OK, so who here has broken a stem?

[Brewdude]

I'll be the first to raise my hand.

My first broken stem was many years ago, probably around '01. It was on an inexpensive Sav 316 while trying to insert or remove the stem. Got a bit carried away and it went snap ! My local TB sent it to someone who crafted a fine replacement.

What that taught me (or so I thought) was to be more aware of the resistance when removing or inserting the stem.

Fast forward to yesterday. Received an eagerly awaited estate Ser Jacopo Per Aspera sitter. The stem was not inserted in the bowl, as I'd have expected and have come to know as SOP.

In my haste and (over) enthusiasm to insert the stem into the shank, I managed to snap it off during an attempt to align it! It went in a bit tight, and that was the first sign I should have backed off.

In retrospect I probably have done some combination of the following-

1. Let the pieces rest at least 24 hrs due to the difference in R/H between my area and the shipment point. (In this case it was significant).

2. Put the stem into the freezer for say 15 minutes.

3. Taken down the tenon with a bit of emory cloth.


So the decision is what to do now?

Trying to repair this myself is just not within my means.  And it looks like  there is no way to contact Ser Jacopo about a factory replacement. So........

Contacted Mike Myers at Walker Pipe Repair. He's always been a great resource, and he will make me a replacement stem. It won't have the logo "J" on the original, but it will be certain to be identical in every other aspects.

No disrespect to the other fine repair sites. And there are a good few. It's just that Walker has come through for me before, and that's why I chose them.

I'm only pissed that I didn't listen to my own experience, and chilled out on the fit until I could assess the practical solutions!

Anyone else have broken stem experiences like this?


Cheers?

RR

 

[Hermit]

At least four of em.   
One cleaning and the rest dropped.
I send em to Mark Tinsky for tenons.

 

[Fr_Tom]

I have broken them but all mine have broken because they were in a pocket of some sort and I forgot. I have never broken one with a logo that I cared about, and I have just taken it to the local tobacconist to be sent off somewhere. I would not hesitate to send one to Mike at Walker.

 

[Richard Burley]

My first was a Savinelli in my rear pocket. I sat on it. The first two pipes with acrylic stems I ever bought met their fate by accidently dropping on hardwood floors. One was a no-name, the other a Ser Jacopo. I was told by the repair guy (I forget which one) that they must have dropped at just the right angle. I dunno--they snapped like glass, making me a bit leery of plastic, in spite of its advantages. No, I don't have palsy or something. I just am a bit too careless at times, no pun etc.

 

[monbla256]

I have broken them but all mine have broken because they were in a pocket of some sort and I forgot. I have never broken one with a logo that I cared about, and I have just taken it to the local tobacconist to be sent off somewhere. I would not hesitate to send one to Mike at Walker.  

THIS and just take this one as one of the lessons you mentioned. No biggy, just bite the bullet, spend the bucks and be done with it! A no brainer  :twisted: :twisted: 

 

[Fazby]

Three pipes.  Two due to dropping them (stupid...).  Third twisting the stem to clean it (more stupid).

All three were relatively lucky - only the tenon broke, not the stem. Cheaper fix.

 

[KevinM]

As a preventive measure, should a piper take sandaper or emory cloth to the mortice of a pipe in which the tenon fits too snugly? I have a couple of pipes that have such a tight connection that I'm reluctant to give them a stem-off cleaning. Haven't broken any, yet, knockknock.

 

[Richard Burley]

As a preventive measure, should a piper take sandaper or emory cloth to the mortice of a pipe in which the tenon fits too snugly? I have a couple of pipes that have such a tight connection that I'm reluctant to give them a stem-off cleaning. Haven't broken any, yet, knockknock.

You might try putting them in the freezer for 15 minutes before attempting the removal. After that, I would concentrate on the tenon, not the mortise. Perhaps a light scraping with a knife? The problem, it seems to me, is getting it uniform. Bear in mind that I don't really know what I'm talking about.

 

[RDPipes]

Yes, Thanks for reminding me BD! I broken one in a rare pipe of mine but, was lucky enough to be able to replace the tenon myself.

Ya know, if just the tenon is broken off there's no reason why Walker can't just replace the tenon in the stem. I've done it several times myself. Drill it and set a Delrin tenon and cut to fit. If he won't do it, make sure you get the old stem back.........Always!

 

[huffelpuff]

Yup, just before sunrise here today. I took out my Grabow 2003 collectors bent pipe and....well I'll just let the picture say the rest.

 

[MisterE]

I've had a few. I remember a Peterson that hit the floor and the stem snapped. It sucked but it was good in the long run. I hated the P-lip so I had George Dibos make a killer fishtail replacement stem in acrylic. It's now one of my best pipes.

The biggest heartbreaker was plain stupidity on my part. I thought I'd try putting a different stem in a patent Dunhill. It almost fit, so I gave it one more twist....

You guessed it. Broken shank.  :|

That was long before I stole the napkins from Starbucks. Karma had absolutely nothing to do with that one, Cart.  :evil:

 

[Stick]

Sorry to hear that BrewDude Sir. I'd be a tad upset too. Hope your boy pulls through for you...

 

[RDPipes]

Yup, just before sunrise here today. I took out my Grabow 2003 collectors bent pipe and....well I'll just let the picture say the rest.

Ouch! New stem time sir. :fpalm:

 

[Brewdude]

Yes, Thanks for reminding me BD! I broken one in a rare pipe of mine but, was lucky enough to be able to replace the tenon myself.

Ya know, if just the tenon is broken off there's no reason why Walker can't just replace the tenon in the stem. I've done it several times myself. Drill it and set a Delrin tenon and cut to fit. If he won't do it, make sure you get the old stem back.........Always!

No Ron, this was just above the "J" logo. So about 1" from where it joins the shank.

Walker's site says he can fix broken Lucite stems. So I asked him to fashion me a new one as well as repair the existing one, if that's possible.



Cheers,

RR

 

[RDPipes]

Yes, Thanks for reminding me BD! I broken one in a rare pipe of mine but, was lucky enough to be able to replace the tenon myself.

Ya know, if just the tenon is broken off there's no reason why Walker can't just replace the tenon in the stem. I've done it several times myself. Drill it and set a Delrin tenon and cut to fit. If he won't do it, make sure you get the old stem back.........Always!

No Ron, this was just above the "J" logo. So about 1" from where it joins the shank.

Walker's site says he can fix broken Lucite stems. So I asked him to fashion me a new one as well as repair the existing one, if that's possible.



Cheers,

RR

Oh Gees! I just assumed it was at the tenon, hope he can fix it.
You guys need to be more careful, it takes a bit to snap one above the tenon.
I never put one of mine in a pants pocket, I'm too dadburn forgetful. :fpalm: 

 

[MichaelM]

Up until a few days ago I was in the "never broke a pipe club.". Tragedy struck last Wednesday when I dropped one of my favorite smokers on a hardwood floor.  I wish the stem broke, but it landed on the stem and the shank broke cleanly in half.  It was a cheap no name calabash shaped briar, pitted and ugly as sin, but had been a friend for almost 25 years.  I may try a repair with a stainless steel insert.  
No matter how careful we are, accidents happen.  I'm glad your getting a repair Brewdude.
Mike.​

 

[Brewdude]

Up until a few days ago I was in the "never broke a pipe club.". Tragedy struck last Wednesday when I dropped one of my favorite smokers on a hardwood floor.  I wish the stem broke, but it landed on the stem and the shank broke cleanly in half.  It was a cheap no name calabash shaped briar, pitted and ugly as sin, but had been a friend for almost 25 years.  I may try a repair with a stainless steel insert.  
No matter how careful we are, accidents happen.  I'm glad your getting a repair Brewdude.
Mike.​

Sorry to hear of you loss Mike. 25 yrs is a long time, no matter what the cosmetic condition. Hope you can repair it to your satisfaction.


Cheers,

RR

 

[BriarFox]

I read that the stem should always be twisted/rotated out or back in so that is what I do. There is a better chance of breaking the stem/tenon is you just pull it out or push it straight back in. Made sense to me so that's what I do.

My first pipe was a cheapo straight apple Medico pipe. The first day I got it I dropped the pipe and dinged up the bowl. A few months later I noticed a very small crack in the shank. It snapped in half with just a little force.

 

[riff raff]

So, only the tenon is broke on the stem? If so, I'd have someone put in a Delrin tenon insert. It's fairly simple for a repair person. I've seen Ronnie B's Delrin tenon work (Nightowl Pipe Works) and it is impressive.

 

[KevinM]

As a preventive measure, should a piper take sandaper or emory cloth to the mortice of a pipe in which the tenon fits too snugly? I have a couple of pipes that have such a tight connection that I'm reluctant to give them a stem-off cleaning. Haven't broken any, yet, knockknock.

You might try putting them in the freezer for 15 minutes before attempting the removal.  After that, I would concentrate on the tenon, not the mortise.  Perhaps a light scraping with a knife?  The problem, it seems to me, is getting it uniform.  Bear in mind that I don't really know what I'm talking about.  

Richard B. -- Haha, appreciate the honesty, but what the heck. My reluctance to get after the tenon is, on many of my pipes, I've noticed that the tenon has very fine ridges where it contacts the mortise. They are too small and not positioned to act as screws. I think (guess?) (imagine??) that the intent is to decrease grip between tenon and mortise. (Kind of like "sharkskin" fly lines that "shoot" farther, because they aren't perfectly smooth, so there's less friction going through the guides.) I've thought that skinning off these fine ridges from the tenon might complicate the guesstimate of how much to take off. Thanks for the idea about the freezer; that might be just enough to loosen 'er up for stem-off cleaning.

P.S. Re: nomenclature -- The tenon is the "male" end of the mouthpiece that fits into the "female" end of the shank. Yes?