I apologize if this has been covered, but after a Google search I couldn't find much info on cleaning/maintainance of the outside of the stem...what's your method ?
Exterior stem cleaning/maintainance
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I use a jeweler's polishing cloth. It has a mild abrasive, polishing compound embedded into the fabric on the white sheet and a protective microcrystaline wax on the darker sheet. A few wipes with the white fabric, turn it over and a few swipes with the darker fabric, and all done. My vulcanite stems all keep a brand new look to them.
Micromesh or Mr. Clean magic eraser and toothpaste, Oxiclean bath and hand polish with mineral oil or bee wax if you prefer
Some may recommend using a product called obsidian oil which is just mineral oil sold under a different name and a much higher price tag.
After buffing a stem with white diamond I personally use Johnson's baby oil from the supermarket. Some scoff at that as it is lightly scented but believe me, if applied thinly with ones finger then wiped off with a tissue there is no scent at all.
It goes without saying of course that all oxidation should be removed first.
Regards,
Jay.
After buffing a stem with white diamond I personally use Johnson's baby oil from the supermarket. Some scoff at that as it is lightly scented but believe me, if applied thinly with ones finger then wiped off with a tissue there is no scent at all.
It goes without saying of course that all oxidation should be removed first.
Regards,
Jay.
Mawnansmiff, when you look at the back of that bottle of Johnson's Baby Oil, does it not say that the only two ingredients are mineral oil and fragrance? Sooooooo, could you not just buy a bottle of mineral oil at the druggist for $1 and by pass the whole "lightly fragranced" part?
Cosmic, our chemist shops don't sell mineral oil as is. Besides why buy more when I have enough to last me many lifetimes?
Really, the scent is no issue at all so effectively I already have a bottle of mineral oil.
Regards,
Jay.
Really, the scent is no issue at all so effectively I already have a bottle of mineral oil.
Regards,
Jay.
Hmmm, for everyone else, mineral oil is usually sold in the laxative isle of the druggist. It has no smell, and mawnansmiff is right, one touch is all you need to do a whole pipe.
"Hmmm, for everyone else, mineral oil is usually sold in the laxative isle of the druggist."
Perhaps it's a national thing...being bunged up that is :rofl:
Regards,
Jay.
Perhaps it's a national thing...being bunged up that is :rofl:
Regards,
Jay.
For vulcanite and acrylic stems, a light buffing with Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish and a cotton cloth, cleans the oxidation and leaves them smooth and shining.
I start with a magic eraser, then work my way to toothpaste and an old cotton t-shirt. It can have these results. That's the basic at home technique if you don't have wax/want to use weird stuff. It takes a bit of work, but it gets the job done as you can see here, as well as in several of my posts of my at home restos. Learned to work with what I have. Going to require some pressure and friction when they are this bad 
Hope this helps.
P.S. Pay no mind to the pretty flowers, I was at my grandmothers :D
Hope this helps.
P.S. Pay no mind to the pretty flowers, I was at my grandmothers :D
A little regular Chapstick works well to stop oxidation .Also a light amount of heat will bring the sulfur up to the surface in vulcanite .
It is a Hialeah marked Algerian Briar, and France on the stem. GREAT smoking pipe. I can't remember for sure but I think it was under $20 at an antique store, unsmoked. It's definitely got style.
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