Restoring Shine

[JM]

I have an estate pipe that has a brown stem. The stem turned a chocolate brown after the alcohol soak and cleaning so now I'd like to restore some of the shine to it. The brown doesn't look bad but the more I use the more I'd like to restore it to the original state.

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[Dutch]

I'm smoking an old GBD Penthouse right now, with the same color stem. My saliva has taken off the discoloration on the button end. Looks like I'm gonna have to give mine an Oxy wash dip and see how she comes out.

 

[plumbernater]

I rub mine down with 0000 steel wool. The brown is oxidation like rust on the vulcanite stem. I rub mine with the steel wooltill she is black like its supose to be, then rub some bees wax on it and buff to a shine. This pipe had a brown stem just like yours.

 

[JM]

Does an S.O.S. pad count as steel wool?

 

[plumbernater]

I dont know the coursness of the sos, 0000 steel wool I use to burnish a rifle barrel for blueing and shine. Works great on the stem as well. The bleach in the sos will take off your logo on stem.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

SOS pads have soap in them, I believe. Be careful.

0000 grade steel wool is available at hardware stores and most larger markets... though I use sandpaper, the use is the same. I'm going to keep some steel wool in my arsenal, though. 8)

 

[RDPipes]

I've never used steel wool on my stems, always 600-1000 grit wet sandpaper but, I like to get any dents from teeth out of my bits. Steel wool will not remove teeth chatter or dents.

 

[plumbernater]

You might want to think that a tooth mark is a dent and to get that out with sand paper you are making your stem mighty thin. I clean mine up and live with a dent or two. If I cant Ill go for a new one. I try to buy estate pipes with good pictures to see if the stem has much damage. Also put some bees wax on the stem after cleaning and polish. She will shine nicely

 

[RDPipes]

You might want to think that a tooth mark is a dent and to get that out with sand paper you are making your stem mighty thin. I clean mine up and live with a dent or two. If I cant Ill go for a new one. I try to buy estate pipes with good pictures to see if the stem has much damage. Also put some bees wax on the stem after cleaning and polish. She will shine nicely

Any dent that deep that sanding could make it too thin I try boiling water to try to bring the dent back up. Most the time this works well and I've never sanded a stem too thin.

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers work great for this. They will still need a polishing with beeswax, but the Magic Eraser Pads take the brown oxidation right off.

I read about using these and thought I'd give it a try on an old basket pipe. It worked great! I never would've thought to use these, but they're all I use now.

Regarding the tooth marks, just put a new Pipe Bit on it and nobody will ever know. :mrgreen:

 

[RDPipes]

Have to check that one out.

 

[riff raff]

My estate stems get:
Wet paper: 1000>1500>2000
Thank the last four grades of micromesh pads. (up to 12000)
Than, a buffing wheel polish using Blue Magic plastic polish.
Finally a hand coat of carnuba wax.
Some before/after stems:

 

[plumbernater]

Those look nice. I might have to look for some of that plastic polish.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Nice work, riff raff. 8)

 

[riff raff]

Thanks! I think the plastic polish adds a bit of protection to the vulcanite as well. Boy, those saddle stems will make your fingers ache.

Btw, if you need some micromesh pads, this place has the 6"x3" at a very nice price. To this point, I've been using the 2"x2", which are a little too small and wear out quicly. I find myself only using tast four grades (4000>6000>8000>12000)
The 12000 yields no scratch marks on plastic that can be seen by the naked eye. Polishing is always about preparation, which is code for "lots of sanding".
http://www.sculpt.com/catalog_98/abrasives/micromesh.htm

I had refurbed this After Hours billiard earlier this summer, but looking at this weekend, the creases still held some oxidation. I took that out with a flat needle file, than resanded and buffed. Much better. Wow though, that double comfort stem is an SOB to sand with all those creases/steps. I couldn't get it perfect, but it is much better.




What it looked like back in May. The owner at Wigenroth's said I'd never get the stem black again. I have to stop by and show it to Mel now.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I know this has been said probably a few times, but to keep that black and wonderful shine, I'm using some unscented SPF 15 lip balm. Just a fingertip coating on the vulcanite, as I like to smoke outside in the sun, is the difference between another visit to sanding and sanding and sanding and sanding, or the enjoyment of the hard work on your pipe for a longer period of time. Really makes the stem look good as the coating distributes evenly on the stem, too! So shiny and black it almost looks glass-like.

 

[RDPipes]

Nice work sir! The ones I hate doing are the intricate free hand stems. Getting in to all those bends and stuff can be a real pain on some of them. I use small dowels and wrap my wet sand around them but, even then...... :x

 

[SPUD 15]

The best way I've found to remove dents from Vulcanite and Bakelite stems is to use a small flame on a butane lighter hold it about 3/4" from the dent on the stem for about 10 seconds the small dent will come back up to the surface. The way to remove dents from brier or other wood use a steam iron on cotton setting dampen a cotton cloth put the damp cotton cloth on the dent and apply the iron on top of the cloth the steam will penetrate toe wood expanding it raising the dent.

 

[RDPipes]

The best way I've found to remove dents from Vulcanite and Bakelite stems is to use a small flame on a butane lighter hold it about 3/4" from the dent on the stem for about 10 seconds the small dent will come back up to the surface. The way to remove dents from brier or other wood use a steam iron on cotton setting dampen a cotton cloth put the damp cotton cloth on the dent and apply the iron on top of the cloth the steam will penetrate toe wood expanding it raising the dent.

Yes I agree, that will work. But as someone mentioned in another post about the use of a particular heating tool and not wanting to use it, I too will refrain from a flame other then when lighting my pipe.
You see I live in a world were "Murphy's Law" is real and alive.

 

[Dave_In_Philly]

Any idea what the 0000 steel wool would equate to in sand paper grit? I think of steel wool as being very rough, but I never really gave it too much consideration. I have a bunch of it in the basement, but I have no idea what it would be rated. I'll have to check when I get home.