primary, we have to give praise where credit is due. This tip comes from the video "sum Pipe Care and preservation". We've all had our vulcanite rubber stems turn that nasty brown/green that happens over time. This is decay. Oxidization comes from the substance response from the saliva in our mouths reacting with the vulcanite and from sunlight. This hideous procedure can be slowed with straightforward manufactured goods that you the majority likely by now have in your kitchen ... olive oil. This procedure is most excellent done with a product new stem or a stalk that has been thoroughly cleaned. First, take the stem from the bowl. With your handle take an extremely little quantity of olive oil and coat the outside exterior of the stalk. Allow the olive oil to go through for about 5 - 10 minutes. Now take a spotless cotton tease and wipe off the excess. It's that simple! Here's why it works ......... If you look at a vulcanite stem under magnification you'd see that there are thousands, if not millions, of tiny pits in the shell, comparable to an English muffin. This is normal. By applying the olive oil to the stem the infinitesimal pits get filled by the oil send-off less outside area on the stalk for the oxidation to get a foot hold. You'll also desire to keep your pipe out of sunlight, direct or else, for any comprehensive epoch of time