Contact Information for Mimmo Provenzano?

[Egg Shen]

Title condensed, etc. See Rule 9. Original:​

"Does anyone have contact info for and experience with working directly with MIMMO PROVENZANO?"​

This happened the other day. Sadly it was a newish pipe, only had a few smokes out of it. I ordered it from the Al-pascia site. I palm-clapped out some dottle like I’ve done a million times and the stem snapped. Perhaps I was holding it by the stem more than the bowl, I don’t Know. Or perhaps morta is soft, I don’t know. It is the only morta pipe I’ve owned. Anyway, do you think if I sent this to Mimmo would he make me a clone? I really like it from an artistic standpoint so prefer not to buy a similar one. Does anyone have his contact information? Does he speak English? Thanks.

 

[Briarcutter]

This happened the other day. Sadly it was a newish pipe, only had a few smokes out of it. I ordered it from the Al-pascia site. I palm-clapped out some dottle like I’ve done a million times and the stem snapped. Perhaps I was holding it by the stem more than the bowl, I don’t Know. Or perhaps morta is soft, I don’t know. It is the only morta pipe I’ve owned. Anyway, do you think if I sent this to Mimmo would he make me a clone? I really like it from an artistic standpoint so prefer not to buy a similar one. Does anyone have his contact information? Does he speak English? View attachment 336177Thanks.

Did he make the pipe?
I'd start seeking help through Al-pascia.

 

[craig61a]

It’s a fairly straightforward repair, IMHO.

I would sleeve the inner airway and just put it back together.

 

[Egg Shen]

Did he make the pipe?
I'd start seeking help through Al-pascia.

Thought about it but didn’t want to assume they speak English

It’s a fairly straightforward repair, IMHO.

I would sleeve the inner airway and just put it back together.

good to know that this is repairable…though a sleeve would choke down the inside diameter some possibly affecting performance


Any idea how much $ a repair such as this should cost?

 

[Briarcutter]

Thought about how much $ a repair such as this should cost?

Again, I would start with Al-pascia tell them what happened, when you purchased the pipe, how many times you smoked it. You may be surprised.

 

[Searock Fan]

Some times there is a bad flaw in the wood right below the surface and the maker just can't see it. It happens.

 

[Auxsender]

Email them for sure. Even if no one there speaks any English at all, which is unlikely, they could load the email into a translator.

 

[burleybreath]

good to know that this is repairable…though a sleeve would choke down the inside diameter some possibly affecting performance

Drat! I hate when this happens. Seems like whoever repairs it could make the diameter any size you need. Just a matter of drill size and inside diameter of the stainless steel tube, or whatever is used.

 

[kcghost]

Did you discuss this problem with a competent repairman??

 

[georged]

It’s a fairly straightforward repair, IMHO.

I would sleeve the inner airway and just put it back together.

That would not work in this case.

When briar shanks break they must be glued together first, then drilled to the SS tubes OD, and the tube glued/inserted.

Drilling both pieces first, inserting the tube "plug style" and then gluing, will never line up. The reason being that drill bits self-center, and since wood does not have a uniform density they will drift off axis, and the holes in each half will not align exactly.

How much? Enough that the textured broken ends of wood will not fit together "invisibly flush" (being off even a thousandth of an inch is enough to jack their 3-D fit), and there will be a gap.

Also, doing that ^^^^ would require the ability to hold the irregularly-shaped broken halves in perfect axial alignment while drilling. Something that isn't possible without special clamps and the ability to tune the alignment in all three planes (x, y, and z) perfectly. Something that no pipe shop could do. It's aerospace-grade precision.

The end result? Drilling first will result in a visible glue line gap, and the joint will be significantly weaker because of it.

(Not drilling at all---just inserting a slip-fit tube---won't work either because the glue won't bond with "airway contaminated" wood. It must be a fresh oversize cut to adhere.)

Wish I had better news, but fizziks is fizziks.

 

[craig61a]

That would not work in this case.

When briar shanks break they must be glued together first, then drilled to the SS tubes OD, and the tube glued/inserted.

Drilling both pieces first, inserting the tube "plug style" and then gluing, will never line up. The reason being that drill bits self-center, and since wood does not have a uniform density they will drift off axis, and the holes in each half will not align exactly.

How much? Enough that the textured broken ends of wood will not fit together "invisibly flush" (being off even a thousandth of an inch is enough to jack their 3-D fit), and there will be a gap.

Also, doing that ^^^^ would require the ability to hold the irregularly-shaped broken halves in perfect axial alignment while drilling. Something that isn't possible without special clamps and the ability to tune the alignment in all three planes (x, y, and z) perfectly. Something that no pipe shop could do. It's aerospace-grade precision.

The end result? Drilling first will result in a visible glue line gap, and the joint will be significantly weaker because of it.

(Not drilling at all---just inserting a slip-fit tube---won't work either because the glue won't bond with "airway contaminated" wood. It must be a fresh oversize cut to adhere.)

Wish I had better news, but fizziks is fizziks.

Well, I guess I misspoke… obviously drilling both pieces individually and then gluing would be problematic.

Bottom line - the pipe is repairable.

 

[Egg Shen]

Did you discuss this problem with a competent repairman??

No. I don’t know any though I’d assume they exist on here. I was trying to size up if the cost of a repair is high enough that I’d opt to replace it /have a clone made instead. I don’t know the hourly rate a pipe repair person earns…it could be expensive, being niche.

I may send an email to Al-pascia today to see if they have any suggestions as far as contacting the maker.

 

[craig61a]

 

[telescopes]

I am a little confused by your hesitation to contact the seller. Of course someone there speaks English. Italy is not …. Hmmm. The Bronx. I have found that most pipe repairs are expensed at a fair price. Honestly, the pipe is not an antique and the repair will always be a weak spot. I had a Merchant Service Bing do the exact same thing. Close inspection of the wood showed a flaw. I tossed the pipe and will in time purchase another to replace it. Pipes break. I should know - I’ve broken quite a few of them.

 

[Egg Shen]

I am a little confused by your hesitation to contact the seller. Of course someone there speaks English. Italy is not …. Hmmm. The Bronx. I have found that most pipe repairs are expensed at a fair price. Honestly, the pipe is not an antique and the repair will always be a weak spot. I had a Merchant Service Bing do the exact same thing. Close inspection of the wood showed a flaw. I tossed the pipe and will in time purchase another to replace it. Pipes break. I should know - I’ve broken quite a few of them.

I’m not hesitant; I just wanted to run it by the PM crowd to see if anyone had experience with contacting Mimmo directly. Since that isn’t panning out, I’ll write Al-pascia.

 

[kcghost]

@georged is the acknowledged expert in this area so he's the one to listen to. The rest of us are just yammering. He could repair the pipe as only an expert can. Unfortunately, he is retired and isn't taking any new clients.

 

[Egg Shen]

Some times there is a bad flaw in the wood right below the surface and the maker just can't see it. It happens.

That may be but thinking on this more, the peak of the bend is likely the weakest point in the pipe. I will have to be more careful with that shape going forward. Perhaps it’s inherent to the form and I should only be removing dottle with a poker.

 

[georged]

Unfortunately, he is retired and isn't taking any new clients.

Not true.

Just selective in the projects I take on.

 

[kcghost]

I was trying to mildly discourage Egg Shen from contacting you.

 

[Egg Shen]

and then George put it a little less mildly haha