Stripped Threads On A Meerschaum Shank.

[JimInks]

A couple of months before Fish 'n Banjo passed, he gifted me a 1060s Andreas Bauer meerschaum. He had never smoked it, and neither have I. Tonight, I pulled it out, and thought about smoking it when I noticed the stem was loose. Apparently the threads carved inside the shank are stripped, so the stem won't stay in place. Anybody know anybody who could fix this so the pipe is smokeable?

 

[ashdigger]

I use a small piece of toothpick to tighten the fitting.

sorry no recommendations on repair, I had a guy but he ruined three of my pipes and made shitty feeble excuses.

 

[anotherbob]

I use a small piece of toothpick to tighten the fitting.
I had a guy but he ruined three of my pipes and made shitty feeble excuses.

I assume he's dead now or at least "moved back home to Indiana and no ones heard from him since".

 

[ashdigger]

I assume he's dead now or at least "moved back home to Indiana and no ones heard from him since".

If I get to the state he resides in he'll always remember the visit.

 

[hawky454]

I believe Anthony Cook (forget his username) could fix this. If anything he could put a Delrin insert in the mortise and give the stem a Delrin tenon. I know we talked about doing that with one of mine many years ago or something similar to that effect, however I never did go through with it as the pipe wasn’t worth it to me. He has worked on some of my pipes and he does mighty fine work.

 

[JimInks]

I use a small piece of toothpick to tighten the fitting.

sorry no recommendations on repair, I had a guy but he ruined three of my pipes and made shitty feeble excuses.

Are you suggesting using a toothpick to deepen the threads?

 

[ashdigger]

Are you suggesting using a toothpick to deepen the threads?

The toothpick will act as a shim. I found it works great. It only takes a piece the length of the threaded tenon. Tip pointed towards the shank.

 

[irishearl]

I had a stripped Pioneer meer that was so badly stripped that the stem simply spun around loosely. So, turned it into a push tenon by putting a thin strip of duct tape around the tenon. Snugged up nicely. You really can fix anything with duct tape.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I hope you’re able to get it fixed, Jim. Especially since it has some sentimental value attached to it.

 

[JimInks]

I hope you’re able to get it fixed, Jim. Especially since it has some sentimental value attached to it.

Exactly! It has a Sultan's face, and when Sante sent it to me, he wrote "A Sultan for the Sultan of Reviewers."

 

[brandaves]

I've sent an IMP Meerschaum to Walker Pipe Repair my pipe is still in shop but I believe he'd give you an honest opinion on whether he felt he could repair the pipe or not. My communication has been good with him and he is booked out a month for work so he must be doing something right ?‍

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Exactly! It has a Sultan's face, and when Sante sent it to me, he wrote "A Sultan for the Sultan of Reviewers."

Now that’s cool ?. Even if you can’t find anyone right now that can fix it, that’s something to hold onto, in hopes you find someone later that can.

 

[Waning Embers]

A couple of months before Fish 'n Banjo passed, he gifted me a 1060s Andreas Bauer meerschaum. He had never smoked it, and neither have I. Tonight, I pulled it out, and thought about smoking it when I noticed the stem was loose. Apparently the threads carved inside the shank are stripped, so the stem won't stay in place. Anybody know anybody who could fix this so the pipe is smokeable?

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[craig61a]

I’ve used Super Glue to ‘build up’ the threads in the mortise in the past and it’s worked really well.

Apply Super Glue to a Q-Tip so it’s saturated and wipe the inside of the mortise. Give it 10-15 minutes to dry and check fit. If it’s snugged up but still a bit loose, pull the threaded stem across some beeswax so it gets into the threads. I usually heat the wax with a heat gun so it runs into the threads. Or if it’s not all that loose just try the beeswax.

You don’t want to build it up too much, otherwise you’ll run the risk of cracking the shank.

That’s the approach I’d take. I try to do my own repairs as much as practicable... I have a guy down the road that‘s equipped to do the stuff that I don’t have the equipment or skills for when trying to tackle something that’ll result in ruining a valuable piece.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Teflon tape maybe?

 

[tomatamot]

I had a stripped Pioneer meer that was so badly stripped that the stem simply spun around loosely. So, turned it into a push tenon by putting a thin strip of duct tape around the tenon. Snugged up nicely. You really can fix anything with duct tape.

Use Teflon plumbers tape.

p.s. Less is more.

 

[craig61a]

I use Teflon tape for some of my older Kirstens.

 

[craig61a]

Teflon tape maybe?

1+, you might have reapply occasionally, but very cost effective. ?

 

[mikethompson]

I certainly hope you find a repair that you can live with. Its not just some old pipe if you have a nice backstory to go with it.

 

[tomatamot]

Use Teflon plumbers tape.

p.s. Less is more.

Maybe you can mount a reversal stem screw?