So I recently purchased a mr brog churchwarden nr 14, and not a week after buying it I was taking the stem off to do a deep clean when the tennon broke. I emailed the eBay seller and he sent me a new stem for free. However, I was just putting in the stem and it doesn't quite fit. It's so tight that I wasn't able to get the stem in all the way, and it's now stuck in the shank in an awkward position. I really like the pipe so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mr brog pipe problem, please help
- Thread starter smokeymountainsmoker
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Stop everything and watch a few YouTube videos. I can't provide a link but heating up the tenon very carefully and you can get the exact fit you require. Be patient and figure out how to do this befor you break anothe tenon.
Put the pipe in the freezer for several hours. The tenon should loosen up.
hakchuma, please explain how heating the tenon would shrink it.
hakchuma, please explain how heating the tenon would shrink it.
So if I put the pipe in the freezer overnight, by morning I should be able to pull the stem out? And this won't damage the pipe?
That's been the common wisdom around these parts. Besides, if the freezing doesn't work, you only have to let it warm up to room temperature. OTOH, heating the tenon will probably alter it permanently. I just don't understand hakchuma's reasoning.
Freezing temperatures cause materials to contract or shrink. Heating does the opposite. Since your freezing the whole pipe over night, when you remove the pipe to room temps tomorrow, wait 5 to 10 minutes before you check the fit. That will allow the pipe's shank to warm a little first and expand some since it's wrapped around the tenon of the stem...hopefully it will come free.
I guess said the opposite. If the tenon was too lose you can use heat on it. It was a video from Jason the meerschaum king. 
sorry.
sorry.
I use beeswax on the tenon. The LAST resort if you figure out that the tenon is definitely too large is to VERY LIGHTLY sand it down. I'm talking 600 grit paper wrapped around the tenon, and twist it ONCE and try the fit. Then try the wax until the tenon fits SNUGGLY.
edit: I see George is here now...he's knows best about the issue.
edit: I see George is here now...he's knows best about the issue.
Okay, thank you all for your advice, it's much appreciated. I just put the pipe in the freezer, I'll check it in the morning and I'll try to let you all know how it turns out
Some of the Mr. Brog stems are made of ABS plastic that will not react to temperature like ebonite/vulcanite. I would recommend to try candle wax on the tenon or if this won´t work carafully sanding it down with fine emery paper.
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