Vulcanite stem polish?

beerzombie

Lurker

Mar 1, 2015

22

0

• Jan 26, 2017

• #1

Hi guys!
A loooong time ago I saw an ad for a stem polisher but can't seem to find it again. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've been haivng trouble getting my stems jet black.
Thanks!

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,439

109,346

• Jan 26, 2017

• #2

https://m.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-supplies/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=24766

 

mikestanley

Lifer

May 10, 2009

1,698

1,126

Akron area of Ohio

• Jan 26, 2017

• #3

After 27 years of playing around with stem polishes I finally tried Flitz. I find it works pretty well.

Mike S.

 

pagan

Lifer

May 6, 2016

5,963

28

West Texas

• Jan 26, 2017

• #4

+1 Flitz

 

A

aldecaker

Lifer

Feb 13, 2015

4,407

42

• Jan 26, 2017

• #5

I use Denicare stem polish. P&C carries it.

 

jefff

Lifer

May 28, 2015

1,915

6

Chicago

• Jan 26, 2017

• #6

Once it's clean try a jewelers cloth. Cosmic turned me onto them and my stems are now worry free. One side is a very light abrasive and the other is wax.
Wipe it down after every smoke and Vulcanite becomes almost maintenance free.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,439

109,346

• Jan 26, 2017

• #7

Barkeepers Friend is good too.

 

ssjones

Moderator

Staff member

May 11, 2011

18,428

11,334

Maryland

postimg.cc

• Jan 26, 2017

• #8

After sanding with high grade wet paper, then Micromesh, I buff with White Diamond and use Meguiars Plastic polish (auto) on a wheel.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,437

11,733

East Indiana

• Jan 27, 2017

• #9

I think it was Rich Esserman who gave me the lead on whitening toothpaste, it seems to work well.

 

theloniousmonkfish

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 1, 2017

943

497

• Jan 27, 2017

• #10

Depends on the stem, if it's just a pipe from my personal rotation that's getting wear I run a bic over the button to raise marks and burn off oxidation. Then maybe some 1000/2000 grit real quick and a dab of toothpaste. Eventually they all need redone since I clench but even just running a flame over vulcanite stems after a smoke seems to help maintain them until then.

 

J

jitterbugdude

Part of the Furniture Now

Mar 25, 2014

993

8

• Jan 27, 2017

• #11

I think it was Rich Esserman who gave me the lead on whitening toothpaste, it seems to work well.

Click to expand...

Using a Whitener to Blacken something... who woulda thunk?

 

captaincalabash

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 25, 2016

139

289

Texas

• Jul 25, 2017

• #12

I tried some of my daughter's Colgate whitening toothpaste (don't tell her - I only "borrowed" a little) and an old soft-bristle toothbrush to try and remove some oxidation. It took more scrubbing than I had time (and patience) for in order to get all the oxidation out, so I left off with just a little still showing and finished with a light coat of Olive Oil, soon wiped off. The HUGE surprise was how much smoother and shinier the bits were as a result of this polishing - better than the original finish! I'm very pleased, and will probably go back one day and scrub the rest of the sulpher out for a pure black color all around. Love that shine!

 

A

aldecaker

Lifer

Feb 13, 2015

4,407

42

• Jul 25, 2017

• #13

Instead of a toothbrush, try a lightly-moistened rag with a bit of the toothpaste smeared on it. It makes for pretty quick work.

 

oldmansmoking

Part of the Furniture Now

May 13, 2017

587

65

UK

• Jul 25, 2017

• #14

Heard about a lot of things that are on the market or what people use. See forum and YouTube.

I myself will stick to vergin olive oil works for me!

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,724

27,326

Carmel Valley, CA

• Jul 25, 2017

• #15

How does the scrub side of a dish sponge seem to work? I have done so with ok results, but now will try it with toothpaste on it. And then mineral oil.

 

R

roddypiper

Might Stick Around

Jul 19, 2017

63

0

• Jul 25, 2017

• #16

When I work with wood, acrylic, polyester, etc, I use these progressive micro abrasive pads to work out blemishes and achieve a mirror finish. They work very well.
https://www.amazon.com/MICRO-MESH-SOFT-TOUCH-SANDING/dp/B000H6EC4C

 

A

aldecaker

Lifer

Feb 13, 2015

4,407

42

• Jul 25, 2017

• #17

John, all I've ever used are rags cut from discarded t-shirts, so I don't know how the dish sponge would work. If it's the type with scotch-brite on one side and sponge on the other, I would think it would be too aggressive for routine polishing, but might be good for a heavily oxidized stem.