Can Stress Fractures in Vulcanite Stem be Repaired Simply ???

[Hillcrest]

I recently purchased an unsmoked new old stock unlabeled Hungarian Pipe. While cleaning oxidation on the stem I noticed 4-5 small stress fractures on the top of the stem at the bend. Under a 20x loop they look like cracks but do not go through to draft hole - surface only.

Has anyone seen this before ?
Is there a quick patch/fix with household or readily available items ?

Given the price this will be a beater less expensive smoking pipe although I bought it because the briar grain of birdseye and cross grain was stunning ... clearly an older briar. I suspect/believe its an unlabeled Cellini Original.

I can always have a new stem made.

What do the members suggest/advise ? (Other than just smoke it which will be done soon). Thanks in advance for all your good advice.

 

[Briar Lee]

My other passionate hobby is shotguns, and I’ve learned over the years that when I get one that I can shoot like I was Lord Ripon, then I shouldn’t ever take it and pattern it on a plate and count the pellets.

Frankly, even the best patterns are bad, full of holes, with lots of fliers.

I happen to own a 20X loupe, somewhere in my big tool drawer.

Think of all the grief and sadness and misery I’d be asking for, if I took that loupe and examined my beautiful pipes.

I might find stress cracks in the stems.

It would be kind of like knowing exactly what your daughter does with that nice young man that calls you mister and your wife ma’am.

Sone things are better not known, you know?

 

[Hillcrest]

Sone things are better not known, you know?

Well that was an interesting analogy
Perhaps i should have been clearer ... the stress fractures are visible to the eye ... I used the 20x loop to see if they were holes going through to the draft hole and they don't. Thanks.

 

[georged]

It was "force bent" when not yet hot enough.

 

[Hillcrest]

It was "force bent" when not yet hot enough.

So ... just live with it then ?. The price was very right so not a big deal ... I just haven't seen that before and was curious. Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Got photos of the fractures?

 

[Hillcrest]

Got photos of the fractures?

I suppose I could tomorrow. They aren't that big though. Just like surface cracks and one looks deeper than others where some material might have chipped off. In fact I didn't really see them until I cleaned the pipe stem and felt them.

 

[Hillcrest]

Got photos of the fractures?

Now you will see how miniscule the problem is !
With flash and without. I am sure @georged nailed it in one ... they force bent it in manufacture.

Thanks.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

If it bothers you, have a new stem made. there's not much you can do once they develop cracks like that. Like @georged said, someone tried to bend the stem without enough heat. It will eventually break at one of the cracks, but no telling when. Could be today, could be in twenty years.

 

[Hillcrest]

If it bothers you, have a new stem made. there's not much you can do once they develop cracks like that. Like @georged said, someone tried to bend the stem without enough heat. It will eventually break at one of the cracks, but no telling when. Could be today, could be in twenty years.

Thanks, you're probably right but hopefully not for a long time. I will try to see if other stems I have fit it eventually. In the meantime I remembered @chasingembers nail buffer block, and then remembered I had a jewelers buff stick I use to smooth fountain pen nibs (5000, 10,000, 12,000 grit). I lapped it with that for a few minutes then rewaxed and its much improved for my purposes but not completely repaired.

 

[Hillcrest]

It was "force bent" when not yet hot enough.

George, I think your correct but I suspect it happened when they tried to fit the stem into the shank. It doesn't fit flush and there is a small gap on the bowl side. I suspect they didn't want to re-drill and just threw it in a basket without the company name. I leave a little gap anyway so not a big deal. When next at the hardware store I may pick up a brass washer of that size to fill the gap and make it like an 80's Savinelli 604. Again, it was an inexpensive pipe so my motivations are a bit limited. BUT the good news is its a great smoker !! I should have tried Hungarian shapes years ago !