The best wax to use on a briar pipe is Carnauba Wax. It is the most durable of the waxes that can be used and with a buffer, will bring a real shine to your pipe.
However, I have found a number of things that members might want to know about the properties of the wax and some of the results or ill effects.
Carauba wax, also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is a wax of the leaves of a palm native to and grown only in the northeastern parts of Brazil.
Some of it's uses are quite common eg.added in parts to car wax, furniture/wood polish, surfboard wax and even as a shinny finish to sweets (candy) such as Tic-Tacs and Gob-Stoppers.
When using it for pipes, I have often found that if the speed of the buffer is too high, it melts the wax and bunches it in long lines. You can start off with a medium speed (approx 1500-1800 rpm) to get the wax on, but to bring the deep glossy shine you need to drop the speed down to around 1000-1500rpm. At the higher speeds the shine will look dull, so just turn down the speed of the buffer.
I have also found that no matter how hard you try, you get a build up of wax in any makers mark or stampings on the stummel. The way to get rid of this, and also to aid the wax in absorbing itself into the briar is to rough buff the pipe to start (to get a reasonable coat over the whole pipe) and then place in an oven at no more than 100 degrees Centigrade for about 15 minutes. Since Carnauba melts at about 82-86 degrees C, this will melt the wax that gets into the makers stamps etc.
Take the pipe out after the 15 minutes and allow to cool to room temperature being careful not to put prints on the surface of the Briar. Once it has cooled down then buff at the lower speed and VOILA, one shiney pipe.
However, I have found a number of things that members might want to know about the properties of the wax and some of the results or ill effects.
Carauba wax, also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is a wax of the leaves of a palm native to and grown only in the northeastern parts of Brazil.
Some of it's uses are quite common eg.added in parts to car wax, furniture/wood polish, surfboard wax and even as a shinny finish to sweets (candy) such as Tic-Tacs and Gob-Stoppers.
When using it for pipes, I have often found that if the speed of the buffer is too high, it melts the wax and bunches it in long lines. You can start off with a medium speed (approx 1500-1800 rpm) to get the wax on, but to bring the deep glossy shine you need to drop the speed down to around 1000-1500rpm. At the higher speeds the shine will look dull, so just turn down the speed of the buffer.
I have also found that no matter how hard you try, you get a build up of wax in any makers mark or stampings on the stummel. The way to get rid of this, and also to aid the wax in absorbing itself into the briar is to rough buff the pipe to start (to get a reasonable coat over the whole pipe) and then place in an oven at no more than 100 degrees Centigrade for about 15 minutes. Since Carnauba melts at about 82-86 degrees C, this will melt the wax that gets into the makers stamps etc.
Take the pipe out after the 15 minutes and allow to cool to room temperature being careful not to put prints on the surface of the Briar. Once it has cooled down then buff at the lower speed and VOILA, one shiney pipe.
