Crooked Tenon on Stem - How Can I Fix It?

[scloyd]

I have a pipe that when the stem (vulcanite) is in place it's not align with the stummel. It's crooked. The tenon on the stem looks crooked.
My idea was to dip it in hot water stick the tenon into the mortise and try to straighten it. Good idea? Bad Idea? Do you think that would work?
Any suggestions on how to straighten it?
Thanks

 

[Chasing Embers]

My idea was to dip it in hot water stick the tenon into the mortise and try to straighten it.

If the water is hot enough to soften the vulcanite, you'll flash oxidize the stem. You could try inserting a drill bit that fits the airway and slowly warm the tenon with a heat gun. It may spring back to its original shape. Other than that, personally if I had never done any sort of stem or tenon repair, I would leave it be or send it to a pipe restorer.

 

[scloyd]

Other than that, personally if I had never done any sort of stem or tenon repair, I would leave it be or send it to a pipe restorer.

It's a $12 estate pipe (Jeantet), nothing special. It's not worth the money to send it in for a repair. I purchased it as a practice clean up pipe. I think I'll try your heat gun suggestion. If that doesn't work I'll leave it be.
Thanks

If you see I post a "Guess The Pipe" pipe with a crooked stem...guess Jeantet.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think I'll try your heat gun suggestion.

Work slowly and check your work. The thin vulcanite can easily scorch.

If you see I post a "Guess The Pipe" pipe with a crooked stem...guess Jeantet.

 

[mikethompson]

If you see I post a "Guess The Pipe" pipe with a crooked stem...guess Jeantet.

Haha!

Scott, definately try the heat gun/ blow dryer trick to straighten that out. Did it sit perfectly in the pipe before you took it out?

 

[scloyd]

Did it sit perfectly in the pipe before you took it out?

It was shipped with the stem and stummel not assembled. I noticed the misalignment as soon as put the pipe together. The misalignment is very little so I'm not going to mess with it too much. It still a decent pipe for $12. I'll post before and after pics in the near future.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Picture, please! of the assembled bits.

I am wondering if heating it while assembled could work (A question/suggestion, not a recommendation.) Interesting topic!

 

[scloyd]

Here's a pic. It's not horrible and I can live with it. I still want to try to straighten it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Understood.

Thanks. Can't see, but is there a gap anywhere along where the stem meets the stummel?

 

[scloyd]

is there a gap anywhere along where the stem meets the stummel?

Not when the pipe is assembled as in the pic. If I flip the stem, then there is a gap and it's really out of whack.

 

[fallsguy]

I had a couple like that. I heated the tenon with a heat gun, and while still hot, put it into the pipe, and held it in place until it cooled. Worked for me.

 

[scloyd]

I had a couple like that. I heated the tenon with a heat gun, and while still hot, put it into the pipe, and held it in place until it cooled. Worked for me.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to give it a try.

 

[fallsguy]

Good Luck. Just be careful with the heat!

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Once the stem is inserted back ,avoid twisting the stem/tenon too vigorously, I had a pipe where I snapped the tenon this way ,,

 

[scloyd]

Thanks for the tip Paul.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Thanks for the tip Paul.

You are welcome Sir, worth noticing that stem I snapped was already a cheap replacement one,as of now, despite the fact that this sucker (Peterson Grafton Canadian)may not deserve it, its on it way to a reputable repairman/pipemaker in England, The Northen Briars, wanna open new horizons' as they say,

 

[craig61a]

Heating the tenon and inserting it into the mortise will compress the tenon, resulting in a loose fitting stem.

As the stem is most likely a replacement anyway, and was cut cockeyed in the first place, the option would be to cut it back, or just cut new blank.

Provided you could do that work on your own, then it would make sense. Otherwise, I’d just smoke it...

 

[scloyd]

Otherwise, I’d just smoke it...

The more I think about it...the more I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone. It's not horribly crooked. I think it was still a good buy for $12.
Thanks craig61a

 

[jpmcwjr]

Sounds like a plan!

Enjoy.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well, damn! This thought has not left me: If it were placed in an oven at the right temp for the right time, you could straighten it with no risk the tenon would swell or shrink. Or see that doing so caused a gap between the stem and stummel.

Unfortunately I don't know the right temp or time, but I bet someone does.