Second restoration: Vintage 1960s Kaywoodie Bent Bulldog

Given my rather enjoyable toe-dip foray into pipe restoration (http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/showth...ll=1#post46941) I decided to try it again!

IMHO the key is finding a pipe that's structurally sound -- no major gouges in the wood, a stem that fits securely and a bit that's not completely chewed. Everything else can be fixed relatively easily.

I've fallen in love with the bent bulldog style. At least a very specific, compact bent bulldog style pictured below. So I had to pick this up, a Kaywoodie Super Grain stamped 90C, indicating it was made between 1960-1963. Got it for around $20 though I could have picked it up for about $14 if some other dude hadn't wanted it almost as much as I did:

Ebay Seller's Pics

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psd1optppc.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psg4rldone.jpg

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psbl94op2d.jpg


The finish and stem are pretty trashed and the rim charred but I believe the pipe looks worse in the pics than it actually is. I didn't notice any major defects in the wood and I think everything can just be sanded down lightly, restained, waxed and polished. Plus it looks like the stem's fit is exceptional for a 50 year old pipe, though it will have to be buffed thoroughly. Hopefully it will refinish well.

Look forward to seeing how she turns out!

Hopefully you will motivate me to finally get to work on one of my 10 or so pipes I have sitting on my desk that I need to restore. Badly. :lol:

Arrived today. The pipe was completely filthy. I scrubbed it down and nearly all the discoloration came off. The chamber won't even have to be reamed, everything came out with a toothbrush. Fortunately the seller's photos were accurate and there are no major flaws and hardly even any minor flaws. I can't see any fills, scratches or dents. There are a couple of tiny nicks that can be seen when held just right in the light, but I've seen worse defects on "new" pipes.

Here's what it looked like after a thorough scrubbing. Still has stem oxidation which I'll be removing tonight. But the disgusting dried saliva gunk is gone.

After 1st scrubbing:
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psxnku9pgo.jpg

Not sure whether I'll have to restain. I threw some olive oil on it to see what it would look like after a waxing and polishing and I'm not sure it needs much alteration. I'm not sure I could improve things much. There's still a small amount of char around the rim which could be completely removed with a sanding and restaining. Not sure it's worth the work though. Will think about it.

With olive oil:
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psfdes8tku.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ropey

Arrived today. The pipe was completely filthy. I scrubbed it down and nearly all the discoloration came off. The chamber won't even have to be reamed, everything came out with a toothbrush. Fortunately the seller's photos were accurate and there are no major flaws and hardly even any minor flaws. I can't see any fills, scratches or dents. There are a couple of tiny nicks that can be seen when held just right in the light, but I've seen worse defects on "new" pipes.

Here's what it looked like after a thorough scrubbing. Still has stem oxidation which I'll be removing tonight. But the disgusting dried saliva gunk is gone.

After 1st scrubbing:
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psxnku9pgo.jpg

Not sure whether I'll have to restain. I threw some olive oil on it to see what it would look like after a waxing and polishing and I'm not sure it needs much alteration. I'm not sure I could improve things much. There's still a small amount of char around the rim which could be completely removed with a sanding and restaining. Not sure it's worth the work though. Will think about it.

With olive oil:
http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/z...psfdes8tku.jpg

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Looks good. I don't believe I would stain it.

Still trying to get the oxidation off the stem, it's really on there! Otherwise it smokes fine though the bowl is shallow and it's a quick smoke. A good addition to my small collection though. Didn't require as much work as I thought it would.