Removing Wax from a Craggy Pipe

[boston]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

A friend of mine gifted me a dunhill with a blast finish. I think it was treated with carnauba wax which has filled in some of the most craggy areas, and I am meticulously and slowly removing the wax with a sharp wood toothpick. I wonder if anyone has any experience with a more thorough and speedy method?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks very much.

 

[sasquatch]

Dry toothbrush, scrub 'er good.

 

[boston]

Thanks, I tried that but unfortunately the wax is too hard and the only thing that seems to remove it is something harder than the toothbrush, ie the sharp toothpick. I even tried a very hard nylon bristled gun brush, but that was + like the toothbrush.. ineffective.

 

[BROBS]

if a really stiff bristled brush like those black bristled brushes that come in the wire brush set doesn't work.. toothpick is the only way I've found.

 

[adui]

Try heating it with a heat gun first, then the tooth brush. The gun should soften the wax. i would personally chuck a nlon brush in a drill or grinder and wheel it that way (nylon version of wire wheel)

Nylon wheel brush link

 

[mau1]

Don't be too enthusiastic, whatever you do. If you go too far, you can't go back. BTW, who's the carver in your member picture?

 

[donjgiles]

Oh dear... please be careful with that Dunhill....
Maybe try some warm/hot water and a toothbrush first before drills are involved.

 

[craig61a]

Soften wax with a hair dryer or heat gun, lightly brush with a nylon bristled brush, like a vegetable brush or similar. No need for power tools...

 

[smokeyweb]

A hair dryer on low heat takes care of the problem instantly and leaves the pipe with a nice sheen.

 

[BROBS]

actually that's a great idea with the heat I haven't done that!

 

[adui]

Oh dear... please be careful with that Dunhill....
Maybe try some warm/hot water and a toothbrush first before drills are involved.

Never said I was right
Glad someone chimed in before he took my advice too far. Hate to be responsible even second hand for ruining a good pipe.

 

[donjgiles]

No worries adui, you were just trying to help.

 

[boston]

Don't be too enthusiastic, whatever you do. If you go too far, you can't go back. BTW, who's the carver in your member picture?

Yes, thank you. I think I need to stick to the toothpick method. It will take a while. Then when I'm done, Renaissance wax.

Per your question, I commissioned a pipe from Trevor Talbert nearly 20 years ago, asking for specific attributes related to a coastline. Trevor figured it out and named it the "Cote Sauvage", meaning Savage Coast in French. He carved it while in Brittany. He is a remarkable Carver.

Thanks very much for all of the suggestions.

 

[tobefrank]

I’m confused. Didn’t you say it was a Dunhill?

 

[boston]

I’m confused. Didn’t you say it was a Dunhill?

Yes the pipe with the wax in the craggy parts is a Dunhill. I was asked about the pipe in my avatar which is a Talbert.

 

[tobefrank]

Yes the pipe with the wax in the craggy parts is a Dunhill. I was asked about the pipe in my avatar which is a Talbert.

Sorry, that makes more sense now. I missed the question about the pipe in your avatar.

 

[boston]

Thanks for the hair dryer and heat gun ideas. I may give that a try because it would be exponentially easier than this work with a toothpick, which I can barely see properly. Thanks again.

 

[boston]

I tried a hair dryer, and it did work, but when removing the wax it smeared right back into the crevices again. So I resorted to some dental tools with very sharp points and the work went far more quickly. I needed to be careful of course but the wax comes off far more easily than the finish of the pipe so I completed the work cleaned it up and then finished it with Renaissance wax and it looks marvelous. If I can ever figure out how to do so I will try to post a picture.