What to Do After Acetone

[buroak]

I just used acetone to strip the lacquer from three pipes. The lacquer on two old Yello Boles quickly yielded, but the lacquer on a later production Kaywoodie Carburetor was unfazed. I am going to leave the Kaywoodie alone, as my effort to strip the lacquer from it was just an exploratory attempt. I am wondering, though, what I might need to do before smoking the stripped pipes. Do they just need time to dry?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The beauty of acetone is that it evaporates very quickly, but it does leave a residue. If you've used it inside the bowl, I would re commend a good retort or cotton and alcahol treatment first. Or, just aggressively wipe out the bowl really well.

 

[aldecaker]

An few minutes in a warm oven to tease out the last of the smell, maybe? Just be careful, my wife nearly murdered me for stinking up our microwave drying out Nightcap.

 

[buroak]

cosmicfolklore, I was careful to keep the acetone out of the bowl and shank. It sounds like the the residue on the exterior will be removed when I wipe the pipe with Everclear.
aldecaker, I think I had better keep pipes/tobacco well away from the kitchen. My wife has a sensitive nose.

 

[tuold]

Usually after removing the finish with acetone I do some light sanding. Then buff with white diamond and then buff with carnauba wax. That Kaywoodie may need some sanding work to get at that stubborn lacquer.

 

[buroak]

tuold, Some sanding of the Yello Boles may be in order. I do not have a buffing wheel, but Micro Mesh pads should give me a smooth enough surface. The Kaywoodie definitely will require more work to remove the lacquer.

 

[buroak]

Some of you may also know the answer to another question related to acetone: Does acetone remove the stain, or just the lacquer? So far the pipes I cleaned have all had natural-color finishes.

 

[smoothsailing]

Yes it does remove the stain and for stubborn stain/lacquer I will do an alcohol bath in everclear.

 

[woodsroad]

"What to Do After Acetone"
I usually follow it up with a beer. It takes the edge off that nasty taste.

 

[buroak]

woodsroad, You can always be counted upon for a smart aleck's take on any situation/discussion. I sincerely mean that as a compliment.
smoothsailing, I am considering an alcohol bath for a sandblasted pipe with what appears to be some kind of fill material used to cover sandpits and even the blast. Or, it could just be years of accumulated crud.

 

[tuold]

buroak wrote:

I do not have a buffing wheel, but Micro Mesh pads should give me a smooth enough surface. The Kaywoodie definitely will require more work to remove the lacquer.

I went for almost a year without the variable speed drill I use now. So you can hand buff by applying the compound to an old tee shirt or rag. It just takes more work and more time. Give it a try sometime!