Rim Char Removal

[mikethompson]

You might want to look into a silver topped pipe if you must have it remain pristine.

But then there would be tarnish and polish issues! (Just kidding OP!)

 

[gamzultovah]

I’ve scoured the forums, and nothing I’ve found/tried seems to work.

I’ve tried saliva and rubbing facedown on a paper towel, lemon juice with the same treatment. That seemed to start to lighten the stain so I stopped.

I’d like to be able to remove it without the use of sandpaper, or other type of power tool that I’ll inevitably damage the pipe in the process.

This may seem minor, but bothers me to no end.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

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Everyone is giving you good advice, but let me say that I have a Tom Eltang poker estate pipe that looked far worse than that when I bought it and after a careful cleaning with 70% alcohol, now looks fine. From what I can see of your pipe, the rim edge is sharp, and that’s good sign. Take a Q-Tip and dip it in 70% alcohol and very carefully work the discoloration on the edge of the rim. I think you will be happy with the end result. Good luck.

 

[gamzultovah]

I’ve scoured the forums, and nothing I’ve found/tried seems to work.

I’ve tried saliva and rubbing facedown on a paper towel, lemon juice with the same treatment. That seemed to start to lighten the stain so I stopped.

I’d like to be able to remove it without the use of sandpaper, or other type of power tool that I’ll inevitably damage the pipe in the process.

This may seem minor, but bothers me to no end.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

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View attachment 14468

Here is a picture of both the Eltang that I mentioned and a Brebbia collection pipe that I restored:

Both of them had what appeared to be irreversible rim char and damage, but as you can see, they both look perfectly fine now. The Eltang had what appeared to be significant rim charring on the back side of the chamber (at about one o’clock in this picture), but as you can see came away with only a slight rim softening and no discoloration. The Brebbia Collection also had what appeared to be significant rim charring (at about eleven o’clock in this picture) and significant blackening and darkening of the topside of the pipe. This pipe has little to no stain (just like yours) but as you can see from the picture it brightened right up and looks just fine now. The only issue left on the Brebbia is a significant rim softening (which can be seen if you magnify the picture) and does not detract from the pipe at all. Both of these pipes were cleaned using 70% rubbing alcohol and both looked like HELL during the cleaning process...but here they are free from the ravages of misplaced fire. Your pipe is nowhere as bad as these were when I got them, and I think it will clean to your satisfaction. As I said in a previous post, I see no rim softening on your pipe, and this is a very good sign. I hope that this gives you encouragement.

 

[perdurabo]

Looks like the chamber was over filled.

My wife did something like this. It was from learning how to light the pipe. Sometimes looking down your nose can be a bitch. Especially when your new.

 

[mortonbriar]

In the future you can probably avoid this by wetting the rim before lighting (inevitably spit). This just provides a bit of buffer for an enthusiastic flame. I have a couple of pipes I bother to do this for.

Isaac

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't see the issue. It's a pipe made for smoking tobacco. If you smoke it enough is almost inevitable to get some minor charring. However, if you don't over fill and use proper lighting technique, you can avoid charring. Some tar buildup is easy to clean. Hot water works for me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

In the future you can probably avoid this by wetting the rim before lighting (inevitably spit). This just provides a bit of buffer for an enthusiastic flame. I have a couple of pipes I bother to do this for.

Isaac

Just keep the flame 1/2" above the bowl and it is virtually impossible to char the rim.

 

[BROBS]

This is why I never fill a pipe topped full. Leave a small gap under the rim.

most rim char is from the tobacco rising up as it burns, not from the lighter.

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know how people charr a rim. I've never done it even with the oldest pipes. Got black gunk that wipes of with a tiny bit of moisture.

 

[olkofri]

I charred my Brigham Heritage a bit last time. ?

 

[olkofri]

I don't know how people charr a rim. I've never done it even with the oldest pipes. Got black gunk that wipes of with a tiny bit of moisture.

One way to easily do it is with the new Bics that shoot a humongous flame more suitable to kill mosquitoes in flight than to light a pipe with. If you haven't mastered the art of inverting the lighter completely upside down without scorching your fingers, you must use the lighter tilted instead, which results in the flamethrower flame scorching the rim of the pipe. I've charred a number of pipes that way—cobs, a MacQueen churchie, a Curvy—, the only one built/coated tough enough so as to appear to be made of asbestos is my Vauen Basic Apple Panzerpfeife.

In the case of my Brigham, the flame from the Kiribi was just set too big: mea culpa.

 

[anotherbob]

One way to easily do it is with the new Bics that shoot a humongous flame more suitable to kill mosquitoes in flight than to light a pipe with. If you haven't mastered the art of inverting the lighter completely upside down without scorching your fingers, you must use the lighter tilted instead, which results in the flamethrower flame scorching the rim of the pipe. I've charred a number of pipes that way—cobs, a MacQueen churchie, a Curvy—, the only one built/coated tough enough so as to appear to be made of asbestos is my Vauen Basic Apple Panzerpfeife.

In the case of my Brigham, the flame from the Kiribi was just set too big: mea culpa.

helps to turn the pipe sideways.

 

[olkofri]

helps to turn the pipe sideways.

I did! The charring is worse that way when you use the Bic!

 

[Spinkle]

Don’t worry about it - at least it’s not this bad!

 

[anotherbob]

I did! The charring is worse that way when you use the Bic!

that's cause bics are for smoking illicit drugs. Seriously if the new ones are like that, they're getting their slice of that meth/crack money. Honestly that's the only reason they'd change to amp it up, nothing else would benefit from that. Glad I haven't bought a bic in a while.

 

[olkofri]

Bics were great when they had a flame regulator. Enter China and everyone's now cutting corners.

 

[condorlover1]

You only get rim charring if you are engaging pyro-flatulence!

 

[Chasing Embers]

One way to easily do it is with the new Bics

I have to be more careful with an old boy. I couldn't imagine concern using a Bic.

helps to turn the pipe sideways.

Or turn the lighter sideways.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Bics were great when they had a flame regulator. Enter China and everyone's now cutting corners.

My Bics have no regulator and are US made.

 

[condorlover1]

Is that a rubik cube?