Loose stem

[lasabbia]

I have a Castello in which the stem is a little loose. Anything to be done? Thanks for any advice.

 

[oldmansmoking]

Very much depends on the material it's made from.

Can you elaborate please?

 

[lasabbia]

The Sea Rock's stem is acrylic.

 

[oldmansmoking]

Might have to ask some of the other forum members, quite easy to fix a valconight or rubber one by heating and putting something into the stem and slightly pushing. Not sure with acrylic.

Heard someone rubbed beeswax on theirs and it tightened up, sure one of the other members will know.

 

[lasabbia]

Thanks.

 

[mawnansmiff]

A very thin coat of nail polish on the tenon always does the trick for me.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I'd start with beeswax and then smoke it a bunch.
Did the pipe rest with the stem out for a while?

 

[lasabbia]

No, the pipe just came that way. I will try the bees wax. Thanks all.

 

[oldmansmoking]

lasabbia Have a look on YouTube oristocob.com he did a YouTube on tightening and loosening a stem.

Tightening pipestem
Regards

George

 

[Chasing Embers]

This one is less prone to damaging the tenon.
Fixing A Loose Stem

 

[davek]

I was really surprised at how well beeswax worked. Thinking it would not work well I rubbed it all over a tenon well. The stem is too tight now. Just rub a piece of beeswax around it a bit and smoke it for a while. You might be surprised.
I wonder the mechanism of action. Prolly swells the wood a bit and prevents drying out again.

 

[mawnansmiff]

It's always baffled me that folks recommend beeswax both for a loose stem and a tight stem :crazy:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Baffles me too, Jay, but I have tried it over the last several months and it has indeed worked for both .

 

[craiginthecorn]

I have used beeswax with success, but recently saw a note that a drop of superglue can be applied to the tenon and spread thinly. If that's too thick, then it can be lightly sanded down until a proper fit is achieved. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to soon with one of my future restorations.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Craig, I personally would use nail polish over superglue simply because if you apply too much, the former is easier to sand down than the latter.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I've had luck soaking a pipe cleaner with water and just letting it sit in the mortise for a bit.