Boswell Tight Mouthpieces

[Pipesandbourbon]

I have a couple fairly new Boswell pipes that came to me with very tight mouthpieces. Almost too tight to twist off. Sounds like it’s going to snap each time I take off the mouthpiece. When I contact them about the problem they tell me to stick a no. 2 pencil in the pipe.

When I reply to the email with questions about this process they won’t answer anymore questions about it and they want me to mail the pipes back to them to fix them. They won’t tell me step by step what to do. Does anyone how they fix this with a no.2 pencil?

 

[Questionable Source]

You might try reading through the below thread:

Tight Stem on Estate Barling :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance

So I got this beautiful estate Barling, problem is the stem is tight and squeaky and Im scared to break the tenon, any fixes besides the freezer (it worked for a bit but went back to being tight in a day). Someone said to sand the actual tenon, Im reluctant to try. PS: Sending it to a...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[ssjones]

Just rub pencil lid on the tenon, all sides, try inserting. You can also pick up a small tube of powdered graphite at a hardware store for a few bucks. (it will last your lifetime)

 

[craig61a]

^This

 

[anotherbob]

new pipes always seem too tight or loose just as a side note. As long as you don't force it and if you have to pencil graphite works great.

 

[NookersTheCat]

Yes, as said, the idea of the pencil is in the graphite (commonly referred to as "lead" though incorrectly)... graphite is a well-known "dry lubricant" creating lubricity without dampness or oil... Though if these are brand new pipes that they are offering to make right for warranty-free, I'd take them up on the offer, personally.

Not to make excuses but they are a small family company with basically only one woman doing all of the website work, customer service, etc... trust me (being in the same boat at my family's business) it can become a handful and sometimes things fall to the back burner, but I'm sure if you just send a reminder email or call them they will make it right. They're a great company with great products and reputation overall.

Stem fitment can be a bit of a tricky thing... they may very well have left their factory with proper amount of tension then undergone some humidity expansion or the like in transit.

 

[fireground_piper]

I prefer a touch of wax on the tenon instead of graphite. Also an option.

 

[Pipesandbourbon]

I prefer a touch of wax on the tenon instead of graphite. Also an option.

What kind of wax?

 

[craig61a]

What kind of wax?

Carnauba wax...

 

[fireground_piper]

What kind of wax?

I do usually use carnauba since I have it and a way to apply it, but I’ve also used just beeswax too.