Recent content by chapu

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  1. chapu

    Stem polishing; oxidation

    Ah, yes. That was what I was referring to when I said I could get my hands on something similar to micromesh. This is the confirmation I needed! So wet sanding, polishing and buffing it will be. Thanks! :-)
  2. chapu

    Alcohol based vs. water based leather dyes

    Since posting this I found that there actually *is* a nice variety of colours in alcohol based dyes available here -only not for leather. There's a brand of wood finishing products that offers two different types of alcohol based stains, one with teak oil and one without it (and apparently none...
  3. chapu

    where to find oxiclean and white diamond?

    Why, yes. I usually remove oxidation from stems using a 50% water bleach solution for a few minutes. I've also noticed it tends to be quite aggressive on the vulcanite (hence my newfound need for a buffing wheel and its appropriate compounds!) and read people offering Oxiclean as a better...
  4. chapu

    where to find oxiclean and white diamond?

    This is quite interesting. I've read people recommending a soak in oxyclean for both stummels and stems before beginning restoration (how long would one need to let a stummel dry after this?). I was wondering if anybody with a box of Oxiclean would be so kind as to post here its chemical...
  5. chapu

    Stem polishing; oxidation

    Thanks, ssjones! So, let's say I cannot get micromesh pads (I live in Argentina, getting things from abroad is no easy task, not to say nearly impossible), can I replace them with brown tripoli on a wheel in order to remove oxidation from old stems? Being careful, obviously. And then maybe...
  6. chapu

    Alcohol based vs. water based leather dyes

    Thanks a lot for your responses, guys! Got it: water based dyes are a no-no, I'll stick with whatever alcohol based ones I can find. I didn't mention it, but I live in Argentina: getting absolutely anything shipped here is nigh imposible. I'll have to make do with what's here (still looking for...
  7. chapu

    Alcohol based vs. water based leather dyes

    Hello! First of all, sorry if there's another thread in here somewhere asking this same question. I did my due dilligence by searching using Google but couldn't find anything. Just in case, if it happens I'm wrong, would some moderator kindly move this where appropriate? :-) Having that out of...
  8. chapu

    Stem polishing; oxidation

    Hey, fellows! So, I'm looking into restoring some old stems myself (bought a couple of estate lots over the internet). I've seen people talking wonders about polishing/buffing wheels made of fabric, so I got a couple of those to attach to my power drill. Now, I have some questions: I've seen a...
  9. chapu

    Lorenzo Connoisseur dublin rusticated

    That's an astonishing piece, papipeguy! Is it a sitter? It looks mighty comfy, being a clencher I gravitate to pipes with full bends like that. Someday soon I'll get myself an Oom Paul :puffpipe:
  10. chapu

    Lorenzo Connoisseur dublin rusticated

    Hello, gents! Over the past month or so I've been overcome by a serious case of PAD. Let's just say that my collection grew from 4 pipes to 15 or so in the span of a few weeks :-D I've been buying estates, some smoked and some unsmoked. I got some really nice things, but haven't had the time to...
  11. chapu

    Yet another meerschaum cleaning question

    Great advice, Jeffrey! And that was an excellent article too, bigpond. My thanks go to both of you :puffpipe:
  12. chapu

    Using Matches?

    Thanks a lot, Michael! Good thing I asked around here before buying, I dodged a bullet there :lol: I concur with mso, there's something charming about matches. Of course they may be inconvenient on windy days, but still I wouldn't change them for lighters. Plus I read somewhere a bit about the...
  13. chapu

    Using Matches?

    Hey there, mates! I've been using matches for a long time, even before switching to pipes, as I find that butane lighters tend to leave a taste in my tobacco that I don't really care for. And don't get me started on the taste of Zippos... :P Anyway, I have a question I thought would be...
  14. chapu

    Pipes made of cadaver bone

    Duly noted. I misinterpreted the bit about "When I am dead I will be gone and have no more use for this place". Anyway, I believe we can both agree on our disinterest in burial rites, and on a more general note on the fact that once we're gone from here, we're gone for good, hence our general...
  15. chapu

    Yet another meerschaum cleaning question

    I think my meer-lined is in fact block, not pressed. At least when I bought it I did the moist-finger-inside-the-bowl test and it felt sticky, which I read is the sign of block and should not happen with pressed. But by all means correct me if I'm wrong! Thanks for the advice on how to handle...