Stem polish

[Haebar]

Does it make any difference for polishing your stems?

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigar%20Bum%20photos%20004_zpsa4ir2km2.jpg

There's a big price difference.

[NeverBend]

Does it make any difference for polishing your stems?

There's a big price difference.

If they don't retard or remove oxidation then you're shining the problem rather than addressing it.

I've never been keen on the chemicals in my mouth so I don't use polish on the stem but whichever works the best or gives you the best value makes sense.

Pete

[Mister Moo]

Never used either, sorry, but I have inexpensive methods that work well. How bad is the stem(s)? Mostly black or mostly oxidized, Haebar?

[BryGuySC]

For heavily oxidized stems (read completely brown), I tend to use fine sandpaper and cheap toothpaste.

[JustTroItIn]

I use the Branzig method. Oxyclean bath, Arm and Hammer Magic Eraser, Micro Finishing Cloth Abrasive Pads, then Carnuba wax.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd62/jclarke7/IMG_1926_zpsu2edkvbt.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/jclarke7/media/IMG_1926_zpsu2edkvbt.jpg.html)

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd62/jclarke7/IMG_1972_zps24ynd4pb.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/jclarke7/media/IMG_1972_zps24ynd4pb.jpg.html)

[Haebar]

Never used either, sorry, but I have inexpensive methods that work well. How bad is the stem(s)? Mostly black or mostly oxidized, Haebar?

Dan, I will use it on dull black stems but not ones that are oxidized. For that I would fall back to the oxyclean, sandpaper method.

[Haebar]

If they don't retard or remove oxidation then you're shining the problem rather than addressing it.

I've never been keen on the chemicals in my mouth so I don't use polish on the stem but whichever works the best or gives you the best value makes sense.

Pete

Good point Pete. I only use this kind of polish on stems that are just dull, not starting to turn greenish tan from oxidation. Like you say, I wouldn't want to polish the oxidized layer.

[Haebar]

I use the Branzig method. Oxyclean bath, Arm and Hammer Magic Eraser, Micro Finishing Cloth Abrasive Pads, then Carnuba wax.


Good job with that one! The bowl looks darker in the after shot, did you restain it?

[JustTroItIn]

Good job with that one! The bowl looks darker in the after shot, did you restain it?

Nope, simply cleaned and polished.

[Branzig]

For really bad horrible stems, I'll use the Oxi bath, Bar Keeper's Friend, and then the Magic Erasers.

Abrasive pads to finish up and bring out that shine!

[El Whedo]

What would yall say is the best product to clean out the INSIDE of an oxidized stem?

[Mister Moo]

What would yall say is the best product to clean out the INSIDE of an oxidized stem?

I use bristle pipecleaners + Everclear until there come out clean. Don't know how it looks in there after but it always smokes good. Not thre first time I've heard this question - I am always looking for a better way.

[El Whedo]

I use bristle pipecleaners + Everclear until there come out clean. Don't know how it looks in there after but it always smokes good. Not thre first time I've heard this question - I am always looking for a better way.

I have two pipes that after deep cleaning I can still taste the nasty oxidation taste in. They are clean inside, yet still oxidized. Any suggestions on how to remove the oxidation from the inside of the stem?

[LandonColby]

I have two pipes that after deep cleaning I can still taste the nasty oxidation taste in. They are clean inside, yet still oxidized. Any suggestions on how to remove the oxidation from the inside of the stem?

Maybe a shank brush and some tooth paste, then use alcohol and pipe cleaners to dissolve it away.

[Branzig]

What would yall say is the best product to clean out the INSIDE of an oxidized stem?
That's why I always soak them in Oxi Clean then take a shank brush to them right after the soak. That breaks a lot of it up. Then I finish up with 91% iso and bristle cleaners.

[NeverBend]

What would yall say is the best product to clean out the INSIDE of an oxidized stem?

Hi Mark,

Adding to what Mr.Moo advised, (above) you can also use shank brushes (like bristle cleaners). I just ordered 5 ($4.99) from P&C but I've gotten them elsewhere too.

To really clean the inside of the stem, (draught hole) I've found that a retort with the shank brushes does well. I've found that the retort works best on pipes that have been smoked recently. So now I retort a pipe when i get it, smoke it several times and then retort it again.

Pete