pipe interior.
- 5). Hand-fill the from the button-back to the last bore point, altering the cross section of the draft hole from round to oval, then to a slot shape.
- 6). Clean the pipe with a 1-to-1 mixture of toothpaste and baking soda using a cloth or soft toothbrush. Apply a single coat of protective carnuba wax. Work the wax gently into the pipe surface until it becomes shiny and reflective.
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