Favorite way to restore a vulcanite stem?

[Jimbo]

Ah, I was wondering about the Barkeepers Friend powder... if you mixed with water to make a paste or use it dry.

The reason I even ask that is my late father told me the Japanese in the POW camp he helped run on Luzon in WWII used tooth powder DRY with a rag to keep their swords shiny. They just rubbed it on with the rag and it acted as a mild abrasive. (Yes, they let them keep their swords! A captured Japanese was considered "dead". So they never tried to escape. )

Jimbo

[alleycat]

This is a pipe I just got this week: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I used the Bar Keepers Friend, and that got most of the "crud" but it was still a little dull so I took my Dremel and polishing compound and had a good go at it. It almost looks like a new stem now. Luckily, there were no bite marks on the flat of the stem, just a very tiny one on the lip of the stem, but so small that I didn't worry about it.

I also buffed the top of the bowl and got rid of most of the black. I could do a little more, but this is just an "everyday" smoking pipe, so I probably won't worry about it.

The apple shape isn't my favorite, but the pipe smokes great.

[acaciavet]

Dampen it and use a damp paper towel work at it till it shines. I love the stuff.After you get it clean rub some chapstick on the stem after every smoke wont go green again.Cheers mate

[Dukeofbluz]

Originally Posted by acaciavet

Dampen it and use a damp paper towel work at it till it shines. I love the stuff.After you get it clean rub some chapstick on the stem after every smoke wont go green again.Cheers mate

Thank you, Acaciavet, It worked exactly as you discribed. I wish I would of tried this before I tried everything else!

Duke

[strongirish]

I restore pipes all the time for resale. I have developed a technique that works better than anything i have tried. I first take a very fine grit sandpaper and sand down the bit running length wise. I wipe that off with Everclear. Then I take Dremel #2 rubbing compound and rub in deeply with my fingers really working it around. I then buff this off with a sheep skin whell on my buffer. Next I take Flitz polish and do the same rub it deeply into the stem, let dry, then buff this out with a cotton buffing wheel on my buffer. The result is a very shiny, black clean pipe stem.

[Preacherman]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I never tried Chap-Stick. I rub down my pipes after smoking with a HandyWipe sprayed with Briar Pipe Wipe, paying particular attention to vulcanite stems. A good rub with that stops oxidation for a long time between smokes.

Jimbo

I never tried Chap-Stick either as suggested by AC's video - (BTW, I agree with Jimbo - GREAT Video AC, I enjoyed it).

But I do have a small soft cloth, with just a bit of Olive-Oil on it - after a cleaning or for an over night rest - my pipe stem gets a good wipe down with that lil rag - the Olive-Oil coats the stem and stop oxidation - it is very easy to use - keeps my stems nice shiny and black. If this was not so easy, I would try the Chap-Stick idea very soon, I may any way.

Just another idea...LORD BLESS!!!

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by strongirish

I restore pipes all the time for resale. I have developed a technique that works better than anything i have tried. I first take a very fine grit sandpaper and sand down the bit running length wise. I wipe that off with Everclear. Then I take Dremel #2 rubbing compound and rub in deeply with my fingers really working it around. I then buff this off with a sheep skin whell on my buffer. Next I take Flitz polish and do the same rub it deeply into the stem, let dry, then buff this out with a cotton buffing wheel on my buffer. The result is a very shiny, black clean pipe stem.

That is somewhat similar to what I do, and I've turned some ugly-looking stems into shiny new-looking stems. I sometimes use a cordless Dremel for the buffing.

I use Dremel 421 compound. Have you tried it as well as #2? I was just wondering if #2 was better for use on a pipe stem. I've never tried #2 (I don't have any of that on hand).