Episode 7 - How to clean a vulcanite stem

The Barepipe experiments with and explores tobacco pipe restoration, pipe culture and history.
In episode 7:
All about cleaning vulcanite stems the gentle way.
Twitter: @barepipes
Instagram: Thebarepipe

[@Fishingpiper]

I have followed your lead and fixed up some old pipes for myself Thanks a bunch

[@deanguymon4147]

Within the last year I have been viewing your videos. You do a good teaching job with your gentle voice and clear instructions and explanations.

[@avilev500]

I liked the quiet and pleasantness of your explanations

[@flitdek]

Great tech, Thank you for taking the time to share this process. Cheers

[@joseriera8763]

Really enjoyed your step by step and visual-based approach. Thank you!

[@mr.sherlockholmes6130]

I love these videos . Thank you so much for everything you do !!!!

[@JackJazzm]

Awesome and simple technique 👍🏾 Quite informative

[@timsmitchell]

I love these videos! You do a great job explaining!

[@BarePipe]

Tim Mitchell thank you. I try.

[@TheDerpsKast]

Awesome video. Just finished cleaning a vulcanite pipestem from a Digby bulldog. What was yellow is now black. Great tutorial, keep up the good work.

[@mbommas4706]

after more than 30 years of pipe smoking, there was something I could learn here, thanks!

[@ActionBastard666]

great video my friend! love watching your stuff

[@BarePipe]

Luke of the Cave thank you. Likewise.

[@Gardner1995]

Thanks for uploading this. I'll definitely look into the the magic eraser. It seems to produce a better result then sanding the oxidation away

[@BarePipe]

Gardner1995 Yep, sanding is just too destructive

[@rebd00mer93]

I am currently in the process of quitting cigarettes and switching to pipe smoking. My travel pipe has started getting that green on it and I didn't even know it was a vulcanite stem. So thank you for showing me how to get that green off! I'm not as worried about my teeth marks but I don't really like the green. Makes it look dirty or uncouth so thanks again!

[@pipeminer7281]

The Magic Eraser is a great tip, thanks for sharing this one. I had a recommendation to use CLR for soaking the stems too, he said he's had better luck with that than even Oxi Clean but I haven't tried it yet.

[@BarePipe]

Pipe Miner the oxi clean and magic eraser is amazing! I have not heard about CLR. But I am definitely going to give t a try to see what it does.

[@yasaarar4244]

Cool operation 😎

[@TheGreatest1974]

Great tips thanks!👍🇬🇧

[@bobkrause0103]

Great job

[@abehartshorne6028]

That was great, just go myself a vulcanite and this is helpful 👍🏼

[@72Stiles]

Thank you! I tried this method over the weekend on a handful of stems that had turned nasty brown and it worked like a charm. Most were ready for the Magic Eraser after soaking for 2 hours, but a couple were pretty stubborn so I scraped them lightly with my thumbnail a bit and let them soak overnight. By the next day they were good to go. Do you have a process for polishing them once they are back to flat black?

[@TheSpidey1969]

Great video! So helpful. Just bought a Brebbia that turned green after my FIRST smoke. Tried the toothpaste before moving onto the oxyclean & magic eraser. People were telling me just to buy acrylic & to forget vulcanite, but it can't be possible that so many people buy estate pipes with vulcanite stems without being able to keep them up. They just wouldn't produce them anymore. A bit of a learning curve, but your video has helped greatly. Cheers from Montreal!

[@Loukie69]

3:40 I almost expected to hear 'if you do it like this, you will just cause more kak for yourself'. Glad to see that the South African accent hasn't completely disappeared.

[@sandrovera4567]

awesome!

[@paulfrederick9440]

Thank you! Very helpful for us at home. One question: Do you finish the stem with any liquid?

[@thomasbyg4795]

Recondition meerschaum pipes. Great find...

[@alabamadan4148]

Hi! Enjoying your videos and I'm new to the hobby. May I ask a few questions? What is your OxyClean to Water ratio? Do you have to protect your emblems/logs with Vaseline or anything? Would this only work for vulcanite or all stem materials? Thanks for all you do!

[@paulfrederick9440]

We missed you at the Chicago International Pipe Show two weeks ago. Will you be posting prior to attending any shows. You realize you are a VIDEO STAR don’t you?!?

[@TheSpidey1969]

Question: you mention using micromesh pads to shine it up once you've done the magic eraser. Can you tell me at what grit you start?

[@chrishynes6091]

I have found that plain drugstore glycerin will keep it from oxidizing. After cleaning my pipe I rub a little drop on the stem/bit.

[@5_GZ3kul]

im new to pipe smoking and i was wondering if anyone knows the name of the metal tube thing that goes into the pipe steam and sits into the bottom of the pipe bowl? thanks for the amazing video and the detail u go into

[@maxboonkittypoison]

I am learning good stuf here thank you. I'm a beginning pipe maker. Greetings,, Kitty.

[@spocksjohnson5594]

would be interested in seeing your pipes.

[@wie-o-wie]

I miss the last part where you make them shiny again. After cleaning the stems I buff the them with carwax. The get shiny like new.

[@norbertstepien9185]

Hi, really enjoyed your video as I'm in the process of restoring several pipe stems that have oxidized. I've used the OXYCLEAN and it is amazing how quickly it removes the bulk of the oxidation. I'm now left with clean but dull stems. I watched you use the Mr Clean Magic Eraser, but it appears the stems are still dull albeit less so. How do you get the final polish on the stems to where it's a mirror finish?

[@BarePipe]

Norbert Stepien Hi I use micro mesh pads to buff them starting with a 1500 grit and taking it gradually up to 4000 grit. Then I buff them with white diamond and carnuaba wax

[@MarkMastrocinque]

What is your opinion of obsidian oil instead of carnuba wax on vulcanite stems?

[@laynefuller]

How are those GBE's? Always been temped to buy one they usually pretty cheap. Also that's funny. I used a magic eraser ignorantly, long before I ever looked up anything on pipe restoration.

[@MrImperial67]

this works I have tried it but I was told by a pipe shop that this hardens the vulcanite and makes itb more prone to cracking

[@fractalofgod6324]

I was going you would show how you built up the indents from the teeth marks, do you use some sort of resin? Thank you for the video

[@fractalofgod6324]

Edit.. I've just watched another of your videos where you use heat to remove the indents. Great job and I've subbed.

[@tobiasherrmann4719]

Thanks for the video. One question, after the Oxi bath, is the smell of old smoke, which I find very disgusting on the stems, better? Or still as srong as before. Do you use Iso-Alcohol sometimes to remove the tobacco stains inside the stem?

[@BarePipe]

Tobias Herrmann it does help to reduce smells. I find though that most bad smells on a stem is normally from inside in the draft hole. For that I use alcohol and bristled pipe cleaners to get all the old gunk out. I do that before the oxi bath. I never use alcohol on the exterior of the stem, it is too harsh. The oxi and mr clean has always left it clean and without smells on the exterior for me.

[@tobiasherrmann4719]

Bare Pipe Thanks alot!

[@paulthescandinavian4992]

Hello Sir , Just got a shoutout for your channel by CaneRodPiper-Mike, well, as far as to this bleach cleaning method,did you notice any residue /side taste left afterwards when this was done,Thank You for sharing, and greets,Paul

[@BarePipe]

Paul The Scandinavian nothing. No aftertaste whatsoever

[@scottstewart1267]

This is probably a very stupid question lol, But if vulcanite stems were stored in a sealed jar, would that prevent oxidation?

[@BarePipe]

Scott Stewart not a stupid question at all. A sealed jar will not help much you are on the right track. Oxygen and light are the two culprits. So store your in a dark place and keep a coating of carnuaba wax or obsidian oil on your stems to prevent the oxygen from getting into contact with the vulacanite.

[@CorkKNIFE]

Action starts at 2:34

[@daleschmidt7157]

I prefer using files instead of sandpaper around the button.

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

There's a South African accent in there.....

[@BarePipe]

Kobus van Rensburg yep, I was wondering how long it would take before someone noticed. Egte boerekoffie

[@elrico1364]

DJango tunes

[@tuquelarue4109]

Very informative... Music has 2 go! Tired..m