I brought home a Baronet Bruyere today, and in my excitement to pick it up I didn't notice that the stem was oxidized (maybe). In fact, I didn't even really know what I was looking at until it was too late. Here's what happened.
Being new at this, i didn't realize nor know what it meant to have a Vulcanite stem.
I sat down in my man cave and peeled the price tag which had been on the stem. There was still adhesive on the stem, and small weird yellowish gross looking spots. I held the pipe in my mouth and nearly gagged at the smell. I removed the stem and ran it through some water in the kitchen (bad idea that I learned after the fact) hoping to remove the sticky garbage and the smell. Upon doing so, the little white Savinelli crown ran off and the stem turned a weird green color. I then searched the internet an read that Olive oil helps to restore Vulcanite. Now the stem looks slightly better, but still reeks, with no crown stamp.
I don't know what to do. Do I just accept that I made a very stupid beginners mistake and try to remove whatever smell is inside the stem and keep it? Or do I talk to my B&M and explain the situation? I'm good friends with the manager of the place now, and half of this situation is now on me. He was not on duty when I picked up the pipe so the associate probably not being a pipe guy didn't notice, and me being new didn't notice. I AM HELPLESS!
What should I do?!
Being new at this, i didn't realize nor know what it meant to have a Vulcanite stem.
I sat down in my man cave and peeled the price tag which had been on the stem. There was still adhesive on the stem, and small weird yellowish gross looking spots. I held the pipe in my mouth and nearly gagged at the smell. I removed the stem and ran it through some water in the kitchen (bad idea that I learned after the fact) hoping to remove the sticky garbage and the smell. Upon doing so, the little white Savinelli crown ran off and the stem turned a weird green color. I then searched the internet an read that Olive oil helps to restore Vulcanite. Now the stem looks slightly better, but still reeks, with no crown stamp.
I don't know what to do. Do I just accept that I made a very stupid beginners mistake and try to remove whatever smell is inside the stem and keep it? Or do I talk to my B&M and explain the situation? I'm good friends with the manager of the place now, and half of this situation is now on me. He was not on duty when I picked up the pipe so the associate probably not being a pipe guy didn't notice, and me being new didn't notice. I AM HELPLESS!
What should I do?!
:
You will need oxyclean, toothpaste and a cotton cloth. Dump the stem in the oxyclean for about 30 minutes, take out rinse well, then pooth toothpaste (Colgate Whitening works really well) all over and scrub hard with your cloth. Repeat until no more discoloration. Then treat the stem with some olive oil, let it work in for about 20 minutes and polish off with a soft cloth. Stem as good as new 
