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Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:32 pm
by paulieg
Hey guys. Just so you know my situation...I buy kits and solely make pipes for friends as gifts. So just looking for feedback on the most recent issue I had on my last pipe..

Gifted to a buddy and for some reason he's getting a yellow residue on his hands after he smokes. I've made probably 5 pipes and haven't had this happen before.

Pipe is stained brown and buffed with carnauba wax. Could it be the wax? If so what did I do wrong to cause this and what can I do to fix it?

Thanks for the help. It's kind of embarrassing even though it was a gift.

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:50 pm
by DocAitch
Probably the stain bleeding thru with heat and skin oils. A bit of shellac rubbed in prior to buffing should stabilize the stain.
DocAitch

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:00 pm
by paulieg
Thanks. So let me ask this then...I used same stain and waxing process as before...So why hasn't this happened?

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:38 pm
by sandahlpipe
The yellow stain on the hands is from the stain. This is why the stain needs to be sealed prior to finishing. Shellac is the easiest way to seal the stain.

As for why it didn't happen before, it could be a variety of different reasons. Maybe you had more excess stain this time than in the past. Could be humidity and temperature, the grit the pipes were sanded to before staining, how much of the grain was raised, seasonal temperature/humidity. Bottom line, though, if you seal the stain somehow, this can easily become a thing of the past.

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:43 pm
by paulieg
Awesome. Thanks so much....So for this current pipe would you suggest resending to get wax off (Mr.Miyagi!!), restain, shellac, rewax?

Again thanks a lot for responses, fellas

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:47 pm
by sandahlpipe
I'd wipe off the pipe with denatured alcohol to help remove the wax and then see if it needs sanding and/or stain and shellac before buffing again.

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:53 pm
by paulieg
Then that's what I'll do! Thanks for the help. Maybe I'll see you guys in Chicago in several weeks. I'll be the fat guy with the beard.

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:38 pm
by sandahlpipe
You'll really stand out with a physical description like that...

Re: Finish issue-leaving residue

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:22 pm
by paulieg
sandahlpipe wrote:You'll really stand out with a physical description like that...
Haha. You're probably right