HALCYON WAX
For Pipes
Halcyon (hal·see·on)--noun: a bird in Greek mythology, usually identified with the kingfisher, with the power to calm the wind and waves while nesting on the sea during the winter solstice; adjective--prosperous, peaceful, as in "the halcyon years between the wars" or "the halcyon days of our childhood summers"
Halcyon Wax is a new type of long-lasting, non-corrosive polish and protectant for wood, meerschaum, vulcanite and other materials. Halcyon can be applied and polished by hand, using only a cloth. Halcyon was originally developed for the conservation of antique furniture, sculpture and artwork, and the same formula is used by major museums, furniture collections and professional art conservators throughout the world. After testing, Fine Pipes concluded that for the pipe, Halcyon offers substantial benefits over traditional vegetable-based waxes like carnauba and beeswax. These include:
Gives an excellent. long lasting shine with only hand application polishing
Resists finger prints, moisture, acid and pollutants more effectively
Does not yellow or oxidize
Works on briar, vulcanite, meerschaum, silver, marble, stone, paper, plastic, etc.
Preserves underlying color and finish
Enhances grain and color of smooth wood
Very thin, hard film is ideal for sandblasted and rusticated pipes pipes--enhances texture
Works as a lubricant and preservative on fine machinery, including drill bits, lathes, sanders, etc.
Extremely economical--tiny dab is enough for a whole pipe including the stem.
Carnauba Wax and its Limitations
Since the 19th century, carnauba wax has been the standard material for pipe polishing. Made from the fronds of a Brazilian tree, Copernicia cerifera, Carnauba is the hardest and most transparent of the natural waxes. Properly applied, it produces a deep, rich shine. However, carnauba has significant limitations. The shine quickly disappears with normal handling. It yellows over time. If exposed to water or alcohol, it can streak and become milky. It is mildly acidic, slowly corroding at the underlying material. It must be applied quite thickly, rendering it inappropriate for sandblasted and rusticated pipes, where it tends to accumulate in the crevices and shroud the details of the finish. Carnauba presents a special challenge for the smoker and collector, because it must be applied (or reapplied) with a slow-turning buffing machine, thus requiring regular professional maintenance to keep a good shine.
The formula for Halcyon wax was developed almost 50 years ago in the research laboratories of the British Museum. Teechnicians there were searching for a more effective and non-acidic alternative to traditional vegetable waxes for the National Historic Furniture Collection. They began to explore a new generation of “fossil” waxes derived from petroleum, the so-called “microcrystalline” waxes. Such waxes contain mono- and polycyclic compounds and have a highly ramified molecular structure, allowing them to be applied in much thinner films than vegetable waxes and yet remain hard and flexible. Moreover, they are pH neutral.
These technicians developed a blend that proved far superior for long-term protection of the wood, enhancing the underlying finish and grain without yellowing or oxidation. They found that when applied in a very thin layer and fully rubbed out, the wax remained glass-clear indefinitely. Moreover, they discovered that the wax film provided outstanding protection from moisture, and from the natural acidity of human sweat and environmental pollution. Surface dirt and contaminants could be easily removed with a soft cloth. If the wax needed to be removed altogether for restoration, a simple wiping with mineral spirits dissolved it completely.
The commercial production of the resulting microcrystalline wax blend was undertaken by a British company. It has become the wax of choice of museums, galleries and restoration professionals throughout the world. For example, in the UK it is used by the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Palace, the Royal Armories, and the Tower of London. In the US, it is used by Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum, in the Abraham Lincoln Residence, Colonial Williamsburg, and many others.
Fine Pipes began to investigate this microcrystalline wax blend for use on pipes based on a conversation with J.T. Cooke, pipe maker and sandblaster extraordinary. He pointed out that there had been many advances in polishing and finishing in the world of art restoration that had never found their way into the world of pipes.
We found that this wax, long known in the world of art, was superb for all aspects of pipe care and restoration. One takes a tiny dab on the end of the finger, and rubs it into the briar and stem. It has a rather pleasant aroma. After 30 seconds, it forms a light glaze over the surface. One then rubs the entire pipe vigorously with a soft, lint-free cloth (a microfiber cloth is ideal.) Depending upon the results, a second application can be made.
The result is a semi-gloss, very natural looking shine. In fact, the mineral spirits in the wax clean some of the surface glaze and old wax. On smooth pipes, the result is a very deep, rich appearance that subtly emphasizes both grain and color. On sandblasted pipes, it seems to highlight every crag and grain, while emphasizing the color contrast between high and low points. So thin is the layer of wax that every detail is preserved. It is especially good on vulcanite stems, because it gives an especially deep, clear shine that resists oxidation. If a higher shine is desired, a soft buffing wheel gives outstanding results.
Based on these observations, we have decided to offer Halcyon Wax to the pipe community. We believe that it might find the same wide acceptance that it has in the art and conservation world, becoming the product of choice for pipe makers and smokers alike for their polishing needs.
Here is an example of a smooth pipe, a nice Comoy Tradition billiard from the ‘60’s. When I received the pipe, it was intact but had no shine whatsoever, as can be seen in the top picture. Two coats of Halcyon were applied, each rubbed out fully, and these were the results:
It is easy to see how Halcyon brought the wood and vulcanite to life.
Here is a second example, a 1969 Dunhill Tanshell 659. Tanshells are always difficult to restore because they show all the dirt and wax that accumulates in the blast from handling, and can be unevenly colored by smoking. Here, I prepared the surface for waxing by brushing the briar with alcohol to remove the dirt and wax accumulations. Then came two coats of Halcyon, each followed by hand rubbing. The results speak for themselves.
Halcyon was has been replaced by our own proprietary blend of microcrystalline waxes, which has proven superior for use on pipes. We call this "Halcyon II" and is available on the accessories page.