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Post by mrlunting on Oct 26, 2020 10:46:08 GMT -5
Lucite, ebonite, vulcanite.
How do you clean pipe stems depending on the material?
I have heard that vulcanite is best cleaned with high level alcohol or buffing compound. Here in my part of Canada the highest level alcohol available is 94% is this okay? Should I be using iso alcohol instead which is available at 99%?
How do you clean your different stems?
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joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
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Post by joeman on Oct 26, 2020 10:54:58 GMT -5
I have great success using either 70% or 91% iso alcohol inside and out to clean my stems...both for maintaining my collection, or when doing refurbishment work. You mentioned buffing compounds...so may I assume you're not asking only about routine cleaning, but also the refurbishment of stems?
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Post by mrlunting on Oct 26, 2020 11:53:14 GMT -5
I have great success using either 70% or 91% iso alcohol inside and out to clean my stems...both for maintaining my collection, or when doing refurbishment work. You mentioned buffing compounds...so may I assume you're not asking only about routine cleaning, but also the refurbishment of stems? Refurbishment yes. Also because I want to give one of my pipes a good cleaning. |
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Post by sperrytops on Oct 26, 2020 13:15:17 GMT -5
Interested to see more answers here. I've always been looking for something that works on ebonite but is not destructive. I've used pipe cleaning compounds from Dunhill and Peterson, but they are mild and don't really attack heavier oxidation.
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Post by lizardonarock on Oct 26, 2020 18:22:28 GMT -5
Coca Cola and Dill's bristle pipe cleaners do not use on clear stems they are pretty rough. Try Chapstick on the outside of Vulcanite to keep the brown sulfer blues and at a low lull.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,910 
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Oct 26, 2020 21:01:51 GMT -5
Alcohol on ebonite, but never on acrylic as it can cause crazing. I just use antibacterial soap on those. Then there's amber, ivory, juma, nylon, horn, bone, briar, and many others.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,910
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Oct 26, 2020 21:03:33 GMT -5
Lucite, ebonite, vulcanite. Ebonite, vulcanite, brindle, and Cumberland are the same material. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,910
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Oct 26, 2020 21:09:29 GMT -5
Coca Cola and Dill's bristle pipe cleaners do not use on clear stems they are pretty rough. Try Chapstick on the outside of Vulcanite to keep the brown sulfer blues and at a low lull. After removing the oxidation from a stem with a lighter, a wet paper towel, and thumb buffing it to a mirror finish with toothpaste, I just wipe my pipes and stems down with a jeweler's cloth after each smoke and haven't seen any returning discoloration.  |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 26, 2020 22:14:45 GMT -5
Lucite, ebonite, vulcanite. How do you clean pipe stems depending on the material? I have heard that vulcanite is best cleaned with high level alcohol or buffing compound. Here in my part of Canada the highest level alcohol available is 94% is this okay? Should I be using iso alcohol instead which is available at 99%? How do you clean your different stems? Theres no set rule. The higher the the proof the less water is absorbed. You really only need the 90% stuff for doing a salt treatment. I use 151 rum to clean and sweeten my pipes on a regular basis. Or if I'm out of that I will use 100 proof bourbon with no ill effects except for a delightful flavor in the next couple of bowls. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 27, 2020 4:08:59 GMT -5
Coca Cola and Dill's bristle pipe cleaners do not use on clear stems they are pretty rough. Try Chapstick on the outside of Vulcanite to keep the brown sulfer blues and at a low lull. After removing the oxidation from a stem with a lighter, a wet paper towel, and thumb buffing it to a mirror finish with toothpaste, I just wipe my pipes and stems down with a jeweler's cloth after each smoke and haven't seen any returning discoloration. WOW...hang on a sec...that was done with a lighter and toothpaste? I'd heard of the toothpaste, but never the lighter trick. How do you do that? Do you use the heat or the actual flame? |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 27, 2020 9:35:12 GMT -5
After removing the oxidation from a stem with a lighter, a wet paper towel, and thumb buffing it to a mirror finish with toothpaste, I just wipe my pipes and stems down with a jeweler's cloth after each smoke and haven't seen any returning discoloration. WOW...hang on a sec...that was done with a lighter and toothpaste? I'd heard of the toothpaste, but never the lighter trick. How do you do that? Do you use the heat or the actual flame? I use an alcohol lamp like they make for a chaffing dish. I just run a badly oxidized stem quickly through the flame to get rid of the worst of it. I finish up with stem polish. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 27, 2020 9:38:16 GMT -5
hmmm. I must try that one some of my more dodgy ebay finds.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 27, 2020 9:41:57 GMT -5
hmmm. I must try that one some of my more dodgy ebay finds. You can often get a great deal on a severely oxidized pipe. Cleaning neglected pipes is very therapeutic. Like on a day after 2 funerals. |
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Post by sperrytops on Oct 27, 2020 12:14:40 GMT -5
I'm going to have to try your solution, Ron.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,910
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Oct 27, 2020 20:41:18 GMT -5
After removing the oxidation from a stem with a lighter, a wet paper towel, and thumb buffing it to a mirror finish with toothpaste, I just wipe my pipes and stems down with a jeweler's cloth after each smoke and haven't seen any returning discoloration. WOW...hang on a sec...that was done with a lighter and toothpaste? I'd heard of the toothpaste, but never the lighter trick. How do you do that? Do you use the heat or the actual flame? The oxidation was removed by lightly singeing the very outer layer of the stem and wiping it away with a wet paper towel. This left a matte surface. The toothpaste was thumb buffed until gone to give the mirror finish. I originally saw the technique here, but modified it slightly. www.google.com/amp/s/rebornpipes.com/2012/06/14/a-bic-lighter-and-oxidation/amp/This was done the same way.  |
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Post by lizardonarock on Oct 27, 2020 21:00:28 GMT -5
Shameless plug for Flitz polish for those that do not own a proper slow speed buffer and sticks of wax.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 27, 2020 21:57:52 GMT -5
I'm going to have to try your solution, Ron. Practice on a junk pipe if you have one. It's pretty hard to over do it while you're holding it in your fingers. If you think you singed it, it will still polish out. |
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