Inordinately Tight Stem: What To Do (in the long term)?

[Servant King]

I've had some tight stem fits before, but none compared to my Savinelli Bacco 321 bent author. It's beyond just simple tightness--it's absurdly difficult to remove and reattach, and has always been that way since I got it less than a year ago brand new. I've used beeswax on the tenon like I've done in the past with other pipes, and that does make it a little better, albeit temporarily. I'm wondering if anyone can offer their two cents on a more permanent solution to this issue. Thanks!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Normally, I would recommend taking your time and slowly sand down the tenon. However, as I recall, this is a filter version, so the wall of the tenon is thin. Maybe use some very fine sandpaper wrapped around a dowel and give it a slow rotation inside the mortise. It won’t take much, so wipe the dust out and try fitting the stem back each time.

@georged might have a better solution.

 

[Waning Embers]

Beeswax

It'll eventually wear down to where it needs to be. Using abrasives will guarantee a future loose stem.

 

[bullet08]

A few of my pipes were like that. But I tend to break down my pipes mid smoke, and all are fine now. I guess either the mortise or the tenon wore out.

 

[georged]

Adjusting an Out-Of-Shape Vulcanite Tenon

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[MattRVA]

I have a White Spot 3111 lovat that had a tight stem, for over a year I had to put it in the freezer to remove the stem… needless to say, I put the pipe away for about a year and a half. Recently I checked and now the fit is perfect. Maybe I got lucky.

 

[Servant King]

Thanks everyone! That's good news, Duane...I'll keep applying beeswax to the tenon after each smoke and just be patient and wait for it to settle into that equilibrium. If there's one thing I have a preponderance of, it's beeswax.

Thanks George! I'll watch that whole playlist, and hopefully get a better grasp on the inner workings. Been too hands-off about that kind of stuff, but I should definitely start familiarizing myself with these things, at least in a cursory way.

 

[Waning Embers]

Thanks everyone! That's good news, Duane...I'll keep applying beeswax to the tenon after each smoke and just be patient and wait for it to settle into that equilibrium. If there's one thing I have a preponderance of, it's beeswax.

Thanks George! I'll watch that whole playlist, and hopefully get a better grasp on the inner workings. Been too hands-off about that kind of stuff, but I should definitely start familiarizing myself with these things, at least in a cursory way.

I'd be afraid of using abrasives on a filter tenon. Not much material there to begin with. I had a Don Carlos with the same issue. Perfect fit now.

 

[didimauw]

Take a pencil and color the tenon with it. Works wonders! Honestly. And it's easy.

 

[Servant King]

I'd be afraid of using abrasives on a filter tenon. Not much material there to begin with. I had a Don Carlos with the same issue. Perfect fit now.

Ten four. Definitely not going to screw around with doing something I can't undo.

Take a pencil and color the tenon with it. Works wonders! Honestly. And it's easy.

Heard of this method as well. Ditto rubbing a nub of bar soap on it. So many options! I think I'll try this one on my Stefano.

 

[didimauw]

Ten four. Definitely not going to screw around with doing something I can't undo.


Heard of this method as well. Ditto rubbing a nub of bar soap on it. So many options! I think I'll try this one on my Stefano.

I couldn't believe this method worked. I actually laughed out loud when I did it.

 

[Waning Embers]

I couldn't believe this method worked. I actually laughed out loud when I did it.

Works good for wood joints in furniture and flooring.

 

[fightnhampster]

I

Take a pencil and color the tenon with it. Works wonders! Honestly. And it's easy.

Was going to say this. I have done this in a Sav Ghibli that has a tight fit. Works great. Color the tenon and the graphite works wonders.

 

[ThermionicScott]

If there's finish on the inside of the mortise, you could try removing it with solvent. One of my pipes went from a tight fit to a slightly loose one after I swabbed it out with alcohol (just trying to clean it.)

 

[didimauw]

I

Was going to say this. I have done this in a Sav Ghibli that has a tight fit. Works great. Color the tenon and the graphite works wonders.

It's almost stupid how well it works lol

 

[Waning Embers]

It's almost stupid how well it works lol

Remember the time a member was trying to find an eloquent way of applying it because he thought that drawing on the tenon was unsophisticated?

 

[didimauw]

Remember the time a member was trying to find an eloquent way of applying it because he thought that drawing on the tenon was unsophisticated?

There's one in every group isn't there.... Lol

 

[orvet]

Take a pencil and color the tenon with it. Works wonders! Honestly. And it's easy.

This is a method we used for years in the smoke shops in the 1980s. It's amazing what a little graphite from a pencil will do to a tight fitting tendon! I've done it many times and I don't recall it ever failing.

 

[jhowell]

Take a pencil and color the tenon with it. Works wonders! Honestly. And it's easy.

^^^^ This.

 

[jhowell]

Don't use soap - it's hydrophilic and will eventually make matters worse.