How do you avoid oxidation?

waznyf

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2012

742

48

29

Texas

• Aug 11, 2012

• #1

Hey everyone,
Just wanted to ask you all one quick question. How do you personally go about avoiding oxidation?

Do you have and special remedies for preventing the terrible disease from plaguing your stems?

I apply obsidian pipe stem oil to my stems (sorry if I spelled it wrong but I don't have it sitting next to me.) I am not quite sure if it workds yet, but I am more than happy to give it a try.

Lemme know guys I would really appreciate it!

 

kabong30

Can't Leave

Jun 2, 2012

329

2

• Aug 11, 2012

• #2

I have a silicone impregnated cloth that's working well.

 

waznyf

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2012

742

48

29

Texas

• Aug 11, 2012

• #3

@kabong30 I will look into that, thanks man!

 

rigmedic1

Lifer

May 29, 2011

3,896

75

• Aug 11, 2012

• #4

I use the carnauba wax from Walker Briar Works. Once I have thoroughly cleaned and polished a stem, it seals it, and protects it for quite a while. The wax leaves the stem felling slick as well.

 

pstlpkr

Lifer

Dec 14, 2009

9,694

31

Birmingham, AL

• Aug 11, 2012

• #5

Obsidian Pipe Stem Oil works very well.

 

crk69

Part of the Furniture Now

Jun 30, 2012

751

1

• Aug 11, 2012

• #6

Obsidian and Halcyon II wax...

 

waznyf

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2012

742

48

29

Texas

• Aug 11, 2012

• #7

Glad to hear that Obsidian has some support behind it. Did not know that Carnauba and Halcyon Wax were appropriate for stems, I thought that they were for bowls only. Guess I will have to give them a shot as well!

 

cajunguy

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 22, 2012

756

1

Metairie, LA

• Aug 11, 2012

• #8

A cheap method to forestall oxidation is Chapstick lip balm. When you're done smoking, coat the stem with some Chapstick, let it sit for a few minutes (five should do), then wipe clean. The same stuff that keeps our lips from getting chapped wards oxidation, as well. I've found it works very well.

 

kabong30

Can't Leave

Jun 2, 2012

329

2

• Aug 11, 2012

• #9

^

Yup, I like Burt's Bees personally and use that on occasion as well.

 

igloo

Lifer

Jan 17, 2010

4,083

5

woodlands tx

• Aug 11, 2012

• #10

Yep,chapstick .

 

hobie1dog

Lifer

Jun 5, 2010

6,888

233

67

Cornelius, NC

• Aug 11, 2012

• #11

Obsidian for me too

 

taerin

Lifer

May 22, 2012

1,851

1

• Aug 11, 2012

• #12

I use a little Halcyon II wax on the stems every time after use and on the rim of the bowel. The stuff is really nice. I don't use the other one that starts with a "P" any more because it gets in the little crevices like logo stamp and makes them white, very difficult to hand buff. The halcyon II hand buffs easily even in rustications, logos, and other crevices.

 

tokerpipes

Lifer

Jan 16, 2012

2,042

690

46

Eatonville, WA

• Aug 11, 2012

• #13

Well to prevent oxidation seal the pipe in an airtight bag. Place bag in fire proof padded brief case. And here is the most important rule...never use it. Otherwise its inevitable that you will get oxidation but what every one else says will work fine if you want to use the pipe.

 

clyde

Starting to Get Obsessed

Jul 19, 2012

112

0

• Aug 11, 2012

• #14

Avoid smoking in bright sunlight. Have your pipe rack(s) in a low light area. Store pipe in pipe glove. All will help reduce the rate of oxidation. Obisidian stem oil, although expensive, contains ultraviolet shielding agent and another agent that acts similar to chapstick. Nothing completely stops oxidation, Even obsidian has to be re-applied to maintain that wet shine we like and provide some protection. Vulcanite, eboniite, and cumberland are common stem materials that do oxidize. Whenever purchasing a pipe try to find out if the stem is acrylic, lucite, or nylon. These are plastic resins and do not oxidize. They will get micro scratches but that is where waxes such as lemon pledge or favor work very well. Many use a cloth containing silicone in some form but wax is readily available, works well and leaves no after taste.

 

photoman13

Lifer

Mar 30, 2012

2,825

2

• Aug 11, 2012

• #15

I second, rigmedic1. The carnuba you can order works without a buffer and still gives you a good shine. Nothing is as good as a buffer though. It definitely protects from oxidation though.

 

tbradsim1

Lifer

Jan 14, 2012

9,104

11,066

Southwest Louisiana

• Aug 11, 2012

• #16

I try to move a lot the old cajun

 

ssjones

Moderator

Staff member

May 11, 2011

18,444

11,353

Maryland

postimg.cc

• Aug 11, 2012

• #17

I use Obsidian, but thing I believe keeps my stems black and shiny is a rubdown or buff with Blue Magic Plastic Polish. That seems to seal the vulcanite. My pipe restorer buddy was asking me about this as my stems seem to oxidize at a much slower rate than his. That being the only difference. The polish doesnt give the stem any taste either, which I can discern when using the Obsidian Oil.

 

M

mambab

Lurker

Aug 16, 2012

4

0

• Aug 17, 2012

• #18

hi,to avoid oxidations over the steam after you finishing smoking use a soft cloth and clean very well the steam, every time you smoke, i have several pipes of 30/ 40 years ago, with vulcanyte steams and them have no sign of oxidation today, if you dot't smoke that very pipe and all the others each week, cloth and polish all your pipes, ciao Alex

 

M

mightyblaze

Lurker

Jul 16, 2012

26

0

• Aug 17, 2012

• #19

pretty good knowledge here!!

 

matchstickman

Lifer

Jul 15, 2011

2,363

31

• Aug 18, 2012

• #20

Obsidian pipe stem oil is an officially endorsed product of the now (almost) world famous Pipe Novelist Pipe Stem Restoration Method. The really cool thing about Obsidian oil is that it contains an SPF component which will shield your pipe stem from the damage of the sun if you smoke outdoors a lot. In any case, Obsidian is probably about the best thing you can do in terms of actual oxidation prevention. Removal once it has happened is another story altogether.