OK, so who here has broken a stem?

[Brewdude]

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.

Al, FYI-

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

 

[Richard Burley]

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?

Yep. I don't know what those lines are for, if anything. You may be right, but I always thought they were just from the tenon being turned. I personally wouldn't hesitate to remove them, if I had your problem. Remember, or take note, that if the bit becomes too loose you can always use bee's wax to tighten things up. Works great, and seems to make the fit more tractable on my pipes. Also, if you're interested, PIMO Pipecraft in Vermont sells a tenon cutter, or whatever it's called. Hard to believe there isn't an easy fix for this problem, in any event.

 

[RDPipes]

The lines have nothing to do with design, they were made by the cutting tool that cut the tenon. Either the tenon was cut too fast making the ridges or there was slop in the tool post or the piece that held the cutter. I have a very old tenon cutter and it does the same, the newer ones don't as much. And if they're cut on a lathe properly they'll be very smooth.
Just the nature of the beast as it was.

Mine is very similar to this new one but without the ring adjustment and my cutter is one piece, not to be confused with the cheapy PIMO's.

 

[riff raff]

Ah, missed that! Post a picture of the broken stem please. Regular Superglue just might work. At this point, what do you have to lose by trying?

 

[Brewdude]

Ah, missed that!  Post a picture of the broken stem please.  Regular Superglue just might work.  At this point, what do you have to lose by trying?  

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera so cannot post pics. Anyway it's been sent to Mike at Walker.


Cheers,

RR

 

[KevinM]

The lines have nothing to do with design, they were made by the cutting tool that cut the tenon. Either the tenon was cut too fast making the ridges or there was slop in the tool post or the piece that held the cutter. I have a very old tenon cutter and it does the same, the newer ones don't as much. And if they're cut on a lathe properly they'll be very smooth.
Just the nature of the beast as it was.

Mine is very similar to this new one but without the ring adjustment and my cutter is one piece, not to be confused with the cheapy PIMO's.

This is about the 99th time I've gotten reacquainted with the idea that just because something looks finely done and precise doesn't absolutely, positively mean that it wasn't a mistake.

 

[RDPipes]

Kevin, Don't get me wrong, many craftsman cut there tenons smoothly it's just sometimes and not having updated tools things get made the only way they can be at the time and that's not saying that a tenon with ridges isn't as good as one without. I hardly think the fine ridges make much of a difference in the mechanical end of it, only in esthetics. Of course unless there really bad in which case the maker was just sloppy or didn't care.

 

[Aristokles]

At first I thought this was a Viagra poll....
but I broke the stem at the tenon join on a basket Czech pipe last month. Clean break right off at the stem and it had only dropped 4 feet onto a carpet!
I was a little whizzed about it as it was a decent cheap smoker and my first sandblast since I lost my original collection. I only have smoothies and rusticated now. I tossed the pipe - repairs more than the cost.

 

[RDPipes]

At first I thought this was a Viagra poll....
but I broke the stem at the tenon join on a basket Czech pipe last month. Clean break right off at the stem and it had only dropped 4 feet onto a carpet!
I was a little whizzed about it as it was a decent cheap smoker and my first sandblast since I lost my original collection. I only have smoothies and rusticated now. I tossed the pipe - repairs more than the cost.

If my stem ever broke it take more then Viagra to fix it. :fpalm:

 

[Aristokles]

Gosh, I love this forum.

 

[huffelpuff]

Just an update here on my broken Dr. Grabow Collectors2003.
Sent it in to them for a new stem. Turnaround was just over a week!
They did a beautiful job.



Jim

 

[Brewdude]

Just an update here on my broken Dr. Grabow Collectors2003.
Sent it in to them for a new stem. Turnaround was just over a week!
They did a beautiful job.



Jim

Looks great Jim. Did you send it to Dr. Grabow?

It'll still be another couple weeks before I get mine back!




Cheers,

RR

 

[huffelpuff]

Sure did. They were incredibly fast they got the pipe on the 29th and it was done and in the mail the next day! I figured I'd never find anyone that would duplicate the stem emblem and their price made it a no brainer. $14 including shipping. Wish I could get that kind of price on all my stem replacements!

Hope yours comes back soon. I was lost without a filter pipe for my dragon blends.

Jim

 

[Brewdude]

Sure did. They were incredibly fast they got the pipe on the 29th and it was done and in the mail the next day! I figured I'd never find anyone that would duplicate the stem emblem and their price made it a no brainer. $14 including shipping. Wish I could get that kind of price on all my stem replacements!

Hope yours comes back soon. I was lost without a filter pipe for my dragon blends.

Jim

Un-freaking-unreal Jim!

Sure wish I could've done that with my Ser Jacopo!

 :no: 



Cheersw,

RR

 

[Brewdude]

Got my Walker repair back yesterday, and have to say Mike Myers did a first rate job!

Not only did he make a stem that has the exact same specs as the broken one, he repaired the broken stem (on his nickel), and I'll be damned if I cant see even a single solitary flaw or glue mark in it!! HTF did he do that?!!

Kudos to Mike/Walker for this very professional job. Yes it did take a few weeks, but for the price and quality I don't have any complaints.

Very happy chappy here!

 :cheers: 



Cheers,

RR

 

[huffelpuff]

Glad to hear things worked out well for you!

 

[LordTemplar]

I dropped an artisan made stem and it broke at the bit. I have not had it repaired yet because I have decided to change the stem and will try to make a replacement myself. If I can’t do it I will send it to someone, Walker or Tinsky.

Anyone know anything about Briarville?

 

[Carlos]

Anyone know anything about Briarville?

I chatted with Ric from Briarville at Chicago and then went by the table. Saw some of their work and it looked great.

 

[LordTemplar]

Thanks Carlos!