Removing oxidation from vulcanite stems.

[Chris T]

There are a lot of very simple things that would work very well if combined with a small doze of prevention, but only for stems that have been completely deoxidized and then taken care of. On the other side some of the stems I showed haven't been used in over 50 years - absolutely nothing will work on them if you don't physically remove the thick layer of oxidation first.

Of course. I'm just doing maintenance, not restoration.

 

[xrundog]

I'd suggest a paradigm shift. With time and dedication the vulcanite will develop a delightful patina, like properly used silverware, which enhances the stem's character and appearance. Wear it proudly.

No. It feels and tastes bad.

 

[sablebrush52]

I found some better photos of a pipe from the same lot with the red oxidation and white crystals and you can see it better here.View attachment 415449View attachment 415450View attachment 415451View attachment 415447
Also the second stem from the top
View attachment 415452

That’s a bit of metal that wound up in the rubber during processing. You’ll occasionally see it in the cheaper grades of Vulcanite that Charatan and Sasieni used. Ken Barnes told me that Charatan bought cheaper grade Vulcanite from the US, and it has flecks like that in it,

 

[ssjones]

I'd suggest a paradigm shift. With time and dedication the vulcanite will develop a delightful patina, like properly used silverware, which enhances the stem's character and appearance. Wear it proudly.

Unfortunately, unlike silver, oxidized rubber tastes like crap. A bad tasting stem does no one proud.

 

[Chris T]

Unfortunately, unlike silver, oxidized rubber tastes like crap. A bad tasting stem does no one proud.

That's what the pipe bit is there for!

 

[ssjones]

That's what the pipe bit is there for!

A perfectly slim British button with a rubber bit on the end? I'd rather take a beating.

 

[xrundog]

A perfectly slim British button with a rubber bit on the end? I'd rather take a beating.

 

[Briarcutter]

World famous pipemaker, sold for thousands of dollars ---


View attachment 415496

Got some rods like that from a world famous pipe maker years ago. Had to ask him for replacement rods. He replaced them but I still have the contaminated rods. Good for nothing.

 

[craiginthecorn]

All products that remove oxidized rubber do it either chemically by dissolving it (and leaving a pebbly surface behind which must be sanded); or do it mechanically, meaning either as abrasive particles in a solution, or abrasive particles attached to paper or a rubber(ish) pad. There is no C.

The only differences between them are 1) ease of use; and 2) cost.

Choose accordingly.

Inasmuch A ultimately requires A+B, I choose B.

 

[Papamique]

Unless you are restoring pipes daily for a business the upkeep of vulcanite is not that hard at all!! I keep my pipe stems from oxidizing with just a little maintenance and prevention. Much like shining my leather shoes.

I don’t see where the HUGE task is here guys unless of course you are restoring 5-10 pipes at a time. For the average smoker the trade off of a comfortable stem for just a bit of maintenance is worth it, in my opinion.

Mole hill meet mountain. Sheesh

 

[Waning Embers]

I don’t see where the HUGE task is here guys

I've always wondered the same thing. Wiping a stem down and applying oil is simple.

 

[Usmc1968]

There are a lot of very simple things that would work very well if combined with a small doze of prevention, but only for stems that have been completely deoxidized and then taken care of. On the other side some of the stems I showed haven't been used in over 50 years - absolutely nothing will work on them if you don't physically remove the thick layer of oxidation first.

I posted a picture of one of the pipes (20+ ) I inherited in the British pipes section.. It is a Dunhill Root Briar 52821. Probably has not been used in 40 years or longer.It apparently has bad stem oxidation (I am new to this and no clue this was a thing). I have scoured YouTube for ideas on repairing this and it seems like fine sanding is a go to method? I was encouraged not to start with the Dunhill. I found. KIKO from Kenya in the collection that has an almost identical issue on the stem.

 

[jhowell]

I posted a picture of one of the pipes (20+ ) I inherited in the British pipes section.. It is a Dunhill Root Briar 52821. Probably has not been used in 40 years or longer.It apparently has bad stem oxidation (I am new to this and no clue this was a thing). I have scoured YouTube for ideas on repairing this and it seems like fine sanding is a go to method? I was encouraged not to start with the Dunhill. I found. KIKO from Kenya in the collection that has an almost identical issue on the stem.

Every Kiko I have come across has had a badly oxidized stem in a strange green hue.

 

[OzPiper]

Every Kiko I have come across has had a badly oxidized stem in a strange green hue.

Not mine !
I bought these 2 in the mid-70s and have done nought to them except buffing with a soft cloth after smoking them

 

[Usmc1968]

Thanks for the info! OK, speaking out of school here. Is it possible, or advisable to put the oxidized stems in a warm, high frequency cleaner filled with OxyClean? I have a cleaner I use for my brass that I reload. Thanks!

 

[Waning Embers]

Thanks for the info! OK, speaking out of school here. Is it possible, or advisable to put the oxidized stems in a warm, high frequency cleaner filled with OxyClean? I have a cleaner I use for my brass that I reload. Thanks!

Oxyclean can oxidize and cause pitting in vulcanite.

 

[xrundog]

Thanks for the info! OK, speaking out of school here. Is it possible, or advisable to put the oxidized stems in a warm, high frequency cleaner filled with OxyClean? I have a cleaner I use for my brass that I reload. Thanks!

I have started using an ultrasonic cleaner with a Dawn solution to get stems really clean inside and out. It does nothing for oxidation though.
I agree that Oxyclean often makes oxidation a lot worse. I guess people have had the odd success with it on certain stems. The problem is you don’t know beforehand which sort of stem you have.

 

[starship]

The stem exceeded my ability to clean a stem, got a replacement stem from smoking pipes.com

 

[Dshift]

The stem exceeded my ability to clean a stem, got a replacement stem from smoking pipes.com

View attachment 427850

Ordering replacement stem, just because of oxidation??? If that's the case, it's the first time I hear about something like that.

 

[starship]

Ordering replacement stem, just because of oxidation??? If that's the case, it's the first time I hear about something like that.

Got to be a first for everything, this ain't complaining stating the fact. I'm 71 dealing with chronic back pain so sometimes I take the easy way out. I wet sanded down nine stems and this one looked a little too complicated to try that.