I have almost all of that but no buffing wheel. Trying to figure out how to get a couple stems back to black by hand. It isn't working. I have the entire Decatur set of cleaning stuff however using them isn't turning the stems back to black. Not sure if I need to use more and buff longer. Idk. I may start over with an Oxy bath on those stems. I'll post some pics from my PC later today.
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Jake - buffing and polishing oxidation seems to drive it in or create a green haze. After than I can't seem to budge it.

Soak in oxyclean (30 mins or so) then sand. The oxy seems to bring it to the surface.
I use 220, 320, 400, 500 grit, then revert to micromesh pads once the funk is gone. I sand lengthwise down the stem as much as possible. Transverse scratches are hard to remove.

You can use an electric drill as a buffing wheel motor.

You are supposed to sand the stem while on the stummel so the ends don't round. Some insulation tape can protect if you are not removing the finish n the bowl anyway.
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A Castello KKKK canted billiard. Lovely big bowl, phenomenal grain

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The pipe world is pulling me back in. Currently smoking a bowl of Hobbits Weed while winning an auction for a Wally Frank LTD bent bulldog estate pipe. Looking forward to cleaning it up and seeing how it smokes.
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My Wally Frank LTD estate came in yesterday. Has some scrapes and cosmetic ware but it seems very sound structurally. Have always wanted a bulldog as well. Seems like it may have been cleaned up a bit as well. No odor on the pipe. Looking forward to polishing it up a bit more and seeing how it smokes!
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Picked up a T. Christiano with flame grain on one side and rusticated on the other side, and some new tobacco.

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Very interesting Pipe Todd! I'm starting to really like the pipes with rusticated bowls with smooth finish around the top of the bowl. Very nice looking pipe though!
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Couldn't pass up a clearance deal P&C had. 14.99 for a Mitchell Thomas pipe which was chosen randomly between six different models. Kind of fun not knowing what you were going to receive. Apparently these pipes go for around $50 regularly and have great reviews. I don't really care with the price being what it was. But if it smokes nice I'll be even more happy. Like the style I received also!
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Beautiful pipe Todd, and a heck of a chunk of wood for the bowl. Have fun brecking it in. Did you pick that up at Paul's during their big sale?


I think you got a good deal Pete. Nice looking smoker. What's the length of the pipe and height of the bowl? Now get that puppy broken in:-)
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Had 2.25 Pounds of Bulk blends and MM Devil's Acorn and Markus pipes arrive yesterday.

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Thanks Mark. It is 5 1/2 inches long and the bowl is 1 7/8 tall. Smoked pretty smooth, and cooler than I expected, for as light as is it on the maiden smoke.
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That Proper English is good stuff!
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Some classics there.
Enjoy!
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Smoked the Markus. That was a sweet smoking little pipe. I really love my cobs. The only ones I have not tried yet are the Autumn Evening and Cask 11. Autumn Evening smells amazing and I have been looking for a Maple blend. The Cask 11 is dirt cheap and smells great in the bag. I think I will be trying a bowl tonight.

Basically what I am trying to is find several decent smokes in several categories that I can find in bulk as a go to for everyday smoking. Say a VaPer, a VA, English Balkan, Burley, and a couple of aromatics. Not to say I will not use tins from time to time...Tins just get expensive for every days smoking.
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We move recently from Alaska to Montana, the new town is very ok. There is one shop in this town that even pretends to sell decent tobacco and I finally checked them out today. Not terrible selection of bulk tobaccos that they repackage into 2, 8, 16oz bags. Lots of aros, some VAs, a little English. Anyway, no tins, but I did find this gem hiding at the bottom of the shelves, a little over priced but also 5 years old. So I said why not?
Apparently it was a special order that never got picked up

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Those are thick slices! Reminds me of Watch City Cigars flakes!
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Picked this up cheap and got a Xikar cutter and a few accessories with it.
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My wife returned from the US today, with some Blairgowrie and a nice wooden board to dry my tobacco on....
Posed with it some pipe **** - a shot she'll 12 gauge by our good friend BamBam and a Peterson Dublin Calabash I picked up from my mate Jimmy H.

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Wooden drying board eh? I really like that.....I still have so much to learn.....:-)
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She actually got it at the MSP airport. It is for spinning small tops on an an "executive toy". If you get just the base, it's perfect.
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