PSA: DO NOT Buff Stems That are Off the Stummel

[georged]

It has been repeated endlessly for decades, but somehow there are always a few people who either don't get the message or think they can "get away with it."

The attached pic is of a pipe that was worth thousands of dollars. One of the most collectable makers in the world. (How much it's worth now is unknown, but I guarantee it's significantly less than before.)

The stem had "greened" (oxidized) a bit, and someone decided to take it back to black with a buffer when OFF the stummel.

There's no re-wind button. No way to fix what's wrong short of replacing the stem.

Don't be that guy.

.

 

[dmcmtk]

That is pretty shocking. What's your brief, make a new stem?

 

[mikethompson]

What would this penis pipe be worth now?

I'm not sure what the thought process is for doing that. Its much easier with the pipe together, and not using a power tool.

 

[didimauw]

Are you referring to the gap between the stem and briar?

 

[greeneyes]

Are you referring to the gap between the stem and briar?

It's difficult to see on my tiny cell phone screen but it's clear that the edges of the stem have been worn down and are no longer flush with the pipe. It took a while to notice but once you do, it sticks in your mind.

 

[ssjones]

That is pretty rough. Removing oxidation on that style of stem (small shoulder) is tricky but when done poorly, even more noticeable.

 

[BROBS]

Well, it didn’t make the pipe look any worse.......

I just fail to understand these upside down nutsacks and decapitated glans from shaft.

 

[mso489]

Aw shucks, I meant to set those rpm lower.

 

[kcghost]

Well, you could have given us the sad bastards name so we could have avoided him like the plague.

 

[georged]

I just fail to understand these upside down nutsacks and decapitated glans from shaft.

Rorschach something something...

 

[anotherbob]

Well, it didn’t make the pipe look any worse.......

I just fail to understand these upside down nutsacks and decapitated glans from shaft.

that's because you're not a repressed homosexual. (sorry that's just a joke, you can smoke that pipe and have a loving wife who you find very attractive).

 

[anotherbob]

expensive pipes often remind me of weirdo bands. Super weirdo bands, the kind where you say no one else does what they do and it's very unique and the urge to vomit it causes probably explains why no one else is making music or pipes like that.

 

[georged]

What's your brief, make a new stem?

It would be the only way to recover the trashed lines.

You absolutely don't want to "shrink" the shank to bring things back to level.

 

[hawky454]

That pipe probably wasn’t cheap either. I recommend practicing on cheap pipes, that way you won’t mind when they catch and go flying across the shop at an extremely fast speed. It amazes me how you see these kinds of mistakes on very expensive pipes.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Well, it didn’t make the pipe look any worse.......

I just fail to understand these upside down nutsacks and decapitated glans from shaft.

? It’s not something I would’ve normally commented on, but there’s a lot of those out there. ?‍

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I have mangled and disfigured many pipes, but never in a million years could I imagine mis-aligning the stem and shank.

 

[Swampy16]

I’ve never retired a pipe and know better than to do that. That’s just stupid. What would have been the best way to do it? I wouldn’t even touch a pipe like that. Thousands? I think it would have been a Magic Eraser and some carnauba with a terry towel only no?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I know that buffing is faster, especially if you have to do 50 or so of them to do at a time. But, I use a buffer everyday with jewelry work, and I still prefer to just use those micromesh pads on my stems. I rarely ever have to do more than one pipe every few months or so, so it is no biggie for me to spend 15 minutes with those pads. Just seeing these pictures like this... I can't imagine.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I’ve never retired a pipe and know better than to do that. That’s just stupid. What would have been the best way to do it? I wouldn’t even touch a pipe like that. Thousands? I think it would have been a Magic Eraser and some carnauba with a terry towel only no?

Buff it with the stem on, so the corners don’t erode.

 

[sandollars]

Rorschach something something...

Freud would probably have some advice too....