PSA: DO NOT Buff Stems That are Off the Stummel

[kcghost]

I tell you when you don't know what you are doing the CHEAPEST you can do is to give it to someone who does.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Well, it didn’t make the pipe look any worse.......

I just fail to understand these upside down nutsacks and decapitated glans from shaft.

that's because you're not a repressed homosexual. (sorry that's just a joke, you can smoke that pipe and have a loving wife who you find very attractive).

He's been pretty open about it hasn't he?

 

[BROBS]

He's been pretty open about it hasn't he?

?

 

[anotherbob]

He's been pretty open about it hasn't he?

hey now. We're all a little off here. And if we can't get along there isn't much hope for people getting along in general. I guess we're all screwed .

 

[anotherbob]

❤ ?

thanks for ruining my comment. I know it wasn't a very great comment in the first place, but now it's just useless. Thanks

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

It has been repeated endlessly for decades, but somehow there are always a few people who either don't get the message or think they can "get away with it."

The attached pic is of a pipe that was worth thousands of dollars. One of the most collectable makers in the world. (How much it's worth now is unknown, but I guarantee it's significantly less than before.)

The stem had "greened" (oxidized) a bit, and someone decided to take it back to black with a buffer when OFF the stummel.

There's no re-wind button. No way to fix what's wrong short of replacing the stem.

Don't be that guy.

.

View attachment 41884

Believe it or not I’ve had well known pipe repair outfits buff away logos on original stems of expensive pipes... pipes from brands that, unless you know nothing about pipes at all, you would know not to mess with the logo on an original stem. Astounding. Angering.

 

[mso489]

Buffers can be deadly. Like reamers. In the hands of a pro, they do a job. In the hands of an amateur, there goes the stamping, the finish, the stem fit and the shape. I've never had a buffer and don't want one, nor a reamer. A rag, a bandana, or a jewelers cloth and some elbow grease does the job.

 

[Brew&Briar]

I know that buffing is faster, especially if you have to do 50 or so of them to do at a time. But, I use a buffer everyday with jewelry work, and I still prefer to just use those micromesh pads on my stems. I rarely ever have to do more than one pipe every few months or so, so it is no biggie for me to spend 15 minutes with those pads. Just seeing these pictures like this... I can't imagine.

When you use the mircomesh pads, do you keep the stem on the stummel? Do you need to worry about the finish on the wood when you do this, or is the micromesh low enough grit? For light oxidation, what grit do you start?

 

[dmcmtk]

When you use the mircomesh pads, do you keep the stem on the stummel? Do you need to worry about the finish on the wood when you do this, or is the micromesh low enough grit? For light oxidation, what grit do you start?

You can always tape off the shank.

 

[Brew&Briar]

You can always tape off the shank.

Well damnit - that is an excellent idea. Painters tape or electrical tape?

 

[username]

Well that definitely won’t buff out.