My 7 dollar "Smocking Pipe" makeover

[BamBam]

I wanted to share this little beauty I brought back from the grave. While recently surfing the bay, and telling my self the whole time "you already have too many, why are you on here", I came across a listing. The listing was for a "smocking pipe", yep, I know I'm not the only one who gets excited with a misspelled pipe listing with blurry pics. As experience would tell us, I got it for a little over a dollar, and with shipping it set me back about 7 dollars.

It got in today and besides thick cake and grime all over, I could see the gem underneath. Although it was described as a no name, it turned out to be a "London Crown". Not much info on these pipes, but some say they are a Hardcastle, which is a second by Dunhill. I could see that with the shape and finish.

I put this baby through a full refurb, I'm talking full refinish, shellac, buffing, reaming, salt/alcohol treatment, retort, pipe mud to fill a suspect internal hairline crack, draft hole redrill, sand/smooth the rim, tighten tenon, the whole nine...nay, the whole nineteen yards. After the makeover though, she is a beauty which I will smoke with pride.

I would also appreciate if someone could shed some light on the "London Crown".

Before and afters...

[BamBam]

She is a looker...

[Nathan]

The transformation is really impressive!

[Zane]

Amazing transformation!

[YankeeMan]

What did you use?

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by YankeeMan

What did you use?

Not one thing in particular, it is a long, complicated process with many products and methods.

[CRIMPS]

Well done! Something to be proud of, for sure.

[Subvet642]

Bravo-Zulu! Nice job.

[Sweet_Leaf_PDX]

that is a great restoration!

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

Wow! ace job on this one, she's a beaut.

[TXSmokey]

nice! ever thought of restoring pipes for a living, or at least for extra cash to spend on more pipes?

[AdamJoshua]

That's amazing, not knowing what I'm talking about, but seems you do really first class work, well not work seems it's more a labor of love. Great pipe

[TXSmokey]

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/london-crown-pipe
check this out

[cjhalbrooks]

Wow great job.

[WaRevo]

It is always nice to have a Good Subject for working. Very good pipe and great restore job.

[8zeros]

Nice, nice, nice. My Pappy and Grand-pappy were pipe smokers and had pipes like this. I wish I had known something about it before they got rid of all the stuff. Who knew that pipes could be restored so nice. I still may take up a pipe someday.