Our 12 Step Pipe Restoration Process

1. Inspection
2. Reaming
3. Lava removal
4. Salt Bath for Stummel
5. Step 1 Deoxidiser for mouthpieces
6. Deep Clean Stummel
7. Deep Clean Mouthpiece
8. Dry out Stummel & Mouthpiece
9. Step 2 Deoxidiser clean for mouthpieces 
10. Briar Restoration balm
11. Polish
12. Buff

Our first job is to undertake an inspection of the pipe. 

We do this both visually and using a magnifying glass.

Only pipes in satisfactory condition are selected to be deep cleaned. We will always reject any with cracks to the stummel. 

If there is historic evidence of a repair then we will always specify that in the listing.

After a pipe has been selected, we give it a rough ream with a ‘hedgehog’ and then use varying width specialist reaming tools.

We try not to ream away all of the carbon as we want you to feel the full benefit of an estate pipe.

In addition to this, we also scrape away any ‘lava’ from the bowl.

Once this is complete, we move to the next stage.

To ensure we remove any ‘ghosting’ (strong flavoured tobacco) we always ensure pipes are given a full salt and alcohol bath.

We use Organic Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol 96% with Organic Fine Kosher Sea Salt.

We use a syringe to carefully inject the alcohol and avoid affecting the paint.

Pipes are then stored indoors for approximately 5-6 days.

Once this is complete, we undertake a full deep clean of the stummel. Using a toothbrush for the bowl and pipe cleaners for the shank.

We also give each pipe a quick rinse to remove salt fully.

We then set these aside in storage to full dry off, this typically takes 1 month.

For the mouthpieces we use a 2-step method.

- Firstly we soak in Oxi-Clean for 48 hours and then give each mouthpiece a scrub with a fine scouring pad.

- We then store in mineral oil for a further 48 hours.

- After this we apply a specialist de-oxidiser made using natural products.

- Some mouthpieces are very heavily oxidised and the only way to fully restore them would be to use a specialist sanding & buffing wheel. This involves a small risk of breaking the mouthpiece so we avoid this.

After drying the stummels and mouthpieces out we then set about applying the final finish.

We start by applying a specialist briar restoration balm which reinvigorates the briar, returning its natural colour.

We typically then leave it a further week before applying the final finish which is a polish.

The polish is another bespoke product and we firstly apply and remove with a rag.

The final stage is a buff on a polishing wheel of the whole pipe.

We love the refurbishment process. it’s an oddly therapeutic thing to do (although that might be due to the whisky that goes hand in hand with this).

Giving a well worn pipe a new lease of life wasn’t something we thought would be so enjoyable. Knowing that we are preserving these for future generations is also particularly rewarding.