Just put a badly oxidized stem in my mouth. BIG mistake... 
Ewww...
- Thread starter Beowoulf
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
How do you go about that? With your lighter? I have one that is getting pretty bad.
I use a lighter and a wet paper towel. A variation on this method.
A BIC lighter and Oxidation
Blog by Rob Hardy and Steve Laug Thanks to a serendipitous discovery by a friend of mine, Rob Hardy (incoinnu on Smokers Forums), who also does refurbishing as a hobby we have worked out a very dif…
rebornpipes.com
An example of the before and after.
Cleaning up a $30 Estate Savinelli :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance
Started with : Ended with :
pipesmagazine.com
I was just about to post that article and you beat me to it @Chasing Embers
Thank you. Definitely going to try this out!I use a lighter and a wet paper towel. A variation on this method.
A BIC lighter and Oxidation
Blog by Rob Hardy and Steve Laug Thanks to a serendipitous discovery by a friend of mine, Rob Hardy (incoinnu on Smokers Forums), who also does refurbishing as a hobby we have worked out a very dif…
An example of the before and after.
Cleaning up a $30 Estate Savinelli :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance
Started with : Ended with :pipesmagazine.com
Work slowly and deliberately. Only use the tip of the flame to blacken the surface and work in small areas at a time. Imagine painting the stem's surface black and the tip of the flame is the brush.
Kids. Why do you let it get to that point?
https://www.smokingpipes.com/access...eaning-supplies/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=81739
https://www.smokingpipes.com/access...eaning-supplies/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=81739
This sounds impressive. Think I'll be giving it a go too.
Thanks for the tip, Embers.
Thanks for the tip, Embers.
If the stem is made of inferior vulcanite/ebonite, the oxidation may be INTERNAL as well as external.
Someone suggested loading a cleaner with toothpaste and working that on the inside of the stem.
I had a stem so horribly oxidised that the only solution was to have it re-stemmed
I hope you don't have to go to those lengths.,
Someone suggested loading a cleaner with toothpaste and working that on the inside of the stem.
I had a stem so horribly oxidised that the only solution was to have it re-stemmed
I hope you don't have to go to those lengths.,
Haven't gone that far. I don't smoke that often either. I'll update with "Ewww.." when I experience the phenomenon.
That's any ebonite. Moisture from smoking will cause it over time. Some carvers apply wax to the airway as a preventative.
That will only keep it at bay for so long. Wiping them down with a jeweler's cloth will keep them oxidation free much longer.
Only happened with that one pipe ever.
I did everything to clean the external of the stem.
So the bad, sour, sulphurous taste had to be an internal issue.
I had several other pipes of the same vintage with oxidised stems, but not to that extent.
That's why I'm placing the blame entirely on the quality of the vulcanite used.
I could have chosen a new vulcanite stem but decided on acrylic.
No maintenance issues.
@Chasing Embers Can you recommend a particular jeweler's cloth? One on Amazon.ca maybe?
I use Connoisseurs silver cloth, but any of them should be fine.