Went to get in my car this evening and several rainn drops got on my vulcanized stem leaving some brown spots. Is there a way to get them out by hand? I don't have a buffing wheel.
Thx
Jef
Thx
Jef
Rain Spots on Stem
- Thread starter Jef
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Just a quick rub with a paper towel with a dab of mineral oil.
I've used Mr. Clean Magic Erasers on some of my vulcanite stems which had turned green and they turned out nice and black, though I don't have a buffing wheel so I'm not able to make them shiny again...
Rub down with Magic Erasers, or the lighter/wet paper towel method to remove the oxidation. Make a paste of water and Barkeeper's Friend, apply to stem and let dry. Thumb buff the Barkeeper's Friend off and rinse with water and dry. Apply a small dot of plain white toothpaste such as Colgate to your thumb and evenly coat the stem. Allow to dry a bit, 30+ minutes, and thumb buff until gone. The toothpaste may need 2-3 applications, but more often than not, one application suffices.
Jef, as I've said on another thread, for cleaning of stems with oxidation (also rain drops), I do all the cleaning by hand. First, scrubbing with a piece of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, then polishing with Flitz polish (available on Amazon, and at most Ace Hardware stores), it is non-abrasive , acid-free and non-toxic. I finish by applying Obsidian oil.
For less oxidized stems, I just use the Flitz and Obsidian oil.
For less oxidized stems, I just use the Flitz and Obsidian oil.
^chasingembers, that's why I finish with Obsidian oil, as directed on the bottle. I've never had my stems turn out with a matte finish. Perhaps you aren't buffing them enough after using the Flitz. I wipe vigorously using polo shirt material rags. Perhaps you might try using a microfiber cloth to buff off the Flitz? Hope you have better luck.
Gotcha.? I just use my thumb with the Barkeeper's Friend and toothpaste. No oil necessary afterwards.
Barkeeper's Friend does a great job of polishing porcelain. I can see where it would work well on a stem. For badly oxidized stems, or severely mouth crud gunked up stems, micromesh pads, when used properly, leave a glass-like polish. The only reason I apply a bit of Halcyon wax is to reduce the return of oxidation.
A buffer isn't a necessity, and I say that as someone who spent a decade restoring jewelry, some of it museum pieces over 200 years old, using buffers and other tools of the trade on a daily basis. If you don't have a delicate touch, do your pipes a favor and stay away from buffers.
A buffer isn't a necessity, and I say that as someone who spent a decade restoring jewelry, some of it museum pieces over 200 years old, using buffers and other tools of the trade on a daily basis. If you don't have a delicate touch, do your pipes a favor and stay away from buffers.
Micromesh Pads and water based automotive paint polish. This will bring your stems back to like new condition and all of the polishing can be done by hand. After that, use a good crystalline wax like Renaissance and you're stems are good for a few years.
Any water based automotive paint polish will do: Mothers, Meguiar's...Wizards Mystic Cut is my favorite. Do not get the polisih on the briar as it may cause some damage.
Any water based automotive paint polish will do: Mothers, Meguiar's...Wizards Mystic Cut is my favorite. Do not get the polisih on the briar as it may cause some damage.
When you say 'thumb' do you literally mean your thumb with no cloth?
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