In Praise of Obsidian Oil

[Chasing Embers]

 

[ShopPipesWizard]

View attachment 280669

What are the active ingredients in that? I believe it was discontinued for health reasons

 

[Chasing Embers]

What are the active ingredients in that? I believe it was discontinued for health reasons

Not sure on either count as it's still available locally. Any chapstick will work though.

 

[cossackjack]

Ingredients​

“Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (7%), Oxybenzone (5%), White Petrolatum (30%). Purpose: Sunscreens, Skin Protectant. Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Alumina, Arachidyl Propionate, Carnauba Wax, Cetyl Alcohol, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Lanolate, Isopropyl Myristate, Lanolin, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Alcohol, Paraffin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propylparaben, Saccharin, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Triacetin, Vitamin E, White Wax.”

A big NOPE for me!

 

[lithicus]

It's interesting... I came back to this thread to see if anyone had tried or considered mineral oil, wipe it off, and then applying SPF chapstick buffed out It seems like a good idea in theory.

 

[Mike N]

The next issue, of course, is how the get an acrylic stem shiny new after sanding out tooth chatter. I use polishing agents on a bench wheel at low speed but never seem to get a black acrylic stem shiny new. Any suggestions?

 

[JackOrion]

Jojoba Oil
Far superior to Obsidian Oil for stems, as well as briar, meerschaum, & gourd calabash stummels.
It is an unsaturated liquid wax oil, similar to spermaceti wax (sperm whale oil).
Much less expensive & more versatile as a base oil for skin & hair emollients, essential oils, & essential oil-based insect repellents. It also works as a beard & mustache oil.

Here is a comprehensive review:
Jojoba Oil

A miracle oil that grows in the desert!!

 

[JackOrion]

Thanks OverMountain! My bio is odd. By profession, I am a physician practicing in a surgical specialty. By trade, I restore pipes and have put decades in the display fireworks industry. Once upon a time, I held a blasters license as well. A friend mine who has carved hundreds of pipes is a PhD Chemist and we’re always working on something. My goal is to develop products that have a rational chemical basis, but more importantly, have ‘evidence based’ outcomes in actual use. In the days of the old patent medicine era, so many ‘cures’ were sold that contained alcohol, morphine and/or cocaine!! I don’t want to promote snake oil. If we’re successful, a cost effective/safe/chemistry-based/field tested/easy-to-use product is something worthwhile to offer. “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it,” has never sit well with me.

If it ain’t broke fix it.

 

[mingc]

The next issue, of course, is how the get an acrylic stem shiny new after sanding out tooth chatter. I use polishing agents on a bench wheel at low speed but never seem to get a black acrylic stem shiny new. Any suggestions?

Micro-Mesh (Micro-Mesh® Craft Kit for Model Makers & Hobbiests - Micro Surface - https://micro-surface.com/product/craft-kit-for-model-makers-hobbiests/) and/or Novus Plastic Polish (2-oz NOVUS Plastic Polish Kit | NOVUS Plastic Polish - https://novuspolish.com/products/2-oz-plastic-polish-kit) does it for me, without a buffing wheel.