How Do I Bend a Stem

[Chasing Embers]

To George's tips, I'd add, "start with a pipe that you don't like".

+1

 

[jvnshr]

To George's tips, I'd add, "start with a pipe that you don't like".

To this one, I'd add, "start with a pipe that you don't own".

 

[atjurhs]

The water method worked perfectly!
Filled a 2cup Pyrex measuring cup with water, stuck it in the microwave, and clicked brew beverage, put the end of the stem that I wanted to "unbend" in the hot water for 15-20 seconds took it out and slightly straighten it out using only the slight pressure of my thumbs and fingers, and repeated this process 3-4 times going slowly and gently (pipe smokers should be all about the process not rushed results) until I got the shape that I wanted. and no discoloration occurred
Later tonight I'll post a pic of the pipe, but only the after results, didn't take one beforehand, but I'll try to indicate how it was bent by drawing a line

 

[pitchfork]

Glad it worked out! Dunking it briefly in water (as opposed to boiling it outright) probably prevented the oxidation problem.

 

[georged]

Glad it worked out! Dunking it briefly in water (as opposed to boiling it outright) probably prevented the oxidation problem.

Some varieties / formulations of vulcanite change color using the water method, and some don't, is all. It's a chemistry thing, not the heat level.

 

[pitchfork]

Some varieties / formulations of vulcanite change color using the water method, and some don't, is all. It's a chemistry thing, not the heat level.

Exactly. TIW (time in water) being the key factor here rather than temperature.
By the by, I have a recent-make Peterson where the stem would oxidize if you so much as looked at it wrong. I boiled that stem for half an hour or more and it turned positively orange-brown with oxidation. However, once I got that layer of oxidation off, it's stayed black with only minimal care. Someone once suggested that Ashtonite is simply vulcanite that has had the excess sulfur boiled off. Not sure I believe that's the case, but it did make my Peterson much less prone to oxidation.

 

[atjurhs]

Here's a couple pics of it. The pics came out much darker that the pipe is really colored. The red line is an attempt on my part to indicate the original shape of the stem.

can you guys see the pictures? my browser just shows an icon.

 

[pitchfork]

 

[atjurhs]

Thanks!
What am I doing wrong?
I go to my account.
Then Pictures
Then select the picture I want
Then copy the picture's URL
Then click on the "IMG" button and paste the picture's URL.
And then click on "Ok"

 

[pitchfork]

I think you're inserting the link to the webpage that shows your photo rather than the image address itself. So when you see your pic displayed (open) in your album, you can right click on the pic and then select "Copy Image Address" -- that's the URL that should go into your IMG box on the forum, not the URL in your browser window.
EDIT: Just read what Al wrote below. Much clearer than what I wrote above^.

 

[ssjones]

You need this URL string:

http://pipesmagazine.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/album/16271/screen-shot-2017-05-01-at-65120-pm-600x449.png
NOT the web address:

http://pipesmagazine.com/members/atjurhs/album/picture/22141
You have to right click on the picture, go to Media tab and grab the string above (you'll see the picture in the display box)

 

[atjurhs]

ahhhh, got it. You are both correct as to what I was doing and should have been doing