Severe Oxidation- Live With It?

[pauls456]

Please capitalize titles per rule 9. It's easy.-jpm

I recently purchased an unsmoked Dunhill 1920's era pipe, with deep green oxidation of the stem. I will not be smoking this pipe. I'd send it off for restoration, but I wouldn't want to have the button and overall shaping compromised due to the sanding and buffing that might be required to get it to shiny black. I'd rather have a green oxidized stem, than a sanded down stem. Is it possible for a stem to be so thoroughly oxidized that it cannot be brought to black without losing the shape?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I recently purchased an unsmoked Dunhill 1920's era pipe, with deep green oxidation of the stem. I will not be smoking this pipe. I'd send it off for restoration, but I wouldn't want to have the button and overall shaping compromised due to the sanding and buffing that might be required to get it to shiny black. I'd rather have a green oxidized stem, than a sanded down stem. Is it possible for a stem to be so thoroughly oxidized that it cannot be brought to black without losing the shape?

Mine haven't lost much noticeable shaping.

 

[pauls456]

Impressive. Did you do the work yourself?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Impressive. Did you do the work yourself?

That I did.

 

[pauls456]

Could I trouble you for a summary of how you did it?

 

[bullet08]

It's cosmetic. No biggie.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I highly recommend La Belle Epoque Before & After Deoxidizer. I wrote about its use here. There is very minimal loss of stem material. The result will be matte, but, you can use a 12,000 grit pad to bring a nice sheen without removing much material. The company also makes a couple of stem polishes which I will probably pick up to try. I have Brebbia stem polish, but, find it too runny.

 

[pauls456]

Thanks for that. I tried multiple appliciations of the Brebbia stem polish, but I saw no real effect.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

get a set of sandpapers 600,1500,2500,5000 and a jewelry silver wipes...wet sand the stem slowly under running water..and polish with jewelry wipes to shiny black mirror like finish....easy...polish with obsidian oil or mineral oil

 

[captpat]

There are several ways to skin the cat, @georged has a very good you tube video on the process, the site reborn pipes has has some good info. It’s not hard to do, but it is tedious.

 

[OzPiper]

A badly oxidised stem not only looks bad, but can taste really bad.

Poor quality vulcanite (with a high sulphur content) will give off a sour, rank, sulphurous taste which can sometimes be impossible to irradiate.The oxidation can spread into the inside of the stem.
Thankfully I've needed to get only one of my pipes (bought new in the 1970s) re-stemmed because of this

That was before I discovered the La Belle Époque Stem Deoxidiser (and associated pipe cleaning products) as mentioned by @TheIronMonkey

 

[pauls456]

Just ordered some...

 

[OzPiper]

Just ordered some...

I follow up with application(s) of Obsidian oil and Micromesh pads.

 

[runscott]

There are several ways to skin the cat, @georged has a very good you tube video on the process, the site reborn pipes has has some good info. It’s not hard to do, but it is tedious.

I would discuss the most controversial political topics I can think of, BEFORE ever again describing how I remove oxidation from a pipe stem.

 

[pauls456]

I would discuss the most controversial political topics I can think of, BEFORE ever again describing how I remove oxidation from a pipe stem.

Maybe you need a forum holiday.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Mine haven't lost much noticeable shaping.

View attachment 153971View attachment 153972

Nice work, Embers. Did you use micro-mesh pads?

 

[spike]

Vulcanite stem oxidization is the reason I have acquired only pipes with lucite or newer ebonite stems ( with the exception of two newer Dunhill Ruby Barks) over the past 30 years.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Nice work, Embers. Did you use micro-mesh pads?

A lighter and a wet paper towel to scorch the oxidized layer and wipe it away and then thumb buffing with toothpaste to give it the mirror shine.

 

[runscott]

Maybe you need a forum holiday.

And why do you think that?

 

[Honkytonk Man]

A lighter and a wet paper towel to scorch the oxidized layer and wipe it away and then thumb buffing with toothpaste to give it the mirror shine.

Wow. Would never have guessed that.
Thanks for the advice. ?