Squeaky/stuck tenons

[leftover421]

I'll raise my hand with a suggestion, be careful with the sandpaper. I've been there: rubbing just a bit too much, or unevenly, and discovering the difference between too tight and too loose a fit is a narrow margin. :lol:

X2 ale:

I now have a Jobey with that problem. So much so that if I am clenching and turn my head too fast it all comes apart. I have to make a quick grab for my flying pipe half before it hits the ground. I have some more Jobey replacement tenons on order ,notice the plural, so I can perfect fine tuning on a pipe with a replaceable tenon.

For those of us that are thinking about restoring estate pipes; this might be worth a try.
http://www.pimopipecraft.com/tools.html
"Adjustable Tenon Turning Tool" and "Stem Tightener Kit"


If anyone has used these tools and might be willing to give us a review? Might be very helpful for a few of us just discovering the relaxation of everything pipe.

 

[Isagar]

I'll raise my hand with a suggestion, be careful with the sandpaper. I've been there: rubbing just a bit too much, or unevenly, and discovering the difference between too tight and too loose a fit is a narrow margin. :lol:

X2 ale:

I now have a Jobey with that problem. So much so that if I am clenching and turn my head too fast it all comes apart. I have to make a quick grab for my flying pipe half before it hits the ground. I have some more Jobey replacement tenons on order ,notice the plural, so I can perfect fine tuning on a pipe with a replaceable tenon.

For those of us that are thinking about restoring estate pipes; this might be worth a try.
http://www.pimopipecraft.com/tools.html
"Adjustable Tenon Turning Tool" and "Stem Tightener Kit"


If anyone has used these tools and might be willing to give us a review? Might be very helpful for a few of us just discovering the relaxation of everything pipe.

I've seen some good reviews regarding the stem tightener kit, but I believe it only works with vulcanite tenons.
My main issue/concern with it is that I think it only expands the tip or first half of the tenon rather than the whole thing. (My theory based on logic)
So your tenon could/might/will end up a bit of a fat V shape thats really hardly noticeable but I don't think thats a good fix if only half the tenon is in contact with the mortise and the other half is just in mid air.
Since i've never used it before, feel free to prove me wrong, but, by inserting a 'tapered' expander into a hot soft tenon will only expand the tenon areas in contact with the expander, and thats the tip of the tenon only. (hope the snetence makes sense lol)

 

[Anonymous]

I probably shouldn't admit this but...

I had a Sav that warped at the tenon and got a bit loose. To keep it from falling apart, I inserted a bit of wax paper. Heat bonded it to the side and it lasted for a good while before needing replacement. It is now in my send out someday to a repair shop box for a tenon replacement. It was a nice smoker.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Hey Yak, remember that violin repair guy that I told the story about, when in my youth I smelled pipe smoke for the first time getting my viola fixed (it was the repair guy) and I ended up reconnecting with him at Tinder Box years later as we both smoked pipes? I think I ought to ask him for a bit of peg dope, as he's still in his trade...my batch of the stuff is long gone. Thanks for reminding me. :lol:

Too-loose tenons can be widened slightly with some applied heat and a cone-shaped metallic object (also evenly, gently heated), but it's quite an ordeal to get it just right. Especially if the tenon is derlin! ale:

 

[Anonymous]

There's a tightening trick for the brave involving the back end of a drill bit. I'm sure it's only for vulcanite. You find a drill bit that fits in the hole, then select the next size up (that's just a bit (pun) too snug) to stretch it. Warm up the tenon with heat then push the end of the drill bit in and let it cool.

Like I said... for the brave.

 

[deyo67]

I have used pencil graphite for tight stems along with sandpaper, and for loose stems I put clear nail polish on it, works well. The violin product is a great idea.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

...for loose stems I put clear nail polish on it, works well.

I hadn't thought of that. For those with girlfriends and wives, easy enough to find such things--looks like I gotta go to the bargain beauty section of Wal-Mart. :lol:

I have a pair of very, very long and skinny needle nose pliers. They work fantastic for stem widening when gentle heat is applied, as the angle of width is extremely narrow. They have a better chance of widening the tenon overall, rather than just at the tip--which can cause stem "rocking" when all is said and done.

Other guys use a sharpened pencil.

<img class="emojione" alt="?" title=":shrug:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/1f937.png?v=2.2.7"/> 1,000 ways to fit a stem, I guess.