Vulcanite Stem Oxidation Removal. The Natural Way

[bersekero]

LoL no I am not Italian.

 

[Ahi Ka]

LoL no I am not Italian.

My bad. Sorry I see your profile says you are Greek. Have you tried using windex?

Edit: I hope that reference lands well. I’m a smart arse but mean no harm. Actually I’ve been pondering why smoking hasn’t been that great for me lately and this thread reminds me that I am lazy and should clean my stems better

 

[bersekero]

No problem. No I haven't tried any glass cleaner or anything chemical.

 

[xrundog]

That only proves that the american lemons are not so effective like the mediterranean ones!
Seriously now, I am sorry it didn't work for you. So my whole theory is falling apart. So wether the oxidation on my own stems was minimal and not deep or it was actually mouth crud like another member suggested. It looked very much like oxidation though but not at all so extended like in your stems.

I honestly would have liked for it to work great.

 

[phdaemon]

My bad. Sorry I see your profile says you are Greek. Have you tried using windex?

Edit: I hope that reference lands well. I’m a smart arse but mean no harm. Actually I’ve been pondering why smoking hasn’t been that great for me lately and this thread reminds me that I am lazy and should clean my stems better

 

[sfenks]

You are welcome. We have all heard of acrylic stems. This thread has to do with vulcanite though. If you don’t care you can just pass.

Some people prefer vulcanite stems because they find them softer and more comfortable. Personally I am totally fine with acrylic. I can tell the difference though and I prefer vulcanite.

The thing is that if you like some particular pipe brands or models you have to deal with vulcanite whether you like it or not. Many manufacturers use vulcanite on their higher end models if not exclusively like Dunhill. You like Dunhill, you get the vulcanite.

Hello. I bought a pipe, and the stem had turned brown. Anyone who didn't know it was actually black would swear the stem was brown. I tried the magic eraser and lemon, and the results were excellent. When the eraser went from white to brown, I rinsed it with tap water, then added a few drops of lemon juice and continued.

Even when I checked it under daylight and a strong flashlight, it looked black. Thank you for that.

Then, I applied the mixture I made with carnauba wax and mineral oil. This mixture is creamy. While it's not mirror-shine, it still makes a handsome stem.

I love vulcanite stems. I oil and rub them, stroking them like I would my daughter's hair. I love and enjoy this hobby. As you said, not everyone has to like acrylic. While most of my pipes are acrylic, I enjoy taking care of my vulcanite.

I've added a photo below showing the oxide. I'll add a photo of the cleaned version when I get home.

 

[reisman]

New member with some very old historic pipes. I have some pipes from my grandfather and also some I purchased shortly after college some 45-40 years ago. The pipes themselves were well cared for in the day and not abused, but the stems are nasty. See attached photo. I think these were all quality pipes (expensive back in the day). I assume this is what they call Vulcanite, but the yellowing and discoloration is not attractive. I would prefer they be black once again. Can anyone educate me on what I have and how best to care for it? I am comfortable with the appropriate chemicals, as needed, and using very fine grit sandpaper and buffing to restore the material, but I want to naturally preserve authenticity, not damage anything, and do what is correct to do properly. The time, amount of work required, is not the issue or the worry - it is doing this right. Thanks for any information and understanding you can provide. Thanks, Mike Reisman - Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

 

[reisman]

I can post photos of the pipes themselves (the briar bowls), if that is of interest. Thanks, Mike

 

[mingc]

New member with some very old historic pipes. I have some pipes from my grandfather and also some I purchased shortly after college some 45-40 years ago. The pipes themselves were well cared for in the day and not abused, but the stems are nasty. See attached photo. I think these were all quality pipes (expensive back in the day). I assume this is what they call Vulcanite, but the yellowing and discoloration is not attractive. I would prefer they be black once again. Can anyone educate me on what I have and how best to care for it? I am comfortable with the appropriate chemicals, as needed, and using very fine grit sandpaper and buffing to restore the material, but I want to naturally preserve authenticity, not damage anything, and do what is correct to do properly. The time, amount of work required, is not the issue or the worry - it is doing this right. Thanks for any information and understanding you can provide. Thanks, Mike Reisman - Scottsdale, Arizona, USAView attachment 440913

Elbow grease and abrasives. I avoid chemical baths as an unnecessary and potentially counterproductive step that can cause pitting. See how-to by esteemed repairman extraordinaire @georged:

Vulcanite can be cleaned and shined up to better than new. The hardest part is to avoid rounding the sharp corners on the tenon shoulders. Good luck!

 

[reisman]

Thanks. I decided to give it a bath of hot water and Oxi Clean crystals first. That loosened most of the yellow film off it, and going over that with a sponge and a little elbow grease returned it to mostly a dull black. I may soak it one more time, after which I will go with your steps, slowly, gently and methodically so as not to remove actual Vulcanite material. Thanks for the advice. Mike

 

[zercules]

As far as I am aware, the only thing you can do to prevent oxidation is applying stem oil at the end of the day. As long as it’s oiled it shouldn’t oxidize. Your saliva will remove the oil and you need to apply it regularly or else it will oxidize. It’s just all about the upkeep.

Some people prefer acrylic over vulcanite because of the upkeep. I personally find clenching on harder plastic more comfortable. Vulcanite makes my teeth feel weird…

 

[reisman]

Thanks. Is stem oil the same thing as the Obsidian Oil they talk about? Mike

 

[woodsroad]

Thanks. I decided to give it a bath of hot water and Oxi Clean crystals first. That loosened most of the yellow film off it, and going over that with a sponge and a little elbow grease returned it to mostly a dull black. I may soak it one more time, after which I will go with your steps, slowly, gently and methodically so as not to remove actual Vulcanite material. Thanks for the advice. Mike

Every time you remove oxidation, or buff the stem, or put the stem in your mouth, you are removing vulcanite. Vulcanite is nothing more than a trade name for hard rubber. It oxidizes. I have no idea what the products of oxidation might be properly termed, but they are nothing more than deteriorated rubber.

 

[reisman]

Thanks for the explanation. I have a chemistry background from long ago, but I didn't know this.