Reddit reviews Micro-Mesh 2" Assortment Pack - 18 Pieces

Thanks! This one was all done by hand.

Best approach I have found with oxidation is to submerge and soak the stem in a mixture of white distilled vinegar and baking soda. Cheap, natural and non-toxic!! You want the solution to bubble and fizz during the majority of the soak (so use a good amount of baking soda in the bottom of your container and a lot of patience filling it). I will use a pipe cleaner to suspend the stem over a small Mason jar and keep the tenon out of the solution. Make sure you have cleared the airway as much as you can. You will want to see bubbles coming out through the lip as it soaks. You can soak for 1hr to overnight (this soak won't hurt anything)

Wet sand with the flat sodium bicarbonate starting with 400 and progress to 800 grit sandpaper (depending on patience level and depth of oxidation). Finish with micromesh pads (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJC156U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xOjezb9NYZ9K6) Wet sand with flat sodium bicarbonate with first three, and dry sand with the rest). I usually apply olive oil between every 3 pads. :)

I finish with Howard Butcher Block Conditioner (Food grade mineral oil and natural waxes found at Home Depot). Allow it to soak in and buff with a micromesh towel. Others can use just olive oil or carnauba wax and a buffing wheel. Some believe you shouldn't use wax at all.

220 or 320 -> 400 -> 1000 -> 2000-> 4000 -> 6000ish

some thing like this
https://smile.amazon.com/Micro-Mesh-Assortment-Pack-18-Pieces/dp/B00HJC156U

then go through maybe 5000-6000

then polish with a felt pad

then final buff with lambswool pad

is how i do it

2 pack

assorted pack sand paper

lifetime supply of oxiclean

obsidian oil

edit:
paragon wax for hand polishing smooth pipes
halcyon II for hand polishing rusticated pipes[https://www.ebay.com/itm/Halcyon-II-Wax-for-the-Pipe/323134732335]

just have plenty of pipe cleaners, qtips, and either vodka, rubbing alcohol, or grain alcohol

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HJC156U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1458088485&sr=8-2&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=micromesh

When I wear these out, I'll happily buy the same again.

Micromesh pads

I generally use 4 wheels (Cotton Flannel Unstitched - The softest you can find, I ordered my current set from Foredom). One is brown tripoli, one is white tripoli, the next is wax, and the last is a dry buff.

For sanding, I like the micromesh pad set that reborn pipes uses: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJC156U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Always wet sand. I also use a few high grit papers from home depot.

Also, I've found that if you just want to hit the rim real quick to take down a little lava build up, a mr clean magic eraser works really well.. but be very careful, you can go too far very easily.

I've found that pipe restoring is a hobby in itself, and you will learn to develop your own tools and methods. There are a few basic principles, but beyond that, it is a learning experience in itself, and you don't really have to rush out and buy everything all at once.

Rotary Tool- https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Woodworker-51832-Rotary-100-Piece/dp/B0065UXX08/ref=sr_1_19?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1482834981&sr=1-19&keywords=rotary+tool

Rat - https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_3?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1482835636&sr=1-3&keywords=ontario+rat

Opinel- https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=sr_1_2?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1482835690&sr=1-2&keywords=opinel

Micro mesh - https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mesh-Assortment-Pack-18-Pieces/dp/B00HJC156U/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1482835463&sr=8-9&keywords=sanding+pack

These, wet.

Once you get to the last one, break out some plastic polishing compound.

can you chuck it back up? Try the micromesh pads

then a superglue finish or shellac (got those from the pen turner guys and gals)

while i agree that those grits are overkill for wood... what are you really out? an hour or 2 of work and 20 bucks of materials you can reuse in the future?

Thanks! Best tips I have are let your wood strips dry completely and don't let the CA glue get wet (it will turn ugly white), use at least 10 thin coats of CA sanding with 400 grit between coats, and buy some micromesh polishing pads. You can get them on Amazon for like 20 bucks. A buffing wheel or buffing dremel bit helps get it glossy at the end.

This is a decent tutorial if you don't have a lathe. I usually just use painters tape wrapped tight around a dremel bit until it fits snug to the inside of the ring and carve with a diamond tipped grinding bit of the proper size for the inlay. Poor man's lathe! You can also carve it with a sharp knife and a bit of patience.

Yeah, that sound good. I saw those Micro Mesh sanding pads and I think I am going to order them.

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mesh-Assortment-Pack-18-Pieces/dp/B00HJC156U