Square Bands the Cosmic Way

[RustiePyles CPG]

Great post @cosmicfolklore !!!!

So, the Black Diamond compound is a finer grit than the White Diamond? (I was of the impression that the white and red-rouge were the least abrasive)

I wouldn't use white on a pipe, white is generally for Stainless, Steel, and Chrome. There are some specialty white compounds that are for jewelry but they are not to be confused with regular white compound. Red and black work well for general pipe buffing. The trick to pipe buffing has less to do with the compound than it does technique, wheel diameter, surface speed, and wheel composition. If a pipe is properly cleaned, prepared, and buffed with proper technique at the right surface speed I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between black and red compound. The only White I use is Fabulustre, which is a specialty white compound for jewelry, I use it on nickel bands I don't want to buff the plating off.

Amazon.com

 

[yanoJL]

I wouldn't use white on a pipe, white is generally for Stainless, Steel, and Chrome. There are some specialty white compounds that are for jewelry but they are not to be confused with regular white compound. Red and black work well for general pipe buffing. The trick to pipe buffing has less to do with the compound than it does technique, wheel diameter, surface speed, and wheel composition. If a pipe is properly cleaned, prepared, and buffed with proper technique at the right surface speed I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between black and red compound. The only White I use is Fabulustre, which is a specialty white compound for jewelry, I use it on nickel bands I don't want to buff the plating off.

Amazon.com

Thank you. I was considering use of the white diamond (or red rouge, maybe) to polish the stem and restore a bit of shine following de-oxidation and/or wet sanding. I have some pretty fine-grit sandpapers and micromesh pads as well. Maybe those will be sufficient, and the polishing compound is unnecessary.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I wouldn't use white on a pipe, white is generally for Stainless, Steel, and Chrome. There are some specialty white compounds that are for jewelry but they are not to be confused with regular white compound. Red and black work well for general pipe buffing. The trick to pipe buffing has less to do with the compound than it does technique, wheel diameter, surface speed, and wheel composition. If a pipe is properly cleaned, prepared, and buffed with proper technique at the right surface speed I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between black and red compound. The only White I use is Fabulustre, which is a specialty white compound for jewelry, I use it on nickel bands I don't want to buff the plating off.

Amazon.com

I think pipemakers get their compounds from someone who makes the white one the finest coarseness. I am not even sure what the coarseness is of the compounds that I use. I just know that the White Diamond I have cuts fast as hell, and I only use it if file marks are involved, and never on finished jewelry. But, I think that whatever these guys use gives them a finished wood surface.

I got caught up in a few long winded debates with pipemakers on here concerning this, and I just write that debate off as "we must be using different stuff", or "the product reacts differently to briar than it does metals."

I just know that the white diamond bricks on my bench cut fast as hell.

 

[yanoJL]

... I just write that debate off as "we must be using different stuff", or "the product reacts differently to briar than it does metals."

I just know that the white diamond bricks on my bench cut fast as hell.

Yep. There may be no industry agreed upon color coding.
That's the beautiful thing about "standards", there's so many to choose from, lol.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I have some pretty fine-grit sandpapers and micromesh pads as well. Maybe those will be sufficient, and the polishing compound is unnecessary.

They will not, you will still need to polish. Doesn't mean you need a machine to do it, but you will still have to polish.

I think pipemakers get their compounds from someone who makes the white one the finest coarseness. I am not even sure what the coarseness is of the compounds that I use. I just know that the White Diamond I have cuts fast as hell, and I only use it if file marks are involved, and never on finished jewelry. But, I think that whatever these guys use gives them a finished wood surface.

I got caught up in a few long winded debates with pipemakers on here concerning this, and I just write that debate off as "we must be using different stuff", or "the product reacts differently to briar than it does metals."

I just know that the white diamond bricks on my bench cut fast as hell.

I think part of the problem lies with the fact there is a lot confusing info about compounds out there. A lot of people not keen on them tend to think that there is some universal color code to rouges' and compounds when that's not necessarily the case. There are different grits of white compound that all contain different media, diamond, alum ox, silica, etc. White does technically indicate "polished" or "fine" finish but it does not indicate what material it was intended to polish. A white compound ment for a polished finish on stainless will eat its way through something softer in a hurry.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Doesn't mean you need a machine to do it, but you will still have to polish.

This was my first polisher. My dad handed me one of these, and told me to work in circular motions, and handed me a bunch of freshly casted pendants. He wanted me to learn what is happening when you polish, but I ended up ruining a bunch of pendants, ha ha. Just by pushing too hard.
This will lay down those "hairs" of the metal, and then you would use a rag to buff out any burnishing marks. Oooooo, what a pain in the ass that was. I still have one to burnish out buggers before polishing, but looking at it, still makes my hands ache.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

View attachment 253881
This was my first polisher. My dad handed me one of these, and told me to work in circular motions, and handed me a bunch of freshly casted pendants. He wanted me to learn what is happening when you polish, but I ended up ruining a bunch of pendants, ha ha. Just by pushing too hard.
This will lay down those "hairs" of the metal, and then you would use a rag to buff out any burnishing marks. Oooooo, what a pain in the ass that was. I still have one to burnish out buggers before polishing, but looking at it, still makes my hands ache.

Burnishing is satisfying work but man o man is hard on the hands. I have few burnishes I’ve made over the years for various specific tasks.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Very informative write up that’s on work way above my pay grade.
Thank you however, for the time to post it-there’s tips and tricks in there for more than just the indicated job.

 

[jhowell]

Good on you! Well written and concise. Thank you for taking the trouble to write it all up!

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Enjoyable read and a job well done. Thanks for that

 

[didimauw]

@cosmicfolklore Have you ever used a wedding ring as a pipe band for someone?

Inquiring minds and all...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

@cosmicfolklore Have you ever used a wedding ring as a pipe band for someone?

Inquiring minds and all...

No, but I’ve made several bands for my own pipes that match my wedding band.

And, I have made a band for a guy out of one of his mother’s rings. I think it was for a forum member.

 

[didimauw]

No, but I’ve made several bands for my own pipes that match my wedding band.

And, I have made a band for a guy out of one of his mother’s rings. I think it was for a forum member.

Brilliant!

So It can be done huh?

I'm just picturing that after I die, my wife will take up pipesmoking, contact you, and make a band out of my ring.

Maybe.