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Notice
Effective June 1,
2010. NightOwl PipeWorks will no longer offer refurbishment
services. I will continue to offer the finest pipe repair
services and custom repairs/improvements. Thank you for your continued support.
NightOwl
PipeWorks
is a smoking
pipe repair shop
dedicated to providing technical excellence and superior craftsmanship
in pipe repair and restoration .
Prior to repairing pipes, I accumulated extensive experience in small
instrument refurbishing, vintage watch restoration, digital
electronics, and electrical nuclear construction. In 2003, I had the
privilege of learning pipemaking from the renowned U. S. pipemaker Jody Davis.
Spending
nearly
six
months under Jody's
instruction enabled me to combine my prior experience with the
pipemaking skills he taught. This background enables me to offer
superior quality craftsmanship and innovative repair techniques that
reset the bar in pipe repair.
In the past few years, I have been featured in the Winter 2006 issue of
Pipes
&
Tobaccos
Magazine and
the
Winter 2007 issue of Uptown's
Smoke Shop
Collector's Highlight newsletter. There is also an article I
contributed to the National Association of
Smoking Pipe Collectors (NASPC) that can be found on their website
.
Currently, NightOwl PipeWorks is the sole pipe repair source for Smokingpipes.com, providing
service to complement the sale.
These are some of the special techniques that I offer at NightOwl
PipeWorks:
The "Blueprint" technique is my term for opening the draft bore of a
pipe for smooth smoking. Rather than gouge out huge bores in the
shank, I strive to equalize the bore diameter from bowl to bit.
This includes redrilling the shank to 3.5 or 4mm, drilling the stem to
3.5mm as far as possible and then hand finishing the bore to an open
slot at the bit. Each pipe is treated as an individual system; no
"one size fits all". I also make special mortisse sleeves that
help a pipe cleaner pass all the way without stem removal. The
result is a smooth, dry smoke without having to fight a pipe cleaner
afterwards.
My "Bulletproof Shank Repair" eliminates the need for bands on cracked
or broken shanks. All repair is performed internally with either
Delrin, stainless steel, or carbon fiber sleeves. I pioneered
this technique in
2003 and have continually worked to improve the efficiency and
durability of this repair.
A combination of the two above techniques has resulted in the
"Blueprint Conversion" for meerschaums. The old "plumbing" is
removed from the shank and replaced with a new sleeve that is bored to
align the different draft angles between stem and shank. The stem
is Blueprinted and fitted with the appropriate tenon. The result
is a world class smoke that will accept a pipe cleaner without
disassambly. Only at NightOwl.
I also retrofit existing bowls into a bamboo shank conversion.
Imagine having a bamboo shank pipe that you've already broken in!
I use the same materials and skill as the premier pipe carvers
do...only at a more economical price.
Handcut stems are rendered with the same quality and material as any
original pipe made. From Dunhill and Barling to Chonowitsch and
Ivarsson, I can faithfully replicate or create a custom stem.
Standard replacement stems from quality blanks and Lucite stems are
also available. Regardless of the material, ALL stems are drilled
open to 3.5mm with a deep funnel; no extra charge. All tenons are
turned on a lathe for accuracy; no wobbly tenon cutters at NightOwl.
Custom alterations to pipes are limited only by your imagination and
the constraints of the original shape. I stock an extensive
variety of exotic woods, natural and synthetic materials for trim
rings, and stem inlays.
You can be sure that your pipes will receive the utmost in personal
care at NightOwl PipeWorks.
All I have to offer you is excellence.
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