Ranissance wax has become my go to. I use a soft bristle tooth brush to apply on rusticated pipes then buff out with a horse hair shoe brush.
Polishing Rusticated / Blast Finishes: Have We Reached a Consensus?
- Thread starter mikethompson
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I read a post on Pipesmokersden claiming the scent disappeared when dry & didn’t reappear when the pipe is used.
Re Halcyon & Paragon, meant to buy some. Will buy Renaissance & give it a spin.
Hate to throw a spanner in the works, but there is another candidate. Was doing research on Fine Pipes (Paragon etc, parent.) and came across another. I have never used it, and have no opinion on how it works. But cheaper than Ren. Wax. It's Decatur, Link to P+C Decatur page.
A sad note on Fine Pipes- they appear gone, gone, gone. A thread over a year ago found that to be true. Many years ago I went to Sam's house in Marin, to get some pipes. Nice guy, not young then. Got a couple of good estates and some wax.
It's frustrating how things just disappear without warning. I liked and used both Halcyon and Paragon for years and years, and they went away without any warning whatsoever. It would have been great if any effort had been made to keep them available. That ain't what happened.
Renaissance was around before, and it's still around, so go with that. The people who formulated it are pros, and it should work fine.
This is just another reminder not to take availability of anything for granted.
Renaissance was around before, and it's still around, so go with that. The people who formulated it are pros, and it should work fine.
This is just another reminder not to take availability of anything for granted.
Anyone have any experience with Decatur? It doesn't sound half bad. I still have enough Paragon to last me a long time; no dog in the fight.
From the web site:
"No-Buff Wax is a similar formula to Paragon and Halcyon wax, but because it was formulated specifically for briar pipes, it is more fluid to eliminate buildup and filling in of nomenclature, plus you get a lot more for the same price. To use, simply wipe on a light coat, allow it to dry for about ten minutes, and then lightly rub with a soft cloth."
From the web site:
"No-Buff Wax is a similar formula to Paragon and Halcyon wax, but because it was formulated specifically for briar pipes, it is more fluid to eliminate buildup and filling in of nomenclature, plus you get a lot more for the same price. To use, simply wipe on a light coat, allow it to dry for about ten minutes, and then lightly rub with a soft cloth."
Cool! However, the copy suggests that Halcyon and Paragon weren't formulated for pipes, which is bullshit. Still, good to have an option.
Yes, my BS catcher got that too.
And "more liquidy so it doesn't fill in nomenclature".... I read as watered down. I.e., more oil and less wax.
And "more liquidy so it doesn't fill in nomenclature".... I read as watered down. I.e., more oil and less wax.
I have half a jar of each left, which has lasted me forever. I'll give both Renaissance and Decatur a spin, but my money is on Renaissance being the superior product. 
Renaissance description (back of jar):
Renaissance description (back of jar):
Absolutely. It was formulated to be used on a wide variety of surfaces, so smooth would be fine as well. What I don't know about it is the level of gloss that can be achieved, as I prefer a mirror like finish when I do a polishing, and Paragon and Halcyon deliver that if you know how to apply them.
I just create carnauba dust with an old cheese grater. Apply it with a toothbrush, the hit it with the heat gun. Gotta be careful you don’t hit the stem with that gun though. Learned that lesson the hard way. When I was done the finish on the rustication looked marvelous, but the stem looked like a crooked limp dick.
More matte than mirror I'd say. Depends if the pipe is a smokers pipe or a shelf queen I suppose. Like most waxes, not designed for constant handling & expecting the shine to last.
I use Decatur. Not because it's better than anything else, or cheaper than anything else, or for any other reason than sometimes I receive a free jar when I make a purchase. It's as good as anything else I suppose.
Truthfully, I rarely ever polish my pipes. I'm terrible at pipe maintenance. I've been smoking the same pipe three times or more a day for the past 2 years... TLC it's got is a wet napkin to wipe down the stem and a couple of pipe cleaners through it.
But, in the case that I do a deep clean on my pipe... Decatur is what I use.
Truthfully, I rarely ever polish my pipes. I'm terrible at pipe maintenance. I've been smoking the same pipe three times or more a day for the past 2 years... TLC it's got is a wet napkin to wipe down the stem and a couple of pipe cleaners through it.
But, in the case that I do a deep clean on my pipe... Decatur is what I use.
Hmm another use for a heat gun @Ahi Ka !
I'm going to give this Renaissance a try with our next Amazon order.
I cant get any of the pipe products for polishing in the EU. I can get Renissance Wax.
I have a wheel and wax in my office because I use it for polish work on sax mouthpieces. So Im covered on smooth pipes.
Does Renissance Wax gloss up rusticated and blasted pipes? I like a bit of luster on them. Things like cutting board oil helps but Id like them to look a little less dull. Is Renassance a solution?
I have a wheel and wax in my office because I use it for polish work on sax mouthpieces. So Im covered on smooth pipes.
Does Renissance Wax gloss up rusticated and blasted pipes? I like a bit of luster on them. Things like cutting board oil helps but Id like them to look a little less dull. Is Renassance a solution?
Though the virtues of Renaissance Wax are many & varied, I'm not convinced it would be ideal for making a pipe shine, it's just not designed to make things shiny, it's more of a preservative that keeps moisture at bay.
Also, if applied to a pre-warmed pipe it will naturally be absorbed to a certain degree into the briar which I think might have an adverse effect.
Jay.
Also, if applied to a pre-warmed pipe it will naturally be absorbed to a certain degree into the briar which I think might have an adverse effect.
Jay.
I use Howard Wax-it-all for my pipes. I put a little on my finger tips and palm and rub it in like sablebrush has recommended in several posts and it works well for me.