GBD Stem Repair

[LotusEater]

I have a few GBD smokers that require stem replacement or repair. One was bitten through and repaired (badly) by me another is showing some chatter and is missing a rondel and still another is cracking on either side of the button.
Can anyone recommend a repair person who does GBDs and will replace a missing rondel?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

If you can’t find someone to replace with a real GBD rondel, it isn’t that hard to make a resin cast using metallic powder. You make a silicone mold, apply the very fine metallic powder inside the mold with a brush, pour the resin.

 

[ssjones]

I don't know anyone who has replacement rondell's.
If someone can make a resin cast, I'd love to see that.
A repair man had a supply he had made, about 15 years ago, but they are long gone.

 

[LotusEater]

I don't know anyone who has replacement rondell's.
If someone can make a resin cast, I'd love to see that.
A repair man had a supply he had made, about 15 years ago, but they are long gone.

Well damn - I was kinda thinking you might know someone. Thanks for your response.

 

[LotusEater]

If you can’t find someone to replace with a real GBD rondel, it isn’t that hard to make a resin cast using metallic powder. You make a silicone mold, apply the very fine metallic powder inside the mold with a brush, pour the resin.

Thanks for you response
That sounds well beyond my skill set.
If you ever try your hand at making replacement rondelles please let me know.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I made some resin keepsakes for the NoirCon conference about ten years ago. I’m checking if a friend has pics (mine are in storage). I’ll post some pics if he sends them. If you can’t find a pro repair, I’ll try to help you out.

 

[LotusEater]

I don't know anyone who has replacement rondell's.
If someone can make a resin cast, I'd love to see that.
A repair man had a supply he had made, about 15 years ago, but they are long gone.

Was this the guy you were thinking of

walkerpiperepair.com - walkerpiperepair Resources and Information.

walkerpiperepair.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, walkerpiperepair.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

walkerpiperepair.com

 

[mingc]

Is it possible to salvage a rondelle from another GBD stem? If so, maybe there are repair guys who have orphaned stems handy?

 

[LotusEater]

Is it possible to salvage a rondelle from another GBD stem? If so, maybe there are repair guys who have orphaned stems handy?

That’s what I’m thinking
I’m going to keep an eye out on eBay for good deals on GBDs with intact Rondelles. Alternatively I may harvest one or two from other GBDs I own.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

One of my friends just sent some pics. This was sculpted first, then a mold made, metallic powder applied to the mold, then black resin was poured into the mold. You can see the black back of one at the lower left.

For the GBD piece, a direct cast would be have to be made to be accurate. This is just to give an idea of the use of the metallic powder. Some watered down black acrylic paint could be applied to get into the books if needed.

 

[LotusEater]

One of my friends just sent some pics. This was sculpted first, then a mold made, metallic powder applied to the mold, then black resin was poured into the mold. You can see the black back of one at the lower left.

For the GBD piece, a direct cast would be have to be made to be accurate. This is just to give an idea of the use of the metallic powder. Some watered down black acrylic paint could be applied to get into the books if needed.

View attachment 166247

That’s pretty phenomenal detail!!
What would you say the diameter of the coin is?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

This was done as a coaster (with a nod to the Mayan calendar tying into 2012) for a custom beer, so maybe three inches? But, the detail should still hold for a tiny 1/8" rondel.

 

[mingc]

Was this the guy you were thinking of

walkerpiperepair.com - walkerpiperepair Resources and Information.

walkerpiperepair.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, walkerpiperepair.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

walkerpiperepair.com

As you may know, Mike Myers is retiring or has retired: Walker Pipe Repair - http://walkerpiperepair.com/index.html

 

[ssjones]

Was this the guy you were thinking of

walkerpiperepair.com - walkerpiperepair Resources and Information.

walkerpiperepair.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, walkerpiperepair.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

walkerpiperepair.com

Yes, they ran out a decade ago.

 

[Ryan]

That’s what I’m thinking
I’m going to keep an eye out on eBay for good deals on GBDs with intact Rondelles. Alternatively I may harvest one or two from other GBDs I own.

I’ve been looking for donor pipes for the same purpose (and on the same site) for a little while now. I’ve missed some auctions where basically it was $12 -15 including shipping.

I did notice sometimes when the pictures aren’t clear enough you can’t tell the difference between the gold stamped stems and the ones with the actual metal insert.

 

[LotusEater]

As you may know, Mike Myers is retiring or has retired: Walker Pipe Repair - http://walkerpiperepair.com/index.html

Thanks I did not know
I actually sent him an email about an hour ago to ask about repairs.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

*Correction: books = nooks

 

[georged]

Tim West used to have a pill bottle of salvaged rondels.

You can ping him here:

J. H. Lowe & Co. | Our Services

Turn to the experts at J. H. Lowe & Co. for quality and comprehensive tobacco pipe repair services at reasonable rates.

jhlowe.com

 

[kcghost]

There you go.

 

[ssjones]

By my experience, transferring a rondell is a lot harder than it looks.