Butz-Choquin Shank Expansion

[Bassman65]

Hey all,

I have an old Butz-Choquin Lasalle billiard. It originally just came with a metal stinger.

I’m a 9mm filter smoker. I have an extra 9mm acrylic stem. Is there any down side to expanding the shank hole to fit the stem and filter? (Aside from all the 9mm filter smoking jokes/comments?)

There is plenty of material/space to do so in the shank.

Much appreciated.

 

[anotherbob]

only down side I can see is if you make a mistake.

 

[xrundog]

Well, if you don’t care about the BC, have a go.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

My concern would be weakening the shank at the filter/tenon interface area—there’s a lot of torque involved when twisting a stem off.

 

[Bassman65]

There’s a metal cap covering the end of the shank where stem is inserted. So hopefully that will help.

 

[woodsroad]

Butt-choking shank expansion.

Just had to say that.

 

[zanxion]

Can you drill the stem opening it enough to receive a 6mm filter?

 

[Bassman65]

Done. She ain’t pretty, but looks functional. We will see how she smokes. Used to be a lot of briar in shank entrance. Now in line with metal hole. Original hole just accommodated a 3mm stem with stinger.

Shank is still quite beefy and strong. Lots of briar still present.

I now have a new/old 9mm churchwarden. Not too bad for an old unused pipe with a broken stem.

 

[Bassman65]

Can you drill the stem opening it enough to receive a 6mm filter?

No. That was my initial thought, but original stem was broken. Since I had to replace it, and prefer 9mm filters, I rolled the dice.

 

[xrundog]

You got away with it. Without the metal it would look pretty strange. But it’s okay.