Got Loose Stems? Try This.

[nsfisher]

Loose stems are a problem for most of us from time to time. Yes, Beeswax, Fingernail Polish, etc. all works. Here is something I stumbled on a Month or so ago. I held off commenting on it untill I had reason to try them. These Cork Strips are awsome. You can use a piece for a slightly loose stem, or a larger piece for a sloppy stem. Whatever the amount of looseness, these work wonders. Just cut it to size, wrap it around tenon and you are good to go.

 

[brewshooter]

...and autographed no less!!! Thanks for the tip!

 

[spartan]

Whatever the amount of looseness, these work wonders...

That's what she said. 8)

 

[bdstansel]

Hey, this sounds like a great idea, thank you for the tip!
I am wondering though, with cork being porous does it allow any air in?

Or does it compress down enough to prevent any additional airflow?
Thanks again.

 

[reichenbach]

This seems like a cool product for DIY pipe stuff outside of what fisher is suggesting. For example, my dad uses a tin can for a car ash tray. This makes sense because it will hold a large quantity of ashes and you can stand your pipe up when you're done smoking. As an upgrade, I'm thinking about lining the lip of a can so I can knock without damaging my pipe. Do you get them at at any sporting goods store or does it have to be a pro shop?

 

[nsfisher]

I picked them up in a discount store bin, after searching for weeks for something like it. I bought all they had, about 10 packages, for 50cents each.

 

[taerin]

I just get a lighter, heat up the tennon, and then use a tapered awl to flange out the opening to make it wider. Great way for a permanent fix, just be careful not to go melting or burning your stems, the goal is only to soften them slightly.

 

[lordnoble]

I just get a lighter, heat up the tennon

Wouldn't really hot water or a heat gun/hair dryer work also? Assuming we're working with vulcanite, of course...
-Jason

 

[juni]

..or a candle. Just be careful (This is how you bend stems when you make pipes).

 

[ruraldean]

I just get a lighter, heat up the tennon, and then use a tapered awl to flange out the opening to make it wider. Great way for a permanent fix, just be careful not to go melting or burning your stems, the goal is only to soften them slightly.

I do the same thing but just push the tenon down on a hard surface to make it shorter and more squat. Works every time.

 

[nsfisher]

Can;t always do that mate, sometimes, some of the older tenons are metal

 

[ruraldean]

Can;t always do that mate, sometimes, some of the older tenons are metal

In which case I wouldn't try it. 8O

 

[ssjones]

Interesting. I was just talking to a pipe buddy yesterday. He's been using Superglue with good results. It is permanent vs. the fingernail polish method.

 

[deckard62]

Greetings, brethren! I am a neophite piper but have already encountered the loose stem problem. I have read pretty much every single advice -- almost all of them are for pipes with vulcanite tennons. Since I own a Dr. Grabow with a metal tennon, heating it up was not an option. Using superglue or nail polish did not look like a good idea either, since I was wondering how the heat might affect the release of (toxic?) chemicals. So, I cut out to size a small strip of aluminum foil and wrapped it tightly around the metal tennon. If needed, you can add layers. Works perfectly -- tight and clean. The downside is that the foil strip needs to be replaced often (maybe even every time you clean the stem), but it is an inexpensive fix for pipes with loose metal tennons.

 

[yadan]

I must be missing something here.

If I'm not mistaken, this thread is about the use of cork strips to remedy a loose stem.

But the photo I see before me is that of a very cute parakeet.

I have to wonder how effective it would be to wrap a parakeet around the tenon...

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Thank God Yadan. All I see is the parakeet too. Thought I was losing my mind.

 

[twangthang]

It's actually a Quaker parrot, and doesn't resemble cork at all.

 

[ssjones]

I say it is Green Cheek conure!

 

[redinthehead]

So does that gorgeous Quaker Parrot of yours like to smoke pipes too? :lol:
Seriously though, what a gorgeous bird. It looks very healthy and well taken care of.
You should be proud! ::

 

[redinthehead]

I say it is Green Cheek conure!

Definitely not one of those little guys, I own one myself.