Removing oxidation from vulcanite stems.

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georged

Lifer
Mar 7, 2013
6,830
19,903
All products that remove oxidized rubber do it either chemically by dissolving it (and leaving a pebbly surface behind which must be sanded); or do it mechanically, meaning either as abrasive particles in a solution, or abrasive particles attached to paper or a rubber(ish) pad. There is no C.

The only differences between them are 1) ease of use; and 2) cost.

Choose accordingly.
 

xrundog

Lifer
Oct 23, 2014
2,289
25,139
Ames, IA
All products that remove oxidized rubber do it either chemically by dissolving it (and leaving a pebbly surface behind which must be sanded); or do it mechanically, meaning either as abrasive particles in a solution, or abrasive particles attached to paper or a rubber(ish) pad. There is no C.

The only differences between them are 1) ease of use; and 2) cost.

Choose accordingly.
Awwww dang!
 

xrundog

Lifer
Oct 23, 2014
2,289
25,139
Ames, IA
To be fair it says Haze Away, which is a slightly different thing. It doesn’t say Green Away. So I guess the stuff functions as a stem polish/conditioner. Which is fine.
 

Dshift

Lifer
Mar 28, 2025
1,165
5,582
Germany
ebay.us
Most of those products, or "hacks" manage just to hide oxidation at best. Try running hot water on the stem after deoxidation - if it stays black and shiny I would believe it. Btw I assume that's the result from the Before&after stuff too right? I see a lot of people genuinely swearing it removes all oxidation completely without sanding, but I just don't believe that.
 

xrundog

Lifer
Oct 23, 2014
2,289
25,139
Ames, IA
Most of those products, or "hacks" manage just to hide oxidation at best. Try running hot water on the stem after deoxidation - if it stays black and shiny I would believe it. Btw I assume that's the result from the Before&after stuff too right? I see a lot of people genuinely swearing it removes all oxidation completely without sanding, but I just don't believe that.
Well there’s oxidation and then there’s OXIDATION. The deep green stuff requires drastic measures. The hazy gray stuff can be polished away. It’s more like pre oxidation.
 

Dshift

Lifer
Mar 28, 2025
1,165
5,582
Germany
ebay.us
Well there’s oxidation and then there’s OXIDATION. The deep green stuff requires drastic measures. The hazy gray stuff can be polished away. It’s more like pre oxidation.
Funny that you guys describe it as green, for me its always been yellow if mild, orange if severe and deep red or brown if extreme.IMG_9491.jpeg
nevermind i see now how this could be perceived as green too
 

Dshift

Lifer
Mar 28, 2025
1,165
5,582
Germany
ebay.us
I've always thought of it as brown and yellow.

View attachment 415435
Have you seen this red stuff? I don't know how well you can see from the photo, but it was a very thick and hard, dark red oxidation with a few white crystals on the surface... I would guess a combination between material formula, climate and maybe even some contaminant. I have seen it on old unsmoked pipes only. Very hard to take off...
IMG_9722.jpeg
 

Waning Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
47,718
128,975
Have you seen this red stuff? I don't know how well you can see from the photo, but it was a very thick and hard, dark red oxidation with a few white crystals on the surface... I would guess a combination between material formula, climate and maybe even some contaminant. I have seen it on old unsmoked pipes only. Very hard to take off...
View attachment 415436
No I haven't. Very interesting color.