Imagine you're using the flame as a brush to paint the stem.
Yep, polish only. Toothpaste won't remove oxidation.
Cleaning Up My Green Color Duke
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Yes, instead of Vodka you may also use iso (70%) and better drink the Vodka.
To get rid of ghost tobacco one can also fill the chamber with activated charcoal powder and then place the stummel (upright) in an oven at 320° F (160° C) for 1 hour. This method is very effective but make sure the stummel has no fills because they can drop out.
I'm more of a scotch man myself, but I suppose any alcohol would work.
As for the activated charcoal method, I like that idea. However I have coffee grounds lying around, the time, and as you mentioned pits and fills, we have no idea what is under that green paint!
I'm going to try that when I get to the stem. If it works as well as you say you may have a convert on your hands.
Been trying this for a little while, but I'm getting more black than yellow oxidation.
@chasingembers I'm guessing my flame was too close?
@chasingembers I'm guessing my flame was too close?
Sorry to come in late on this thread, but every Grabow I've ever owned had a nylon stem. Putting a lighter to it could be a disaster, no?
All of mine from the 30s through 70s have had vulcanite.
Black is what you want as you're singeing the oxidized layer.
Love the Grabow's thanks for posting, they are pretty much my on pipe theses days. I know they dont get alot of love on here but I put mine through hell and they come back for more
I've been busy this week with some not-nice family news, but I will post up some newer pics of the stem.
The flame method seems to be working, but it certainly takes longer than an oxy clean soak.
The flame method seems to be working, but it certainly takes longer than an oxy clean soak.
With practice you can go from green to black in about an hour without the pitting Oxyclean can cause.
Is it safe over stem logos? Have you tried a combination like instead of wet paper towel using a wet Magic Eraser?
The paper towel is less abrasive and all the towel is used for is wiping away the singed layer.
Haven’t had much time to experiment with it and I think that the vulcanite was probably poor quality but while I was able to get the stem black I was fairly rough so I ended up micromeshing anyway. Need more time to experiment. Plus I put a slight bend into the stem. ?
More so than a magic eraser or micro mesh.
If you smell hot vulcanite, you've left the flame on for too long. Just heat the very outermost layer.
?
I don't have any pics right now, but the flame does a really good job of removing the oxidation. I'm using a bic and a wet microfiber towel. It takes a few passes but it works.
Is that plastic wrap in the shank to keep the alcohol from leaking out?
Does it work?
Yes and yes. A trick that a fellow forum member told me a while ago.
I’m a sucker for green pipes. The Peterson Racing Green line was beautiful in my opinion. I have a green Peterson Spigot that’s almost to pretty to smoke. Even some of the St. Patrick’s Day pipes suckered me into buying. I do love those green pipes ?