by Steve Laug

I received an email from Jay regarding a repair on a Chacom pipe that he had. He sent me the following email.

Hello!

I was referred to you by the fine folks over at City Cigar here in Vancouver.

I am looking for a silver band to try and fix a pipe that has developed a small crack in the shank. Would you be able to help me? I’m local to Vancouver so I could pick up from you if that helps.

Thank you!! Jay

He was first asking about a band for the pipe but I have learned that fitting a band is hardly a formula of measurements. It seems rather to be a matter of hand fitting a band to the shank. I explained that to him and suggested that he bring it by. He sent me photos of the measurements of the shank and included a photo of the pipe and of the crack on the underside of the shank. It was a crack that he said happened the second time he smoked the pipe when new. Jay dropped the pipe by on the weekend and we chatted about the repair. I took photos of the pipe when I brought it to the work table today. It is a pretty pipe with a nougat coloured acrylic stem. The bowl and shank were very clean. The pipe was stamped on the left side of the shank and read Chachom [over] Nougat. It was also stamped on the underside of the shank and read Made in France in a rhombus and underneath that it bore the shape number 275. The crack on the underside of the shank was about an inch long and with the stem in place was quite wide open. It went between the 2 and 7 of the shape number and proceeded up between the F and R of France and through the M in Made. Jay had given the stem a slight bend and it looked very good. I took a close up photo of the bowl and rim top to show how clean and pristine the condition the pipe was in. The stem was a great acrylic Nougat colour that was also in pristine condition with no tooth marks or chatter on the surface.I took photos of the stamping on the shank sides and the logo on the stem. They were clear and readable. I removed the stem from the shank and took a photo of the pipe to show the look of the bowl and the stem.I looked up the Chacom Nougat on google and found a listing for this exact pipe on the site of Victory Pipes (https://victorypipes.ca/shop/shop-tobacco-pipes/chacom-pipes/chacom-nougat-tobacco-pipe-shape-275/). I have included the description of the pipe below.

The Chacom Nougat No 275 is an elegant briar pipe with a small bowl, a shiny brown finish and a nougat-coloured acrylic stem.  Lightweight and straight, this briar pipe has a comfortable feel in the mouth. The original billiard bowl gives it a vintage and charming style. Has a smooth, shiny brown finish. Includes a reusable metal “stinger” filter. Comes in a Chacom cardboard gift box with a branded cotton bag.

Now it was time to work on the crack on the shank. Jay’s photo shows the length and flow of the crack so I am including it below. I cleaned out the crack with some alcohol on a cotton swab. I used a microdrill bit to put a tiny hole at the end of the crack. It is visible in the photo below. I used a tooth pick to run a bead of clear CA glue in both the pinhole I drill and the length of the crack. Once it was in place I squeezed the crack together and let the repair harden. The CA dries quickly so it did not take to long. I then put some white glue on the inside of a brass band and pressed it onto the shank end to hold the repair together. Once the band was set and the repairs had hardened I carefully sanded it smooth with a folded piece of 220 grit sandpaper. I followed up on that with a 320-3500 grit sanding pads to smooth it out.Once I smoothed out the repaired I polished the area of the repair and the brass band with 1500-12000 grit sanding pads. Once I finished the polishing the repair looked very good and the band also began to really shine. I worked some Before & After Restoration Balm into the surface of the briar with my finger tips to get into the wood. The product is incredible and the way it brings the grain to the fore is unique. It works to clean, protect and invigorate the wood. I let it sit and absorb into the briar and then buffed it off with a soft cloth. I finished the repair on the cracked shank on the Chacom Nougat 275 Billiard and took it to the buffer. I buffed the bowl, brass band and the stem with Blue Diamond on a buffing pad and following that by giving the bowl and stem multiple coats of carnauba wax. I buffed it with a clean buffing pad to raise the shine. It is a beautiful pipe. It will be heading back to Jay later this week. Have a look. Thanks.