Question About Pipe Stems

[Honkytonk Man]

Can any of my learned friends here advise if any pipe makers made pipes with a matt finish to their stems?

I ask, because I have a Les Wood Ferndown with a stem that is completely matt finish, with no signs of polishing at all. I don't recall ever seeing any pipes with a matt finished stem, but of course they may well exist.

 

[Coreios]

Im not an expert, but you sure it's not Vulcanite?

 

[Honkytonk Man]

@Coreios I believe that it is.

Which can be polished, yes?

 

[TheWhale13]

@Coreios I believe that it is.

Which can be polished, yes?

Vulcanite can be polished, yes. You could make it matte too if you want, I guess.

 

[didimauw]

@Coreios I believe that it is.

Which can be polished, yes?

Yes they can absolutely be polished. My first Kaywoodie Redroot I got, had a Matt vulcanite stem. The other two were shiny.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Which can be polished, yes?

Like a mirror.

 

[Coreios]

@Coreios I believe that it is.

Which can be polished, yes?

Yes it can be brought back; I've seen it done. I wouldn't want to mess it up though. I'm sure someone here knows exactly how.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Is it Cumberland or swirl ebonite/vulcanite? If so it will loose its shine and look flat. Black will too, but it usually oxidizes first. Cumberland oxidizes as well but it doesn't show as much.

 

[Smoke Wagon]

Was this bought used? If so, I believe oxi clean can leave a matte finish on some stems when used to remove oxidation.

 

[SBC]

Most old estate vulcanite stems are matt, just because they've dulled over the years. Apart from polishing to an extremely high grit, vulcanized rubber is very matt.

If you've only ever seen well polished ones, I'd guess that you've bought only new or freshly refurbed pipes.

If you want it shiny, you can do a lot with toothpaste.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Yes they can absolutely be polished. My first Kaywoodie Redroot I got, had a Matt vulcanite stem. The other two were shiny.

Thanks, Didimauw.

I know they can be polished, but you answered my question with your Kaywoodie Redroot having a matt stem.
Thanks buddy.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Yes it can be brought back; I've seen it done. I wouldn't want to mess it up though. I'm sure someone here knows exactly how.

"Yes it can be brought back..."
That was kinda where I was going with this. I wasn't sure if the stem had been damaged during a soaking in some cleaning product. Or had in fact been left matt from production.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Is it Cumberland or swirl ebonite/vulcanite? If so it will loose its shine and look flat. Black will too, but it usually oxidizes first. Cumberland oxidizes as well but it doesn't show as much.

It is black ebonite/vulcanite...
No oxidation or any other blemishes, which we find annoying.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Was this bought used? If so, I believe oxi clean can leave a matte finish on some stems when used to remove oxidation.

Yes it was bought used.

Actually this is what I believe has happened.

I'm sure I read that oxi-clean would leave it matt, in another post on the forums.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Most old estate vulcanite stems are matt, just because they've dulled over the years. Apart from polishing to an extremely high grit, vulcanized rubber is very matt.

If you've only ever seen well polished ones, I'd guess that you've bought only new or freshly refurbed pipes.

If you want it shiny, you can do a lot with toothpaste.

SBC,
Many thanks.
As an estate pipe, the stummel is in excellent condition.

Smoke Wagon mentioned that oxi-clean could leave the stem in a matt texture, which I believe was discussed in another thread.

 

[Coreios]

"Yes it can be brought back..."
That was kinda where I was going with this. I wasn't sure if the stem had been damaged during a soaking in some cleaning product. Or had in fact been left matt from production.

I think I've seen new pipes with a matt finish before. Maybe post a picture of it if you can someone might know.