Ebonite Stem Cleaning Part 2

[@jontypiper9881]

That result is unbelievable! Excellent

[@CaneRodPiper]

Thank you, I am glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@mk-lb7qd]

Followed your video on two of Danny’s pipes. Love them. Now to work on estate Edwards pipe. Thanks for the videos and sharing your skill.

[@jordangrice50]

I am new to estate pipes. I have been overly extensive in my research on others knowledge and experience. You videos on ebonite cleaning is by far the Best! Thanks

[@CaneRodPiper]

Hi Jordan, Thank you. I am glad that you found it informative. Best, Mike.

[@Rick-nf8ju]

These videos motivated me to clean up some of my old heavily oxidized stems and they are turning out great. Thanks!

[@CaneRodPiper]

Thanks Rick, I'm glad that it worked out for you!

[@flitdek]

Great video tutorial, watched both 1& 2 while restoring an 8" Wellington "P" LIP Stem that came on an KBB Yello-Bole Chesterfield system pipe I found at the Flea Market Saturday. The tip on staying away from the area that goes into the shank helped tremendously, Thank you. Cheers

[@CaneRodPiper]

I am glad that it was helpful! Best, Mike.

[@LifeWithAPipe]

Really appreciate the mineral oil tip! I have not heard of or seen that mentioned elsewhere.

[@CaneRodPiper]

Glad it was helpful! I still use it on all my stems. Thanks for watching!

[@tomnicholson5728]

Great video! I wish I had viewed your presentation BEFORE I bought a buffing machine.

[@CaneRodPiper]

Thanks Tom, glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@Dartmouth_CNC]

Great video man, well done

[@CaneRodPiper]

+PipeLeisure Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! Be well, Mike.

[@vaaljapietrekker7787]

Well done

[@mchidley1]

I have watched a number of your instructional videos and appreciate your attention to detail and ingenuity in devising workarounds. Not germane to this stem cleaning video, but I do have one question. What method do you use to clean the rusticated rims of rusticated pipes? The build up of carbon in the nooks and crannies on the rim is impossible to get at with magic eraser or sandpaper . Thanks and I look forward to your response. Keep on teaching!

[@CaneRodPiper]

Hi Mark, Thanks for watching and for the kind comment! I don't have anything magic for the rusticated rims. I use Murphy Oil Soap and a tooth brush combined with patience and time. Best, Mike.

[@indianapiper36]

Great job, I have a estate pipe in my collection I am cleaning up and I am going to try this method. That mineral oil worked wonders also. I have in the past used the oxy clean method, but will try out the hydrogen peroxide method as It looked easier. Take care -Clayton

[@CaneRodPiper]

Thank you Clayton, I'm glad you found it helpful. Let me know if you have any questions once you get started, and please let us know how it works. Be well, Mike.

[@indianapiper36]

I sure will Mike, I may get a video done on it soon also. Take care sir

[@dsociald]

Hey compadre...Awesome video man, very informative. I actually use Oxyclean and have never tried peroxide, I really liked the idea and it does seem easier! Thanks for sharing y vaya con Dios compadre

[@CaneRodPiper]

Glad you liked it Rene! Thanks, Mike.

[@gabekelly8069]

Great instructional as always! I am curious on your thoughts as to what, if any, effect that the peroxide solution is having on the inside of the air hole. I assume that the solution is oxidizing the air hole as well. Do you think this is an issue at all? Thanks again for the informative video.

[@CaneRodPiper]

Hi Gabe, That is an excellent question. I don't think it is an issue. Oxidation is essentially just a discoloring of the ebonite. So the airway will be a different color, but the smoke should still move through just fine. There is a slight roughening of the surface caused by the peroxide and I suppose that this could lead to more condensation/gurgling. I have never had this happen, but just in case I now use a churchwarden pipe cleaner and polishing compound to polish the inside of the stem. Clamp one end of the cleaner to the bench, apply compound, slip the stem over the cleaner and slide it up and down until you think you have done enough. Thanks, Mike.

[@gabekelly8069]

@@CaneRodPiper Excellent. Thank You.

[@nycdrums5985]

SUPERB!!!

[@CaneRodPiper]

+NYC drums I hope it is helpful.

[@tomjohnson1252]

Good job. Now I got to start on mine.

[@CaneRodPiper]

Thanks Tom, Good luck with the project!

[@pipeheadOR]

Do you always go to dry sanding once you start using above 3200/3600 micromesh? I noticed you wet sand from 1200-3200ish. This will give me a great reference on my estate restoring and cleaning up my own pipes.

[@CaneRodPiper]

Yes, that is my usual routine. At the higher grits you are doing more buffing than sanding. It seems to me that using water on the higher grit pads decreases their effectiveness a bit. As always, YMMV. Thanks for the question and for watching! Mike.

[@Rick-nf8ju]

I've watched parts one and two twice now. Just started restoring a neglected 35 year old P. Viou. How do you work around the stamped white letters of "P. Viou" so that there isn't an oxidized spot around and between the letters? And without sanding off the letters?

[@CaneRodPiper]

Hi Rick, The answer is very carefully. You can't remove the oxidation without sanding, so you either will have a patch, or will loose some depth on the stem stamping. I do not know of any way to remove the oxidation without sanding. Best, Mike.

[@eastcoast.30cal28]

Hello CRP, What do you think of waxes like Paragon or Halcyon 2 from "Fine Pipes" for Ebonite stems? Maybe a longer term solution for long term storage?? I've tried Halcyon 2 on a heavily rusticated brier pipe and it turned out awesome but I didn't put any on the Lucite stem (wasn't sure what it would do). I recently acquired an estate pipe with an Ebonite stem and its heavily oxidized. I will be using your method of stem restoration. Just wondering if you've ever tried waxes instead of oils to seal/preserve stems and what your results were. Thanks!

[@CaneRodPiper]

Hello, I now always put a layer of carnuba wax on the stem when it is finished, but you need a buffer to do that. Any of the microcrystalline waxes like Halcyon or Renaissance should work, they just won't last as long as carnuba. I still recommend the oil treatments. Just wipe the stem dry before applying the wax. Thanks for the question!

[@eastcoast.30cal28]

Thank you for the answer! I'll give it a try!