help with a nasty tasting stem

[atjurhs]

Hey guys,
Last night a buddy of mine won a pipe at "pipe night" at our local cigar/pipe shop. he doesn't smoke pipes, so he gave it to me. The pipe is a $70 level Peterson.. It smokes really well. HOWEVER, the stem feels "plastically" but worse, the stem has a nasty taste to it. The smoke coming out helps cover over the taste, but if I let it just hang it in my mouth, and not pull the smoke, the stem's taste prevails. Don't know if it makes any difference in indentifying the problem, but the color of the stem is greenish.
What can I do?
Thanks!
Todd

 

[kanse]

There are various sources on internet that can help.

That's a typical oxidization that happens to Vulcanite stems.
Look into this

https://rebornpipes.com/2012/06/02/removing-oxidization-on-vulcanite-stems-2/

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I've had this before. It tastes like tractor grease. I just use churchwarden length pipecleaners and some alcohol. Tie one pipecleaner to something stable, and then thread the stem onto it, wet the pipecleaner with alcohol and work back and forth furiously. Use several pipecleaners and lots of alcohol. It eventually will get the oxidation out. But, it takes some elbow grease.

 

[jpmcwjr]

After the above operation, you can rinse with very hot water. (Then dry thoroughly with pipe cleaners, paper towel on stem exterior and bowl inside and out.) You might be surprised at what comes out.

 

[atjurhs]

cosmic and jpmcwjr,
I'm a bit confused? how does using a pipe cleaner with alcohol on the inside of the stem change the "nasty flavor" on the outside of the stem?
If I was not smoking the pipe, but just letting it hang in my mouth, that's when i get the "nasty flavor". When I actually smoke the pipe, the smoke helps to "hide" the "nasty flavor" of the outside of the stem.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Todd

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I just assumed that you knew how to remove the easiest part of the oxidation, the outside part. I'm sorry. I was just talking about the hard part, inside the stem. We have hundreds of posts about using micro-abrasive pads, oxy-clean, bleach, etc for removing the outside oxidation. But, as for what is on the outside, so is on the inside.
Personally, for me life is too short to bother spending a ton of time on a mere Peterson. But, some guys will spend even more time on lesser quality pipes, so YMMV

 

[atjurhs]

Thanks cosmic, i'll go with the oxidation removal process as you gave and see where that gets me.
The thing that confused me was that I've never had any other brand new pipe do this, even my very first $35 no-name-brand-cheapo pipe, which doesn't smoke very well, but didn't have that "nasty flavor"
after the oxidation removal process i'll check back...
thanks much!
Todd

 

[snagstangl]

You said the stem felt like plastic. Peterson does make acrylic stems. In which case, you might just need to wipe the outside of the stem off with water or alcohol.

 

[atjurhs]

It may be a Savenelli, idk, my friend who won it said he wasn't sure. when i googled it, i didn't see any Savenelli's with a greensih tented stem, but there are some Petrerson's with one, so i assumed it to be a low cost Peterson, idk.
There's no markings on it anywhere, my friend really didn't know, but aside from the "nasty taste" of the stem, it does smoke better than some of my higher dollar pipes, who would of thunk?
thanks guys!
Todd

 

[jpmcwjr]

Strange enough! Pictures would be of interest!

 

[drwatson]

Hill Street Blues...Love it! If your friend won it, it may have been sitting in the shop on display for some time. I have found that vulcanite can absorb smells from cigars and pipes from inside the shop and give them a horrible taste. You could totally clean stem as mentioned above, however I recommend my four step system.

Step 1. Take stem off

Step 2. Throw stem in garbage

Step 3. Ship off to Walker Pipe Repair and have Lucite stem made

Step 4. Sit back enjoy and never worry about that pesky vulcanite again

 

[Chasing Embers]

so i assumed it to be a low cost Peterson

Even high grades with ebonite stems fall victim to oxidation. A mild abrasive like Barkeeper's Friend, or micro mesh pads will fix it up.

 

[atjurhs]

soaking it in alcohol, no not my good bourbon then some 600grit wet sandpaper, that should do the job, although the bourbon might give it a "yummy flavor"

 

[unkleyoda]

Mister Clean Magic Eraser works well.