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I have been having an issue with "flaws" showing up in my ebonite stems. It's been happening for several months and I've tried everything I can think of to isolate the problem with no success. These "flaws" look like tiny little bubbles with a crease. They don't show up until I'm buffing. I first thought they were already there but I don't see them until I buff, but I have confirmed they are actually being created while buffing. I have tried different ebonite, I've replaced all my buffing wheels and compounds, I've tried changing the speed at which I buff. No luck. I end up having to either sand or buff them out. I tried to take a picture of one of these flaws but they are really hard to capture because of the small size and the reflections in the stem. Has anyone else ever encountered this?

Thanks!

Are you raking/cleaning your buffs?

If so, how?

LatakiaLover wrote:Are you raking/cleaning your buffs?

If so, how?

I first tried to clean them using sandpaper on a 2x4 as was suggested by some here...When that didn't fix the problem, I replaced the the buffs all together..same issue still occurring. It's also worth noting that this only happens with ebonite. Acrylic and briar no problems

OK. When you say, "Tried different ebonite", what change did you make?

A different piece of the same rod, a different rod from the same maker, or new rod from a different maker?

LatakiaLover wrote:OK. When you say, "Tried different ebonite", what change did you make?

A different piece of the same rod, a different rod from the same maker, or new rod from a different maker?

I've tried different pieces from the same rod, different size rods, different color rods, and also a different source. I get 90% of my ebonite from the same source, who has told me that nobody else is reporting this issue. I believe this is the NYH stuff.

What buffing compounds are you using? And where are you sourcing the compound from?

The Smoking Yeti wrote:What buffing compounds are you using? And where are you sourcing the compound from?

Before I replaced everything I was using the wheels and compounds that came with the bealle system.. now I'm using wheels and compounds from Tim west (red trip and white diamond)

1. Clean wheels with rake/sandpaper/buffingcompound on occasion
2. Looks like you are using Nikko ebonite. You will have to re-sand with 1000 grit after first buff then buff again to get rid of bubbles and texture
3. heat the stem with gun or flame after first buff. Let cool, clean with alcohol or water, Then buff again. You will be surprised on how many scratches pop up. Better it happens now than later when a customer leaves the pipe in a hot car.

PremalChheda wrote:1. Clean wheels with rake/sandpaper/buffingcompound on occasion
2. Looks like you are using Nikko ebonite. You will have to re-sand with 1000 grit after first buff then buff again to get rid of bubbles and texture
3. heat the stem with gun or flame after first buff. Let cool, clean with alcohol or water, Then buff again. You will be surprised on how many scratches pop up. Better it happens now than later when a customer leaves the pipe in a hot car.

I'll give that a try Premal.. my ebonite source specifically told me this was nyh so I hope it's not the nikko

Gainey Pipes wrote:my ebonite source specifically told me this was nyh so I hope it's not the nikko

I can assure you this is NYH material.

Gainey Pipes wrote:These "flaws" look like tiny little bubbles with a crease

I've seen bubbles before, but not creases, I'm wondering how loaded your wheels are
Not sure if the wheels are contaminated from dust or any sort of particle, but besides contamination and over-loaded wheels, I'm not sure what would give it a creased look, or elongated bubble look.

A lot of you guys have been using the NYH stock from me, so please chime in if you have had any issues with any of it, I haven't received other concerns, but that doesn't mean the problem isn't in the rod. The part that worries me is that it is in most of the 5 rods that you have had. I'm not sure if trying it on someone elses wheels would show any difference. Have you had the same issues with SEM or Nikko ebonites?

I have only seen the bubbles (as seen in above pic) on the Nikko material. I haven't really had any issues with the SEM or NYH materials.

I have had this problem once. I got over agressive on the green wheel, made the stem too hot and then touched it with my thumbnail. The result was an elongated bubble with a crease running through it. The damned spot was soooo deep I had to make another stem. There was NO sanding or buffing it out. It wasn't the rod, but the nimrod that was buffing it

I've gotten lucky with material so far. I've had a couple of inclusions and problems with too much compound used, but nothing like what Eric shows.


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I really don't think my wheels are too loaded, but I could be wrong. How often are you guys cleaning/raking your wheels?

I've had a fair share of issues with NYH and SEM rods. Primarily inclusions and air bubbles. The problems I've had, though, have not been with the rods I've purchased from Steve. Those have been fine so far. I had air bubble problems with a large diameter SEM rod I purchased at the Chicago Show in 2013 and with a few of the rods we got from the last NYH group buy.

I have had the bubbles with all 3 - NYH, SEM, Nikko over the years. The Nikko is half the price but it requires care for final polishing to achieve the same result. All three are good quality. The SEM stuff smells real bad, the Nikko smells like burnt hotdog. I am still evaluating the sent on NYH.

Eric, how are you storing your buffing wheels?

d.huber wrote:Eric, how are you storing your buffing wheels?

They hang on my workbench right next to the buffing motor

That doesn't sound nefarious. Only thing I can conclude is that you're getting something abrasive in your wheels somehow.

Cleaning them with sandpaper seems suspect to me. I wouldn't put anything with grit near my wheels.

Is it possible that these are wounds inflicted at an earlier stage, by a file or something, and that don't become apparent until you are polishing?