Cleaning a Dirty Virgin?
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I would send an e-mail to Peterson and ask them how best to clean it. Laudisi Customer service is excellent and the advice will probably from the guy on the factory floor who finishes them !
Yes, the very same & still going strong
Fairy liquid eh? I’ll have to pop round & see Nanette Newman when she’s doing the dishes. Lol
To be fair, it’s not that dirty or tarnished even. Just some white bits embedded in the crevasses (probably your halcyon wax
).I was thinking of ragging on some linseed oil after cleaning it. After seeing what could happen though, I’ll wait until next time I see Mike Billington (he’ll know what’s best).
I did reshape the stem though. If you remember it had a severe ‘dog leg’ bend to it before. Perfectly comfortable but I never liked the look of it. Think it looks better now.
I advocate that you don’t…..unless of course You’re a Freemason or a Michael Jackson impersonator. Lol
Wire brush bristles are sharp only on their ends while the sides are smooth.
Meaning, if a wire brush is too stiff and/or used with too much pressure, the bristles will cut wire-width channels wherever they track between high(er) spots. Like water running down a hill.
If brass, they will shed metal as well, discoloring the wood.
Much better is an appropriate grit 3M bristle brush at the proper speed to "sand" non-smooth finishes like Corallo and Vergin (not a typo -- Castello spells it with an "e"
).
Takes a bit of experimentation/practice, but works like a champ.
PS --- As long as we're talking refurbing raw, unwaxed, un-sealed stummels, do NOT do any sort of salt & alcohol or charcoal & alcohol chamber soak to them. The alcohol CAN migrate/transfer dissolved tars & Nasty Black Stuff to the outer surface of the pipe. It doesn't happen every time, in fact it doesn't happen often, but it if it does getting it looking right again is NOT easy. Best to simply not go there.
Meaning, if a wire brush is too stiff and/or used with too much pressure, the bristles will cut wire-width channels wherever they track between high(er) spots. Like water running down a hill.
If brass, they will shed metal as well, discoloring the wood.
Much better is an appropriate grit 3M bristle brush at the proper speed to "sand" non-smooth finishes like Corallo and Vergin (not a typo -- Castello spells it with an "e"
).Takes a bit of experimentation/practice, but works like a champ.
PS --- As long as we're talking refurbing raw, unwaxed, un-sealed stummels, do NOT do any sort of salt & alcohol or charcoal & alcohol chamber soak to them. The alcohol CAN migrate/transfer dissolved tars & Nasty Black Stuff to the outer surface of the pipe. It doesn't happen every time, in fact it doesn't happen often, but it if it does getting it looking right again is NOT easy. Best to simply not go there.
yepYes, the very same & still going strong
Fairy liquid eh? I’ll have to pop round & see Nanette Newman when she’s doing the dishes. Lol
To be fair, it’s not that dirty or tarnished even. Just some white bits embedded in the crevasses (probably your halcyon wax
I was thinking of ragging on some linseed oil after cleaning it. After seeing what could happen though, I’ll wait until next time I see Mike Billington (he’ll know what’s best).
I did reshape the stem though. If you remember it had a severe ‘dog leg’ bend to it before. Perfectly comfortable but I never liked the look of it. Think it looks better now.
View attachment 181720
the white could be residue of the wax,I brushed it off with a soft shoe brush but may well have missed some.
the stem is definitely an improvement.
nanette is getting on a bit now,time you found a newer model to do your dishes
I know, sad innit. So terribly sad to see your schoolboy crushes either dead or all withered up & wrinkly.
Her daughters look as if they could scrub up tidy though.
Not the kind of picture I was looking for in this thread simong, after reading the title, but damn glad to read georged advice. Great stuff everyone - learned a lot from this thread.
H
Thank you ! For this purpose ( also for dry cleaning sandblasted/ rusticated stummels without water )
I contemplate purchasing a horse hair, or sisal bristle brush for the buffer.
Could this work, or do you consider them too abrasive ? If you catch my drift.
Hello George,Wire brush bristles are sharp only on their ends while the sides are smooth.
Meaning, if a wire brush is too stiff and/or used with too much pressure, the bristles will cut wire-width channels wherever they track between high(er) spots. Like water running down a hill.
If brass, they will shed metal as well, discoloring the wood.
Much better is an appropriate grit 3M bristle brush at the proper speed to "sand" non-smooth finishes like Corallo and Vergin (not a typo -- Castello spells it with an "e"
Takes a bit of experimentation/practice, but works like a champ.
PS --- As long as we're talking refurbing raw, unwaxed, un-sealed stummels, do NOT do any sort of salt & alcohol or charcoal & alcohol chamber soak to them. The alcohol CAN migrate/transfer dissolved tars & Nasty Black Stuff to the outer surface of the pipe. It doesn't happen every time, in fact it doesn't happen often, but it if it does getting it looking right again is NOT easy. Best to simply not go there.
Thank you ! For this purpose ( also for dry cleaning sandblasted/ rusticated stummels without water )
I contemplate purchasing a horse hair, or sisal bristle brush for the buffer.
Could this work, or do you consider them too abrasive ? If you catch my drift.
Which 3M bristle brushes do you recommend? I see a variety of colours and shapes on their site. Would you use the round ones by hand or all on a rotary tool?Wire brush bristles are sharp only on their ends while the sides are smooth.
Meaning, if a wire brush is too stiff and/or used with too much pressure, the bristles will cut wire-width channels wherever they track between high(er) spots. Like water running down a hill.
If brass, they will shed metal as well, discoloring the wood.
Much better is an appropriate grit 3M bristle brush at the proper speed to "sand" non-smooth finishes like Corallo and Vergin (not a typo -- Castello spells it with an "e"
Takes a bit of experimentation/practice, but works like a champ.
PS --- As long as we're talking refurbing raw, unwaxed, un-sealed stummels, do NOT do any sort of salt & alcohol or charcoal & alcohol chamber soak to them. The alcohol CAN migrate/transfer dissolved tars & Nasty Black Stuff to the outer surface of the pipe. It doesn't happen every time, in fact it doesn't happen often, but it if it does getting it looking right again is NOT easy. Best to simply not go there.
I don't know about virgin pipes. I think that is what us plain folks call unfinished. Of my several unfinished pipes, the older ones are smooth. I've made a point of never oiling, waxing, or polishing them with anything. Mysteriously to me, they have gradually not only darkened but developed a deep stained and polished look. This can take a decade or decades, but sure enough, it happens.
Just polish them/it with a slightly abrasive cloth and then a softer one and let time do its magic. Since this one has already been treated, if slightly, all bets are off, but if it were mine, I'd skip the products and just give it a good hand buffing with cloths after each smoke. Elbow grease, as is said.
Just polish them/it with a slightly abrasive cloth and then a softer one and let time do its magic. Since this one has already been treated, if slightly, all bets are off, but if it were mine, I'd skip the products and just give it a good hand buffing with cloths after each smoke. Elbow grease, as is said.
Virgin pipes are really meant to color up like that, kinda like a meer. I wouldn't do anything to it if it were mine.
