19302005
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Stems & Bits
Do your stems and bits sometimes look like this ?

Your stems must not look like this ! I wonīt go in public with a stem like this.
If you want to trade a pipe or sell it on eBay you certainly get more for your item if the stem is shiny
and has no tooth marks on it.

If there are tooth marks on the bit take a small key file and file them off.
But beware to have enough material left on both sides of the air hole.

Then you take a emery cloth (400er / 800er) and emerize the spoors.

Now start with steel wool No.1, No. 00, and No. 000 and work hard on the stem
until it looks black and blunt.
Ebonit stems sometimes look brown or green and taste bitter. This is because ebonit stems contain sulfur.
The sulfur reacts with any kind of humidity (even with your saliva) and appears on the surface.
This looks awful and tastes absolutely bitter.
Ebonit stems are of different quality. The lower the quality the more sulfur.
You have to buff it off it all it.
You do not have this problems with acrylic stems.

When you ended with steel wool No.000 and your stem is black and blunt
you proceed with carnauba wax.
If you have a polishing machine it is very helpful

First you bring the wax on the polishing wheel
then you start polishing your stem. Your spinner should not make much more than 1500 rpm.

If you have no polishing machine
 you can also use a drill machine with a polishing tool which you get in every DIY store.
Even here you bring the wax on the polishing wheel first and start buffing then.
Replace wax on the polishing wheel two, three or if necessary four times
and continue buffing until your stem looks like a new one.

If you still detect any spoors on the stem start with 800er emery cloth again

and proceed with steel wool.

Then wax and polish again.
In the first moment this may sound complicated but it isnīt.
The tools are cheap and the more you get used to buff your stems the faster it works.
Also, the more regularly you care for your stems the less work it is.
Imagine never to have the bitter taste of sulfur on your tongue again
and proudly present your pipes in public all the time.

Happy buffing and happy puffing !!!