How To Heat Bend A MM Cob Stem???

samon

Starting to Get Obsessed

Aug 23, 2015

158

2

• Aug 17, 2016

• #1

How do you bend these things without turning the cheese stems into bubbley stinkers? lol
I've used a lighter at a distance but it always seems to burn it and cause bubbles to form..

Heat gun?.. don't have one..
Any thoughts?

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,440

109,351

• Aug 17, 2016

• #2

I put a pipe cleaner through them to keep the airway from collapsing, and hold it a few inches above the flame of a butane lighter while rotating it. Only takes a few seconds.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,440

109,351

• Aug 17, 2016

• #3

Here's an egg I curved a replacement stem on using that very method.
http://pipesmagazine.com/members/chasingembers/album/picture/19978

 

ben88

Lifer

Jun 5, 2015

1,323

545

Quebec

• Aug 17, 2016

• #4

Great Dane comes with egg bowl?

Don't MM have bent stems?

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,440

109,351

• Aug 17, 2016

• #5

Great Dane comes with egg bowl?

Don't MM have bent stems?

Click to expand...

Let's see, the egg was discontinued some time ago, and MM's bent stems are a bit sharp to me. I like 'em curved.

 

pagan

Lifer

May 6, 2016

5,963

28

West Texas

• Aug 17, 2016

• #6

+1 whay embers said

 

ray47

Lifer

Jul 10, 2015

2,451

5,613

Dalzell, South Carolina

• Aug 17, 2016

• #7

I've bent several stems. I heat a small bowl of water in the microwave oven. Then I place a pipe cleaner in the stem. I set the stem in the hot water for a few seconds and then reshape. If it needs more time, I'll repeat.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,440

109,351

• Aug 17, 2016

• #8

I've bent several stems. I heat a small bowl of water in the microwave oven. Then I place a pipe cleaner in the stem. I set the stem in the hot water for a few seconds and then reshape. If it needs more time, I'll repeat.

Click to expand...

Just don't try this with vulcanite. You will see the oxidation form right before your eyes! 8O

 

ray47

Lifer

Jul 10, 2015

2,451

5,613

Dalzell, South Carolina

• Aug 17, 2016

• #9

Just don't try this with vulcanite. You will see the oxidation form right before your eyes!
I made that mistake with a MM Freehand stem. The stem turned a yucky green.

Click to expand...

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,440

109,351

• Aug 17, 2016

• #10

I made that mistake with a MM Freehand stem. The stem turned a yucky green.

Click to expand...

Exact scenario here with the same type of pipe and stem.

 

jefff

Lifer

May 28, 2015

1,915

6

Chicago

• Aug 17, 2016

• #11

Yeah, that happened to me on a Cobbit stem.

 

P

pappap

Might Stick Around

Jul 6, 2016

73

0

• Oct 13, 2016

• #12

I did that hot water thing and it works great I can custom bend to my comfort, bend and shape stems the way I want them

 

hmhaines

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 5, 2016

900

1

CT

• Oct 14, 2016

• #13

Sweet! Love that this is possible!

 

bryguysc

Can't Leave

Feb 4, 2015

355

20

• Oct 14, 2016

• #14

I have partially unbent all of my bent MM stems. I like them to have more of a gentle slope than the sharp bend they put in them.

 

J

jabo

Can't Leave

Jan 26, 2016

321

1

• Oct 14, 2016

• #15

Always hot water. All mine work great with this method. I always polish vulcanite afterwards. No problems on my end .

 

ray47

Lifer

Jul 10, 2015

2,451

5,613

Dalzell, South Carolina

• Oct 14, 2016

• #16

I only use the Danish amber stems on my cobs and the bent ones take to the hot water treatment quite nice. I wish the Walker Forever stems would be manufactured again. The new company that makes them now is still not up and running.

 

phxrock

Can't Leave

Aug 18, 2014

348

29

• Oct 14, 2016

• #17

I use either a blow dryer or hot water. I also use something round to help with the bend.

 

randelli

Part of the Furniture Now

Nov 21, 2015

914

5

• Oct 14, 2016

• #18

I used a lighter just last weekend on this one.

 

U

unclescot

Lurker

Sep 12, 2016

40

0

• Oct 15, 2016

• #19

I've got a question about some "raw" pipes. I bid on 8 Jimmy Ropp pipes, circa 1960, and got them on eBay for what would be a good price now if they were finished. However, the exteriors are rough bark from whatever tree they came from, not lacquered at all. I am guessing that I am supposed to strip the bark before I sand it and then finish it. My though was to take a 300 grit paper to get it workable, and then take a 600 grit to make it nice and smooth. But I have a couple of questions. Is it going to be natural for them to have some sort of flaw that will need filler, and if so, what do I use and how do I apply it? I have 8 pipes and want to use different colored stains for most, but to finish, do I use carnauba wax? Do I need to put on a couple of layers of stain first? And mainly, how do I strip the bark and maintain the integrity of the wood? They've never been smoked before.
What I want to do is keep 2 and put the rest on eBay. I would like to make them beautiful. Can anyone help?