Vulcanite pipe stems

I am not normally a visitor here, but my lunch time drinking
acquaintance is trying to bring his collection of smoking pipes back to
the original condition.

Problem is, a pipe stem made from vulcanite has taken on, not the black
colour that it should be, but a much lighter brown one. He knows that
light can change the colour, but wants to know how to get the black
colour back. Is it simple to do?

TIA

Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
...
I am not normally a visitor here, but my lunch time drinking
acquaintance is trying to bring his collection of smoking pipes back to
the original condition.

Problem is, a pipe stem made from vulcanite has taken on, not the black
colour that it should be, but a much lighter brown one. He knows that
light can change the colour, but wants to know how to get the black
colour back. Is it simple to do?

What's your favorite pen and why?


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

In article ,
Dave wrote:

Problem is, a pipe stem made from vulcanite has taken on, not the black
colour that it should be, but a much lighter brown one. He knows that
light can change the colour, but wants to know how to get the black
colour back. Is it simple to do?

For a pipe stem it is actually easier than a black hard rubber pen. A
chemical reaction has taken place which results in a layer of oxidized
rubber forming which is a light brown or quite green, depending on the
severity. This process is essential irreversible.

Pens often have a pattern and/or a manufacturer's logo embossed in the
hard rubber, pipe stems generally don't. What you need is a very fine
open mesh sandpaper, 2,000 or 4,000 depending on how much material you
will need to remove. Then is is just a process of lightly sanding off
the oxidized layer until the color is uniform black again. If you have a
buffing wheel you can finish the job with a light buff using a very fine
rouge. Don't use water! Hard rubber doesn't like water, especially hot
woter.

In a pen you can only use this technique if there is no pattern or logo,
which is why for years experimentors have been trying to come up with
the chemical Fountain of Youth for black hard rubber.

Hope this helps,

--k