Just had very good luck fixing this pipe :D I remembered that I have a couple tapered gauging needles from my piercings. I probably over thought it but here is what I did...
I have a soldering iron within arms reach because one of my hobbies is fixing/modding guitars and effects pedals. I turned on the iron and while it was was heating up took pipe apart and inserted a pipe cleaner to one end, and then inserted my tapered needle till it was snug. I then used the needle to turn the stem like a pig on a spit. I used the needle figuring if I got the stem warm it would loosen on the needle and I would know it was time to push. Well, that didn't work so I just applied a VERY light pressure with a slight twisting motion every so often to see if it was softening up. It worked awesome!
Great tip and I thank you very much
Now the pipe doesn't tip with the slightest nudge, depositing hot ash in my lap! Now it's my favorite pipe! Btw, This pipe is a Whitehall(Italy) and appears to have only been smoked a few times. I got a humidor/stand and three other pipes, all in nearly mint condition, for a whopping 40.00 off The Bay
Turns out the pipe my wife bought smokes so damn hot I can hardly use it but after a story I read it was given a place of honor on my desk. Between that and my explanation that if I use it everyday it will not last very long so I save for "special" tobacco's. I now have the OK to buy more pipes so that I don't wear out the one she picked for me. May sound awful to some but this ain't my first rodeo, and I know my wife well enough to know she would be heart broken to know I didn't like it. Everyone shhhhhhh....
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