where to find oxiclean and white diamond?

[jjjarhead]

hi everyone

I've got several estate pipes at hand and they need some restoration to be fully appreciated. I learned that oxiclean is used for stem polish and white diamond is used between tripoli and carnauba wax in the buffing session, but seems like I can't find them because I live in China.

Oxiclean can be bough in some stores, in powder form like this. https://www.amazon.com/OxiClean-Stain-Fighter-Power-Count/dp/B00CN98LAM/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481433906&sr=8-2&keywords=oxiclean+2+in+1

But when I search on Amazon, it comes in several forms specializing in laundry/ dish washing/ stain removing. What is the kind that you guys use?

As for white diamond, I can't find it period. What's its main purpose? Any substance to replace it?

thanks for all input.

 

[michaelmirza]

The stain remover kind of OxiClean that comes in a tub is the way to go. Just put a scoop into a jar or cup filled with water, then soak the stems there. Do it in your sink because the jar will eventually bubble over.

 

[jjjarhead]

like this one? https://www.amazon.com/OxiClean-Versatile-Stain-Remover-7-22/dp/B005GI8UOO/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481436552&sr=8-3&keywords=oxiclean+stain+remover

 

[michaelmirza]

Yep, I think so!

 

[pagan]

try this

https://www.amazon.com/PSI-Woodworking-Products-LBUFFSYS-Buffing/dp/B004CVJBYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481465345&sr=8-1&keywords=white+diamond%2C+tripoli+and+carnauba+wax
or this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PSI-Woodworking-Products-LBUFFSYS-3-Step-Buffing-System-/252674899908?hash=item3ad498ffc4:g:FvgAAOSw2xRYSrhg

 

[ssjones]

Caswell has great prices on buffing products, I'm not sure if they ship internationally.

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing.html?cat=131
Oxy-clean (I like the powder vs the liquid) is a soak before attempting to remove the outer layers of oxidation.
I like sanding the oxidation vs. buffing (which can create waves). Care is needed using either method.

 

[chapu]

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 composition, as this name brand is not available in my country but I'm fairly confident I can find something just like it if I know what it is made of.

 

[mortonbriar]

I just use bleach and water 50:50 rather than oxiclean, that is available everywhere at least. I only leave it in for an hour.
Isaac

 

[ssjones]

I can't envision any circumstance where I would soak the briar in oxy-clean. (edit - "briar", not bear!)

 

[jjjarhead]

a quick update of my hunt in the internet.

http://www.jewelrysupply.com/White-Diamond-Tripoli-Buffing-Compound_p_11140.html First I pondered upon this, and its name cleared a misconception for me: I thought white diamond and tripoli are two completely different objects but now I realize that they are just under the same category, the only difference is that brown tripoli is more abrasive and white diamond is finer. (correct me if Im wrong here)

Then I l searched on the chinese equivalent of eBay and found this: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.40.i5iOFn&id=521800878066&ns=1&abbucket=9#detail

the white version looks like white diamond and its description fits what I imagine white diamond does: white polishing paste--used with cotton wheel in the later process of the buffing session, after polish the object will be highlighted or mirror-like. Do you guys think that this is white diamond indeed?

@ssjones I know that I can get this or pretty much everything I need on international shopping sites but the shipping cost is killing me. I can barely keep up with the routine tobacco purchase

@mortonbriar I remember seen it somewhere that bleach bath is bad for you, the reasons I can not remember. just something I thought I should mention.

@chapu A little search on Google and I found this: Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate is a granular substance made by combining sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Yup, plain old hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in OxiClean. Hydrogen peroxide is not carcinogenic, nor is it a neurotoxin. BE ADVISED THAT THIS INFORMATION MAY BE WRONG. Proceed with caution. And no, you only soak the stem in oxiclean, to get the oxidation out. I imagine briar, or any wood for that matter don't oxidase.

All in all thanks for your help! Much obliged!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, yeah, keep either bleach or Oxyclean away from the briar! Many folks swear by one or the other. Oxyclean is, IIRC, slightly gentler than bleach.

 

[chapu]

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 alternative.
After reading your responses I began to question myself -had I *really* read about someone putting the whole stummel on an Oxiclean bath? A cursory google search brought this up: https://rebornpipes.com/2013/04/18/an-oxyclean-experiment/ So apparently I had read about it, just forgot the bit about it being an "experiment" :-D Anyway, it doesn't seem necessary, so I'll probably stick with the Oxiclean just for stems.

 

[ssjones]

Too heavy a solution of Oxy-Clean will strip the brass (or other) finish off a GBD rondell, so go light. I tried the liquid but found the powder to be more effective.
I had forgotten about Greg's experiment on Reborn Briars (my posts there are under the name "upshallfan").