removing rust

[SJ408]

What is the safest way to remove stains and rust from the shaft and stem of the hookah? Is it safe to use rust removing products like CLR on the hookah?

[yashman19]

If you do use clr, try and avoid getting any in any of the parts that affect the smoke, ie the inside of the stem, or anywhere around the hose ports. Theres gotta be an easier way, but if you cant find one, just avoid these places.
Also, using sandpaper could work on parts you don't mind scuffing, such as the inside the stem or the part of the stem that goes into the base.

[mushrat]

What metal is your shaft? (can't help myself...)

[SJ408]

I am not sure wat kind of metal it is, but i think it is brass or maybe copper. The stem is so rusted that i cant tell if the metal was silver or brown

[mushrat]

hmm
If you are talking about the pipe that goes from the bottom of the body into the water, i'd get some steel wool. give it a careful going over with regular dish soap and see what you come up with. I'd hold off on any chemical stuff until I saw what that did.
For the body of the hookah itself. There is this stuff called Wenol. Its a German metal polish thats pink, comes in a red tube last time i bought it.
[url="http://www.wenol.com/"]http://www.wenol.com/[/url]
Best metal polish I have ever seen. Doesn't require a whole lot of scrubbing, works wonders on everything.
That help?

[[LB]]

that sounds like a nasty ass pipe- why dont you invest $30 and get yourself a new stainless steel stem. try [url="http://www.myasaray.com"]www.myasaray.com[/url]

[dizzing]

well modern hookahs are almost never made out of copper.  copper and brass will turn brown and green when it corrodes, steel grey and brown, and stainless not at all.  if you're just talking about the inside of your stem, it's normal for it to discolor no matter what you do, and as long as you keep it totally scrubbed it makes absolutely no difference - use a wire gun cleaning brush to get off any stubborn grime, and some swabs to wipe it out.  use a mixture of 10:1 water to rubbing alcohol to help dissolve some of the stuff, you can add salt as a mild abrasive as well.  if you're just talking about the outside, then i agree with mushrat- use steel wool on the part that goes into the vase, and some metal polish like flitz or any other generic type on the rest.  keep chemicals OUT of where you smoke. don't use them inside the stem, on the outside of the vase part of the stem, or anywhere like that  - you're just asking for trouble.

[Sonthert]

Yeah, but Middle-Eastern stainless isn't real stainless steel, for the most part, its nickel-plated carbon steel. Give me a brass core anytime, they're the best.A user pointed out a link which I found delightful. To remove rust, use 1 part black molasses in 9-10 parts water and submerge the piece in it. The chelating action of the molasses removes rust. Since molasses is food-safe and water-soluble, it is a much safer alternative to whatever is in CLR. Its cheaper too.