Loose Stem

[jpmcwjr]

The word "expand" is used differently. If the mortise "expands"—becomes larger—, moisture added will cause tightening. The briar, in contact with moisture will "expand" the wood both ways, and the inward expansion is what tightens the grip on the tenon.

 

[chopper]

Occasionally I've had a stem that's still looser than I wanted, and a thin coat of black nail polish on the tenon fixed it.

If black isn't fabulous enough, a glittery nail polish would probably work too.

This ^^^ works wonders for a very loose stem.

Just a thin coat on one side of the tenon usually does the trick and make sure it's dried [preferably overnight] or the layer will often just peel off otherwise.

 

[Swampy16]

This ^^^ works wonders for a very loose stem.

Just a thin coat on one side of the tenon usually does the trick and make sure it's dried [preferably overnight] or the layer will often just peel off otherwise.

I used a super glue on a Savinelli Oom Paul and it worked great. The heat and water trick wasn’t fixing that one.

 

[Grovius]

A bagpiper's two cents here: has anyone tried winding a couple of strands of hemp around the stem?

 

[Swampy16]

A bagpiper's two cents here: has anyone tried winding a couple of strands of hemp around the stem?

Wrong pipe.

 

[Grovius]

Wrong pipe.

Not so sure; you just wait until I get the hang of packing latakia in the drone.
But seriously: we use hemp or flax to make the different pieces fit tighter. It also works for things such as wine taps and plugs in casks, so it may work for pipe stems. On the other hand, it may get stuck with thermal expansion.