Coming Together

[colcolt]

I have several pipes that after being smoked and cleaned the stems are hard to get back in the shank and in fact won't go all the way. The usually lack about a sixteenth of an inch or less. Is there a remedy for this other than Vaseline?

 

[lazydog]

Pencil graphite rubbed on stem insertion end???

 

[numbersix]

Maybe some gentle sanding of the tenon with some micromesh?

 

[will]

I have a couple of estates that had this problem.

I took some 220 grit paper and rolled it up and very gently sanded the interior of the shank.

Works very well for me.

 

[colcolt]

When I first got them the weren't that way. It's only been after several smokes they've become like that.

 

[photoman13]

Do you take your stem out right after you smoke it?

 

[colcolt]

No, I let it cool a little first...maybe 30 minutes.

 

[mrenglish]

Put some beeswax/graphite/soap on the stem. You should be able to twist them in gently after that.

 

[colcolt]

I had a box of beeswax I once used as a flux when I first started casting bullets. I looked for it about a month ago for the purpose of my meer and of course it couldn't be found. Must have been 12-16 pieces about an inch in diameter/height. I guess I need to order some. I had thought of that but remembered not finding it.
I'm a little skiddish about sandpaper as they didn't cause that problem when new or after the first smoke. Maybe I'm not letting them cool long enough.

 

[cigrmaster]

I don't pull apart a pipe for several hours and sometimes leave them over night to cool. You might want to try that before you start sanding anything.

 

[rigmedic1]

I have enough pipes that when I finish one, I put it in a basket. Next day, I take the pipes in the basket and clean them. Never had much problem with the Vulcanite tenons swelling.

 

[slownumbers39]

Likely did not let it cool down enough. Give it a few hours to ensure that it has completely cooled and I don't think you will have an issue. Would not sand it at all until you know exactly what is going on there.

 

[sjpipesmoker]

I would use sanding as the last resort, or you'll have another problem, it being to loose

 

[sparroa]

I've had the same problem with my cob stems; I waited until the next day and they still wouldn't fit properly...

 

[adam12]

I have to do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JikBTNVSCJM

 

[topd]

I'm with most other comments here.... Sanding may cause problems later as the pipes age. Use beeswax.

Brier takes a long time to warm or heat completely, even when it may feel hot to the touch when your

smoking.... and take hours to cool completely.