Preventing Ebonite Oxidation

[gervais]

So I know there are alot of threads on how to restore an old or oxidized stem, but let's say the stem is brand new and untarnished. Is there a way to prevent it altogether, and never have to worry about sanding or any of that stuff?

Has anyone ever tried a coat of beeswax to seal it, or something similar?

 

[donjgiles]

A coat of mineral oil then a coat of Paragon (or Halcyon) wax.
Keep out of direct sunlight and wipe it down when you are done smoking.

 

[lightmybriar]

Carnauba from a buffing wheel attached to a handrill (and applied very carefully, haha!) has kept my stems oxidation-free for six years now. Beeswax (in my experience) is too soft and smells bad. That might be just the kind I got, so others chiming in will be helpful.

 

[BROBS]

wax before you smoke. ?

 

[alaskanpiper]

Yes. You can prevent it permanently with one simple step: buy pipes with acrylic stems! All kidding aside, the advice you've received here so far is all good.

 

[BROBS]

if you fart in a vacuum your stem will never be exposed to oxygen.

 

[weezell]

Preventing Ebonite Oxidation...don't buy it...

 

[diamondback]

if you fart in a vacuum your stem will never be exposed to oxygen.

?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I don't understand the fuss. Clean a pipe and oil the stem, and you'll have black stems. Bought for me in '92, it's never been sanded.

 

[gervais]

I don't understand the fuss. Clean a pipe and oil the stem, and you'll have black stems. Bought for me in '92, it's never been sanded.

View attachment 16566

Thanks Embers, this is what I wanted to hear. What oil do you use for your vulcanite? Do you reapply it often?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Thanks Embers, this is what I wanted to hear. What oil do you use for your vulcanite? Do you reapply it often?

Obsidian, or mineral oil after each smoke. I've taken to using ChapStick for the past several years with good results.

 

[sumusfumus]

I just went through the difficult process of removing the foggy oxidation from a Charatan stem. What a pain in the ass!

On a sheer whim... while watching TV....I decided that the straight, very boring, stem needed a little more pizzazz, an ever-so-slight bend. So, I removed my fat butt out of the chair, boiled some water, stuck the stem into the hot water, waited for the Vulcanite to soften and then gave the stem some character. I was pleased when I looked at my handy work, but then noticed that the once, jet-black stem, now sported a foggy looking green-brown haze. Yech! So I rubbed the stem with toothpaste, buffed it with wax, soap, oil, and nothing happened.

Now, I was pissed! Fit to be tied!! I had no plans to sand away that greenish ghost, but I couldn't stand the look of the newly bent stem. I did it. I needed to correct it.

No mild abrasives, no buffing with waxes, worked. My last resort was to sand the stem with those micro-grit polishing pads. Now the stem is once again, jet-black....but I had to work too damn hard to reverse the damage.

Question: Once a stem is ghosted or lightly oxidized, is there any chemical solution, that can be applied that will reverse, and un-oxidize the oxidation, e.g. like a tarnish remover does for silver? I don't want to rub the discoloration away. I want to reverse the chemical action that caused it. Oils and waxes just coat the stem.

Just asking.

 

[donjgiles]

I think the only way to remove oxidation from a stem is to remove the material that is oxidized, with sanding, then polishing.

 

[lightmybriar]

I think the only way to remove oxidation from a stem is to remove the material that is oxidized, with sanding, then polishing.

This is correct. Prevention is key!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think the only way to remove oxidation from a stem is to remove the material that is oxidized, with sanding, then polishing.

It can also be burned and wiped away.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's pretty simple... I just wipe my pipe stems down with a polishing cloth after rinsing with water... then I rack them in an airtight cabinet rack that has argon gas that fills the chamber when closed. The argon is a gas that shields oxidation from occurring. Fairly simple.

 

[sablebrush52]

Question: Once a stem is ghosted or lightly oxidized, is there any chemical solution, that can be applied that will reverse, and un-oxidize the oxidation, e.g. like a tarnish remover does for silver?

No. And don't be too sure about those tarnish removers not removing some material.
Oxidized material needs to be physically removed or it will continue to spread into the resr of the vulcanite.
LIke others have said above, keep vulcanite away from light and air when not smoking. Applying a protective coating also helps a lot. Clean after use and don't let your mouth crud build up on the stem.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The argon is a gas that shields oxidation from occurring. Fairly simple.

Before folks start using this as a thing someone might actually do, I was just kidding. Although, the thought has crossed my mind.

 

[sumusfumus]

Thanks guys, for the comments, which I will definitely follow.

 

[Chasing Embers]

So, I removed my fat butt out of the chair, boiled some water, stuck the stem into the hot water, waited for the Vulcanite to soften and then gave the stem some character. I was pleased when I looked at my handy work, but then noticed that the once, jet-black stem, now sported a foggy looking green-brown haze.

Yep, nothing will flash oxidize a stem quicker than very hot water or steam.