Outsourcing pipe restoration?

spectrrr · 05-30-2010, 12:17 PM

I've got 3 vintage Dunhill's (1960, 1965, late '70s) that I would like to have restored.

My question is does it matter where you send the pipes out to, or should I just take em to my local reputable pipe dealer (L J Perretti for me, they sell Dunhills). I'll experiment with restoring the cheap ones I have, but not the Dunhilsl!!!

If it does matter, does anyone know a restorer that they recommend?

Curly Cut · 05-30-2010, 02:54 PM

i learned my lesson about my local shop... NEVER again. and i'm still pissed.
of course, it's not a shop as world renowned as LJ Perretti is.

i'd ask some locals who have used the local place if they'd recommend it first. could save you tons of time and shipping.
if you can't do that, then maybe someone with some helpful info will respond.

VirtualSmitty · 05-30-2010, 03:04 PM

http://lewispipe.com/index.htm

Rich repaired a pipe for me probably two years ago now, the results were great but the wait was a little long.

spectrrr · 05-30-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualSmitty

http://lewispipe.com/index.htm

Rich repaired a pipe for me probably two years ago now, the results were great but the wait was a little long.

hmmm, I'll keep that one in mind.....
According to his site the wait is even longer right now

spectrrr · 05-30-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly Cut

i learned my lesson about my local shop... NEVER again. and i'm still pissed.
of course, it's not a shop as world renowned as LJ Perretti is.

i'd ask some locals who have used the local place if they'd recommend it first. could save you tons of time and shipping.
if you can't do that, then maybe someone with some helpful info will respond.

Yeah, that's what I was worried about.... but hell, its Perretti.... surely it can't be that bad... I hope.....

Mister Moo · 05-30-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly Cut

i learned my lesson about my local shop... NEVER again. and i'm still pissed.

Yeah - me that too.

Quote:

...of course, it's not a shop as world renowned as LJ Perretti is.

Yeah, that.

Consider http://www.norwoodspiperepair.com/

spectrrr · 05-30-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Consider http://www.norwoodspiperepair.com/

mmmmm, their prices seem very reasonable.

I wonder if "Ream and Clean" includes de-oxidizing the stem as well. $10.50 would be a damned good price. For that kind of money I would send out more than just the Dunhills!

Zoomschwortz · 06-01-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrrr

mmmmm, their prices seem very reasonable.

I wonder if "Ream and Clean" includes de-oxidizing the stem as well. $10.50 would be a damned good price. For that kind of money I would send out more than just the Dunhills!

I didn't ask about de-oxidizing, but here is a response I just got from Floyd. His prices seem to be very fair.

"HI Ken,
The ream and clean get the pipes looking as new as possible, inside and outside.A lucite stem for the pipe would be $18.75. Bending is $1.00 extra.
Thanks
Floyd"

I think I'll be packing up a bunch of pipes sometime this week.

Take care.
Ken

06-07-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Yeah - me that too.

Yeah, that.

Consider http://www.norwoodspiperepair.com/

We've used Norwoods for 40+ years and they do great work at very reasonable prices.

Highly reccomended.

Neuromancer · 05-30-2010, 08:31 PM

Dave Wolff at walkerbriarworks.com is fantastic at restorations...

JaKaacH · 06-04-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuromancer

Dave Wolff at walkerbriarworks.com is fantastic at restorations...

I have two pipes at Walkers now should be back in a couple weeks. My first dealings with Dave, I will let you know how the pipes look when I get them.

spectrrr · 06-04-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaKaacH

I have two pipes at Walkers now should be back in a couple weeks. My first dealings with Dave, I will let you know how the pipes look when I get them.

looks like he's pretty backed up according to his website - no new work till mid July!

Slow Triathlete · 06-04-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuromancer

Dave Wolff at walkerbriarworks.com is fantastic at restorations...

I second that. He will always get my business.

However, if Peretti was my local shop I would take it there. I visited the shop last year and the staff seemed more than competant and would probably do a great job.

I would be more worried about them getting lost in the mail than anything.

Pat1075 · 06-04-2010, 11:29 AM

you might want to try a guy named Tim Harlan at the Golden Leaf in St. Paul

glassjapan · 06-01-2010, 06:20 PM

I've used George at Precision Pipe Repair and can't say enough good things about him. Incredible work. You might want to check and see how long of a wait. After the great write-ups on Greg Pease's website it might be longer of a wait than you can stand.

http://precisionpiperepair.com

jgros001 · 06-03-2010, 03:22 PM

I would use Peretti's - I am sure that you will get good work. Some pipe repair shops have a long wait - talking 8+ weeks the last two times I have sent out pipes. I will say that precision pipe repair and night owl pipeworks do good work but the results take a long time to see.

spectrrr · 06-03-2010, 09:02 PM

mmm, some great options there. All told I've got about 50 pipes to restore. The nicer looking ones that I really want to smoke will get sent out to precision or lewis probably, once I save up the funds to pay for it

.
Might send a dozen or so mid quality ones out to norwood for a cheaper cleanup....
And I'll take the remaining 30+, order some walker briar works stem polish, and work on em myself a bit at a time.

Pat1075 · 06-04-2010, 01:19 AM

exactly what needs to be done rich is here in town and he is great
our shop uses someone else for difficult stuff for ream and cleans we do it ourselves but the shop in st paul has a guy who is great at deoxidations and restoration. and I think its like five bucks a pipe. like I said though we have other people make our stems for now.

spectrrr · 06-04-2010, 01:36 AM

All my stems are intact I think, just in need of a SERIOUS de-oxidation (not used or cleaned in 15+ years). Some heavy bite marks on a few of them, but I think most will polish out. My grandpa rode em hard and put em away wet I think, so everything needs a clean up... but no "damage" per se to the pipes that I know if, just years of built of crap.

BlackDog · 06-04-2010, 06:55 PM

Ronni Bicakson does outstanding work. Among the very best.

http://www.nightowlpipeworks.com/

Mark Tinsky also does pipe repairs. Personally, I would not give a pipe to a shop to repair. In all likelihood they don't do it themselves, but farm it out to someone who you don't know. I'd prefer to send it to a pro that I know, or have strong recommendations of from other pipe smokers.

05-30-2010, 12:17 PM	#1
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Outsourcing pipe restoration? I've got 3 vintage Dunhill's (1960, 1965, late '70s) that I would like to have restored. My question is does it matter where you send the pipes out to, or should I just take em to my local reputable pipe dealer (L J Perretti for me, they sell Dunhills). I'll experiment with restoring the cheap ones I have, but not the Dunhilsl!!! If it does matter, does anyone know a restorer that they recommend? __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

05-30-2010, 02:54 PM	#2
Curly Cut Not Scary Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 669 Trading: (9)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? i learned my lesson about my local shop... NEVER again. and i'm still pissed. of course, it's not a shop as world renowned as LJ Perretti is. i'd ask some locals who have used the local place if they'd recommend it first. could save you tons of time and shipping. if you can't do that, then maybe someone with some helpful info will respond. __________________ *To be 2nd guessed, You have to be the 1st guesser.*

05-30-2010, 03:04 PM	#3
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? http://lewispipe.com/index.htm Rich repaired a pipe for me probably two years ago now, the results were great but the wait was a little long. __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

05-30-2010, 08:31 PM	#10
Neuromancer Will work for Boli GM's Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Marc Location: Lost in translation...near Newnan, GA Posts: 1,417 Trading: (23)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? Dave Wolff at walkerbriarworks.com is fantastic at restorations... __________________ "...pipe smoking is properly an intellectual exercise." ~ Christopher Morley, 1916

06-04-2010, 11:29 AM	#14
Pat1075 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Patrick Location: Lakewood, OH Posts: 755 Trading: (11)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? you might want to try a guy named Tim Harlan at the Golden Leaf in St. Paul

06-01-2010, 06:20 PM	#15
glassjapan Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 78 Trading: (11)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? I've used George at Precision Pipe Repair and can't say enough good things about him. Incredible work. You might want to check and see how long of a wait. After the great write-ups on Greg Pease's website it might be longer of a wait than you can stand. http://precisionpiperepair.com

06-03-2010, 03:22 PM	#16
jgros001 down in the pipe room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 36 Trading: (2)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? I would use Peretti's - I am sure that you will get good work. Some pipe repair shops have a long wait - talking 8+ weeks the last two times I have sent out pipes. I will say that precision pipe repair and night owl pipeworks do good work but the results take a long time to see.

06-03-2010, 09:02 PM	#17
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? mmm, some great options there. All told I've got about 50 pipes to restore. The nicer looking ones that I really want to smoke will get sent out to precision or lewis probably, once I save up the funds to pay for it . Might send a dozen or so mid quality ones out to norwood for a cheaper cleanup.... And I'll take the remaining 30+, order some walker briar works stem polish, and work on em myself a bit at a time. __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

06-04-2010, 01:19 AM	#18
Pat1075 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Patrick Location: Lakewood, OH Posts: 755 Trading: (11)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? exactly what needs to be done rich is here in town and he is great our shop uses someone else for difficult stuff for ream and cleans we do it ourselves but the shop in st paul has a guy who is great at deoxidations and restoration. and I think its like five bucks a pipe. like I said though we have other people make our stems for now.

06-04-2010, 01:36 AM	#19
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? All my stems are intact I think, just in need of a SERIOUS de-oxidation (not used or cleaned in 15+ years). Some heavy bite marks on a few of them, but I think most will polish out. My grandpa rode em hard and put em away wet I think, so everything needs a clean up... but no "damage" per se to the pipes that I know if, just years of built of crap. __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

06-04-2010, 06:55 PM	#20
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Outsourcing pipe restoration? Ronni Bicakson does outstanding work. Among the very best. http://www.nightowlpipeworks.com/ Mark Tinsky also does pipe repairs. Personally, I would not give a pipe to a shop to repair. In all likelihood they don't do it themselves, but farm it out to someone who you don't know. I'd prefer to send it to a pro that I know, or have strong recommendations of from other pipe smokers. __________________ "We live in the good of this."