Thanks to everyone for the nice welcome, I've been enjoying the site. And thanks to raftergtex for the information concerning tung oil and lacquer.
Unfortunately, I did, in fact, already apply both to my unfinished Savinelli second briar. I also did the bleach treatment to the stem since it was a greenish brown. The bleach did indeed restore the black, much to my surprise. Though it did leave it rough, but I had already been forewarned about that.
After everything dried, I took both pieces and polished them on a 3 wheel buffing system. I have to say, it looks pretty nice for an almost 20 year old unfinished second. Though I don't know if that adversely affected its smoking abilities...we'll see.
Just in case, it gave me an opportunity to buy some new pipes! hehe I picked up a few shapes (and colors) that I had always liked: a Peterson Killarney Ebony Pipe #408 (straight) and a Peterson Aran Pipe #80s (bent bulldog with flat sided shank and stem, at least I believe that's the correct name).
I already have a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Baskerville, and I had wanted to vary my manufacturers a little bit, but the Petersons were matching up to the shapes and colors I wanted. At least I know I really like the way my existing Peterson smokes, so I know what I am getting.
I had originally toyed with the idea of getting a Dunhill, but quickly ran scared when I saw the low end starts at $400.
Maybe I can get a non-Peterson pipe when I finally get around to buying a tankard and a church warden. Unfortunatly, Peterson had some nice ones of both of those also! heheh