Need Help Repainting Pipe Stem!

[robusticles]

Hello guys. Just recently got into smoking pipes and am still in the process of learning the basics, let alone the more advanced stuff. Anyway, I need help! I have some old briar pipes that I inherited and the paint on the stems has been damaged (I believe someone tried to disinfect or clean them with alcohol and thus ruined the paint.) I need to repaint them to their original black color. How do I go about doing this? I have thought about consulting a local pipe store but I'm worried that they will charge me something I can not currently afford. The pipe stems are not fully damaged, but the paint has been thinned out around the mouthpiece. The original color is a deep black.

 

[robusticles]

This is a picture of the aforementioned stems. Upon further inspection the dye might not be black, but more so a deep deep brown.

 

[framitz]

You need to deoxize them than buff them. They are not dyed. Many articles available on stem cleaning read up on them. Shel

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not paint! Not dye! At least I hope no one has ever painted a stem. What you have is oxidation and there are a number of ways to remove it, with soaking in oxiclean or bleach, or scrubbing with BarKeepers Friend. In all cases the stem should be scrubbed with a micro mesh, dried and then apply a thin coat of mineral oil.

 

[fluffie666]

Stem material oxidizes because it's rubber mixed with sulfer and is prone to oxidation. It can be removed by many methods. I prefer sanding it all off with 800 grit sand paper and moving along though the grades of micromesh 3600 - 8000, followed but white buffing compound and finally carnuba wax. Also, the method includes some kind of oil applied to inhibit further oxidation. Mineral oil or chap stick work pretty well.

 

[robusticles]

Does alcohol applied to the stem cause rapid oxidation to occur? I heard that this was damaged due to alcohol. I have now managed to scrape some of the oxidation off, and they look better already.

 

[shaintiques]

alcohol can cause oxidation, but so can sunlight and moisture. Soak them in some oxidclean with hot water then scrub off the oxidation with a Brillo pad. I use a powder called bar keepers friend next and a wet rag for getting the rest of the oxidation off. It takes time but they will come out black again.

 

[robusticles]

Thank you all for the quick and very helpful responses. You guys are alright!

 

[dino]

There are a few threads on this site that deal with restoring vulcanite stems.

Here's my tried and successful method, that I've posted a few times. As I don't have a buffer, I use a piece of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to start, then Flitz Polish (non-abrasive, and FDA approved safe), and finish with Obsidian oil.