Moving right along, getting to work on this Suntan.
The stummel was straight forward. Topped since there were dings in it, washed and scrubbed in hot water and Murphy's oil soap. A light sanding and buffing and re-stained and waxed.
The button had been cut off, and grooves filed about 3/8's inch ahead of the end, and the flare filed back inward. I imagine
someone did this to ease getting a softy bit on and off. It looked horrid.
I cut the stem just ahead of the groove, and had a look at it. I was thinking maybe just shape a new button and be done with it, but now it just seemed too short. I don't know how much was originally removed, but this wasn't working for me.
I found an appropriate old stem and compared it with the one on the pipe. I decided after a while I wanted to go a bit more that original length, and cut the donor stem accordingly.
I had some stainless steel tube stock, so I cut a piece, and then opened up the stem pieces so I could fit it into the draft channel. A little CA glue, and pressed it together to set. I added some more glue around the splice so it could wick in to the cut and fill any small voids. I'll let it set for several days to it can cure, the get started on shaping.
The stummel was straight forward. Topped since there were dings in it, washed and scrubbed in hot water and Murphy's oil soap. A light sanding and buffing and re-stained and waxed.
The button had been cut off, and grooves filed about 3/8's inch ahead of the end, and the flare filed back inward. I imagine
someone did this to ease getting a softy bit on and off. It looked horrid.
I cut the stem just ahead of the groove, and had a look at it. I was thinking maybe just shape a new button and be done with it, but now it just seemed too short. I don't know how much was originally removed, but this wasn't working for me.
I found an appropriate old stem and compared it with the one on the pipe. I decided after a while I wanted to go a bit more that original length, and cut the donor stem accordingly.
I had some stainless steel tube stock, so I cut a piece, and then opened up the stem pieces so I could fit it into the draft channel. A little CA glue, and pressed it together to set. I added some more glue around the splice so it could wick in to the cut and fill any small voids. I'll let it set for several days to it can cure, the get started on shaping.
