Fine Pipes Wax - Can They Strip Off Stains?

[PipeIT]

I have a jar of Paragon and Halcyon II I’ve been using. I’ve always assumed these are very safe waxes for all the various pipe finishes/stains.

The other day, my Radice Clear Dublin with Baldo Baldi briar, I noticed when I was rubbing Paragon on it with my finger, my finger had yellow on it.

After I let the wax dry a little I buffed it out, and there was some yellow color on the rag.

I don’t know how Radice stained the pipe, I’m assuming it has some sort of stain, but it is a very light/thin stain, it’s not some heavy/thick very glossy stain you see common on pipes that are smooth finished.

It also gives the appearance of just being buffed and polished with compounds to create a slight sheen, which I’m not sure if this is even possible with briar.

Should I be concerned with Paragon possibly stripping away the finish over time? I don’t get why this happened.

I just waxed it yesterday, and as you can see in this pic, it’s not very glossy at all. When holding it you can barely make out any sheen, it looks more flat.

hmm

 

[sablebrush52]

I've used both of them for years and never had a single instance where they affected the stain.

As far as getting a high gloss shine, don't use a cloth. Period. Spread a TINY amount on your finger tips and work it onto the surface of the pipe. Give it some time, 30 seconds to a minute, for it to begin to set up and then rub the pipe with the palms and fingers of your hands. The friction cause by the polish rubbing against itself results in a very high gloss, similar to a quality carnuba polishing job. This method has never, ever, failed me.

 

[Waning Embers]

Are they constantly exposed to smoke? Could've been nicotine.

 

[PipeIT]

@sablebrush52 Ok on the stain...

I remember you mentioning before rubbing it in with the fingers/hand, I’ve been just doing it on the rims. I’ll do it later on the whole thing next time.

@Chasing Embers Not this, I’ve barely smoked 4 bowls in it, it’s a new pipe.

 

[Waning Embers]

@sablebrush52 Ok on the stain...

I remember you mentioning before rubbing it in with the fingers/hand, I’ve been just doing it on the rims. I’ll do it later on the whole thing next time.

@Chasing Embers Not this, I’ve barely smoked 4 bowls in it, it’s a new pipe.

You'd be surprised. I have to clean it off of this stem every time I smoke it.

 

[Waning Embers]

Being that new, the liquid wax may be breaking down and removing the carnauba wax.

 

[PipeIT]

Ahhh, I didn’t consider it’s been removing the original wax it was polished first with.

I went and did it over the Sablebrush method and this time, there was a wee bit of yellow on my finger, but nothing like before.

I was getting a bit nervous here, thinking this wax was somehow wrecking the finish, stripping it away.

Thanks

 

[Waning Embers]

Ahhh, I didn’t consider it’s been removing the original wax it was polished first with.

I went and did it over the Sablebrush method and this time, there was a wee bit of yellow on my finger, but nothing like before.

I was getting a bit nervous here, thinking this wax was somehow wrecking the finish, stripping it away.

Thanks

I've had pipes bleed a little like that but nothing that damaged the appearance.