I want to say this happened because it got left in the sunlight for too long, but I'm not too sure.
I've seen people suggest leaving the stem in oxiclean and buffing the hell out of it, but I'm not so sure. What do you guys reccomend?
Stem Oxidation
- Thread starter yuda
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
I want to say this happened because it got left in the sunlight for too long, but I'm not too sure.
I've seen people suggest leaving the stem in oxiclean and buffing the hell out of it, but I'm not so sure. What do you guys reccomend?
You'll find lots of info here and elsewhere re stem maintenance. I won't belabor it. I have to admit I am way too anal about oxidized or mouth stained vulcanite. It bugs the crap out of me and I don't like the look, even a little. I like nylon ,acrylic or plastic in every case. Falcons and cobs and Carey's for me.
Easy:
Scrub with a Magic Eraser and polish with Flitz metal polish.
My way:
A lighter, a wet paper towel, and toothpaste.
Scrub with a Magic Eraser and polish with Flitz metal polish.
My way:
A lighter, a wet paper towel, and toothpaste.
Rub it with a very light coat of mineral and see how you like it. If OK, you've saved hours of work.
This one looks pretty bad, though, and mineral oil cannot make badly oxidized stems look o.k..
This one looks pretty bad, though, and mineral oil cannot make badly oxidized stems look o.k..
I just today used the magic eraser method. Worked great. Left a matte finish so needed to polish it up with micro mesh pads and then shine with some obsidian oil.
Here are details on quite a few methods.
rebornpipes.com
Here are details on quite a few methods.
Removing Oxidization on Vulcanite Stems
Blog by Steve Laug In May 2011 I started a thread on Smoker’s Forums asking people how they dealt with oxidation on vulcanite stems. Many of the members of the Forums responded in the ongoing posts…
rebornpipes.com
- Put on toothpaste.
- Rub it for an hour.
- Realize it will take too damned long.
- Try the magic eraser method.
Me personally I love oxidation the same way I love couches that have been used as a scratching post. Reminds me of things I love.
you roll the toothpaste into a paper towel spliff (after you rip it in half) smoke the toothpaste then lick the pipe wipe of the minty droll with the other half of the paper towel. It really should be obvious.
Wave the tip of a butane lighter flame across the stem's surface, working in short lengths. When the surface just begins to blacken, rub it with a with the paper towel. Multiple passes are sometimes necessary but you end up with a matte black stem. Next, apply a tiny drop of toothpaste to the end of your finger and wipe it evenly across the entire surface of the stem excluding the tenon. Allow the toothpaste to dry 15-30 minutes and thumb buff the stem with a clean, dry thumb until the toothpaste residue is removed. If you're new to restorations, I would go with the Magic Eraser, but if you have experience shaping stems with a flame or are just adventurous, give it a go.
I had a video of that one, but it got flagged on YouTube for tobacco content.
First learned of it here.
A BIC lighter and Oxidation
Blog by Rob Hardy and Steve Laug Thanks to a serendipitous discovery by a friend of mine, Rob Hardy (incoinnu on Smokers Forums), who also does refurbishing as a hobby we have worked out a very dif…
rebornpipes.wordpress.com
I use magic eraser and micro mesh pads
Just start with the least abrasive method first. You may find that in some cases just mineral oil will work (as @jpmcwjr has mentioned) although that stem will need a little more attention.
Howya ? probably a noob question but...is the oxidation intrinsically damaging to the stem material. I have a light foxing of oxidation on my mid 60's leather wrapped Longchamp but the colour of the oxidation actually compliment 's the colour of the leather making the pipe look brilliant...IMO.
I don't speak with much experience since most of my Vulcanite stems have stayed somewhat oxidation free. I did have one gift pipe with an old Vulcanite stem I could polish shiny after a smoke, but it oxidized again in about an hour, so eventually I had it replaced with an acrylic stem. Also it was a P-lip and I prefer a fishtail, and a new tortoise shell stem looks much better than the black oxidized Vulcanite.
Easyiest thing if get unscented chapstick that has sayalic acid in the ingredients, butter stem up, let it work a couple hrs, rub it off, good as new!
I'll say the same thing people said to me. There is a point where it starts adding a bitter flavor to the smoke. And once you get that you'll understand why people don't like it. I don't think it's just the oxidization but maybe something that gets trapped in it or something. Because it doesn't develop as much as just show up at some point. And it's bad enough if you couldn't fix it yourself you would end up buying a brand new stem. If it's not bothering you then it hasn't really happened because well it changed my mind about it being no big deal pretty quickly.
fun fact is oxygen does the same thing to the body. It's carcinogenic. But we kind of need it to survive and have cellular energy. Now that we're on the subject of things that are bad for you and essential for survival that small star we're close to that we see every darn day is also trying to kill us all.
- Status