Just take your time and it'll turn out great.
Sanding an Old Friend
- Thread starter autocannon
- Start date
A fellow from another forum just used the flame method for the first time and got these results!
That's me! This method was so easy it felt like cheating.
It took about 20 minutes, just a nice way to pass the time while I had a smoke. Highly recommended!
That's right, you are on both sites!?
For the OP. 99% alcohol, soaking for 12 hours will take the grime, old wax, and a little color off the pipe.
On the stem you can use the flame method, or a little oxy and water, the n magic eraser, then a little sanding with 10,000 to 12,000 micro mesh pads.
Back to the bowl. After drying the bowl for a day, use a little mineral oil to bring the grain back. Use some Carnuba wax and enjoy your pip. By ALL means, do not use any petroleum products on the bowl of your pipe.
On the stem you can use the flame method, or a little oxy and water, the n magic eraser, then a little sanding with 10,000 to 12,000 micro mesh pads.
Back to the bowl. After drying the bowl for a day, use a little mineral oil to bring the grain back. Use some Carnuba wax and enjoy your pip. By ALL means, do not use any petroleum products on the bowl of your pipe.
Isopropyl alcohol and mineral oil are petroleum products.
Where did you hear of this? Have you done it?
I wouldn't consider doing that unless there were a number of people who could confirm its efficacy,.
There have been endless discussions on removing oxidation from stems. Those I trust the most have always always mentioned you cannot remove oxidation without sanding. The flame method seems easy and fine but how long until the oxidation comes back or do you continue to put obsidian oil on them to prevent this? Soaking the stem in oxi just makes it easier to sand and clean imo.
The briaville restortation liquid (expensive if you do a lot of pipes but great for ones and twos) is the best I have found but I have my ways and I would suggest you do what works for you. Lots of ways to make a pipe look pretty again. Soaking a bowl in anything seems wrong to me but that doesn't mean it hurts it in any way.
The briaville restortation liquid (expensive if you do a lot of pipes but great for ones and twos) is the best I have found but I have my ways and I would suggest you do what works for you. Lots of ways to make a pipe look pretty again. Soaking a bowl in anything seems wrong to me but that doesn't mean it hurts it in any way.
I think that was coming off no matter what method I used. I don't miss it.
My experience with using a flame is that it works but you have to be very careful and take your time. I have flashed a kaywoodie clover leaf which I assume was some sort of celluloid. Gone forever with a nice hole where it used to be. I have also “lifted” the logo stamp with heat. Gone forever. If you use too little heat you don’t get the oxidation to burn off. If you use too much or get the flame too close or linger then you can damage the stem. Again, it works but you have to be careful and take your time.
This applies to every method though. If you’re not careful sanding you can round over edges. If you don’t take your time buffing you can also damage the stem. I haven’t found a magic way of cleaning them up but have found “my” way that I have enough experience to be good at. It also takes time and care.
This applies to every method though. If you’re not careful sanding you can round over edges. If you don’t take your time buffing you can also damage the stem. I haven’t found a magic way of cleaning them up but have found “my” way that I have enough experience to be good at. It also takes time and care.