Help!

[chlogeo3]

I just purchased a Peterson's "Shannon" sand blasted brier pipe marked D2 for $23.00 on Ebay. Pipe smokes very well and sweet. Problem is the stem fits too loose in the shank. Could I solve this problem by simply applying a small piece of tape around the stem? Would this type of application harm my pipe?

 

[strongirish]

I use the plumbers pipe teflon tape and after smoking the pipe awhile, it will usually swell back to size with use. Then you can remove the plumbers tape. In a pinch I will put a tiny piece of paper around the tenon until this happens. Also, you can put some clear nail polish on the tenon to make it tighter.

 

[chuckw]

If the stem is so loose it almost falls out of the pipe, Earl's suggestion is a good one. If it is slightly loose, rub bee's wax all around the tenon, insert it in the pipe and rotate it carefully to vevn out the coating, that smoke the pipe. The wax will fill the pours of the wood and slightly swell them thereby snugging the stem.

 

[pstlpkr]

I wouldn't use any kind of tape on a loose stem.

The best remedy I have found other than having a silver or nickel band put on it, would be to use a good quality bees wax on the tenon. It is slightly tacky and will hold the stem in place very well while smoking it.

This solution isn't perfect, but it works, and you won't split the mortise area of the shank.

 

[dudleydipstick]

I've got a loose Duca Carlo and beeswax is all I've ever needed.
I apply it the same way Chuck mentioned and it works just fine. I reapply the wax from time to time, but it's no big deal. The piece of wax I have is about the size of two sections of a Kit-Kat bar with a bite off the end. I suspect it should last for around 20 years.
P.S.,
I've heard of the clear nail polish fix before and I decided to try it once. The problem is that since I didn't have any nail polish, I tried it with Liquid Skin brand liquid bandage, figuring it was the same thing. It made the tenon smell like chemicals and I tried to air it out for a week or so to no avail, eventually scraping it off. Luckily I never smoked a bowl while that stuff was on there.

 

[bytor]

I have an old(ish) Butz Choquin billiard that had a loose stem. It wasn't so loose that the stem would fall out, but was pretty easy to rotate and remove when the pipe was cool and dry. While smoking, the heat and moisture would cause it too tighten up a little and be just fine.
I tried carnauba wax (as I didn't have bees wax). It never seemed to be a permanent fix though...the stem would always loosen up again after a few smokes.
Eventually, I tried the clear nail polish technique (after somebody on this forum suggested it). Worked like a charm and haven't had any issues since.
Should be pretty obvious what to do, but...
Apply a light coating of the nail polish to the stem tenon and allow it to dry completely before reassembling the stem to the shank. Don't want to permanently glue the stem in
If the buildup of the nail polish creates too tight of a fit, sand it down lightly with some emery cloth. If still loose...add another coat.

 

[papipeguy]

Another "old time" solution to loose stems is to boil a pot of water and immerse the stem tip in it for a minute or two (best to hold it with pliers), then push the stem against a hard surface, ie. counter top, let cool and you're good to go. It does take some practice but it does work. Of course, this method works best with hard rubber bits. Over time they do tend to "shrink" as the polymer dries out. The other recommendations are also good for other types of stems.

 

[hauntedmyst]

If you go to home depot and get some gorilla glue and fill the shank with it and then jam the stem in there and hold them together for about 30 minutes, it will never fall out again.

 

[pstlpkr]

Haunted another excellent suggestion, as always.

That'll keep the bugger in there.
LOL!

 

[surfmac211]

This video touches on a way to expand the stem out using heat and some drill bits. You would need to do a bit more research but if smoking pipes is doing it sounds like a good way to fix your problem. The stem part starts at 5:12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xa9vYwciMk&feature=player_embedded

I don't know how I just posted a video but if I'm not suppose to do this sorry lol.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Haunted another excellent suggestion, as always.

That'll keep the bugger in there.

Thanks! I'm thinking of turning this power house of knowledge I have into a helpful book or beginners!

 

[kcvet67]

You'll find that many estate pipes have loose stems. Often these pipes have been sitting in a box or drawer and haven't been smoked for quite a while. The briar dries out and the stem loosens. Often they will tighten up on their own once they are put back into a rotation and have been smoked on a regular basis, so don't rush to modify the pipe 'til you've given it a chance to tighten up on it's own.
If it won't tighten on it's own, PIMO sells a Stem Tightener Kit for $11 that looks like it might do the trick:
http://www.pimopipecraft.com/tools.html