New Catalin stem for an old meer Cutty.

[RustiePyles CPG]

I picked up this small meerschaum Cutty on the bay for a song because the stem was destroyed despite the pipe only having been smoked once or twice. As far as I can tell the original stem was celluloid, at least I think it was. I have a large quantity of very old Catalin rod stock that I’ve decided to use for pipe stems and since a lot of these old early 20th century cuttys came Catalin stems that’s just what I’m gonna use em for. I cut this one to the exact same dimensions as the old one or at least as close as I could. I also drilled it with an orific button just like the original had. I was able to reuse the original bone tenon. Luckily it was cut with a common thread pitch.

 

[ashdigger]

Very nice.

 

[SBC]

Excellently done.

 

[doug535]

Nice job! I picked up an old C.P.F. (late 1900's) that had a horn stem that was cracked. Unfortunately it had an odd size bone tenon thread (7mm x 1.25mm) and had to order a tap. I ended up not doing the orific stem, since it is for my enjoyment. Also cleaned up the band and re-silverplated it.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Nice job! I picked up an old C.P.F. (late 1900's) that had a horn stem that was cracked. Unfortunately it had an odd size bone tenon thread (7mm x 1.25mm) and had to order a tap. I ended up not doing the orific stem, since it is for my enjoyment. Also cleaned up the band and re-silverplated it.
View attachment 187902View attachment 187903

I’ve seen your stem work, and I wouldn’t in million years compare mine to it. Mines a hack job compared to yours. That C.P.F looks outstanding, I hate working horn, the smell always gets to me. If I could have cut a funneled slot that nice I would have done the same.

 

[doug535]

I’ve seen your stem work, and I wouldn’t in million years compare mine to it. Mines a hack job compared to yours. That C.P.F looks outstanding, I hate working horn, the smell always gets to me. If I could have cut a funneled slot that nice I would have done the same.

Ah yes, the wonderful burning hair smell wafting through the shop and the funny look on the wife's face when she popped in to get something out of the freezer. Side cutting bits are fantastic, once you get the hang of it.

 

[OzPiper]

@rustiepyles & @doug535
You guys are good

 

[Ahi Ka]

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’d love to know what dimensions you use for your lathe tooling bro. I’m in the process of shaping some HSS blanks on the grinder and I’m curious as to what different carvers/restorers use. I know so much is personal preference

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I’d love to know what dimensions you use for your lathe tooling bro. I’m in the process of shaping some HSS blanks on the grinder and I’m curious as to what different carvers/restorers use. I know so much is personal preference

It varies wildly depending on what I’m turning. But I generally just touch up HSS by sight and feel. I don’t think I’ve measured one in years. I just know what works best for certain materials. I highly recommend getting a copy of this. There’s a lot of good info on HSS tool but grinding.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’ll look into that, cheers. I’m in the process of cleaning up an old Myford ML7. It’s become a project in itself which I’m enjoying.

Edit: also, you said “but grinding”

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I’ll look into that, cheers. I’m in the process of cleaning up an old Myford ML7. It’s become a project in itself which I’m enjoying.

Edit: also, you said “but grinding”

Damn autocorrect..

 

[jhowell]

Nice work!

 

[georged]

I knew you did heavy duty clean-ups, refinishing, and etc., but not fabrication.

Muchacho excellentez, good sir. And welcome to the deep end of the pool.

 

[Coreios]

Nice job came out great.

 

[Briar Lee]

I knew about Bakelite but not Catalin.

Catalin - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I learn one or two things new on this forum every day.

I don’t have any Catalin stemmed pipes,,,

Yet.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I knew about Bakelite but not Catalin.

Catalin - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I learn one or two things new on this forum every day.

I don’t have any Catalin stemmed pipes,,,

Yet.

Yeah, Catalin is basically any Bakelite thats not black/brown. It was used for pipe stem pretty extensively at one time.

 

[SBC]

Yeah, Catalin is basically any Bakelite thats not black/brown. It was used for pipe stem pretty extensively at one time.

I didn't know! So those cloudy honey-colored Bakelite stems from the 20s/30s are properly "Catalin"? Interesting. I have one and love the retro look. Similar to the honey-colored fiberglass of 50s fly rods.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I didn't know! So those cloudy honey-colored Bakelite stems from the 20s/30s are properly "Catalin"? Interesting. I have one and love the retro look. Similar to the honey-colored fiberglass of 50s fly rods.

Yeah, its the same resins in rods with different fillers. Proper Bakelite has a lot of fillers where Catalin has less fillers and different pigments. Catalin was used for all kinds of stuff, dominos, backgammon pieces, flatware handles, jewelry, appliances, etc.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I knew you did heavy duty clean-ups, refinishing, and etc., but not fabrication.

Muchacho excellentez, good sir. And welcome to the deep end of the pool.

I don't very often, but sometimes the stars align in that I have the means, materials, the pipe all together at the same time and I jump in and do it. I don't buy many pipes these days that need much work so its not very often. I tend to buy more new pipes, and the old pipes I do buy tend to be nice ones. For me to dump a bunch of resources into a pipe I gotta really love it. having said that I have another 19th century meer cutty thats next up for a new stem. I have a piece of amber Catalin thats a dead ringer for the original real amber stem. I'll be creating a whole new thread for it. I'm waiting on a new bone tenon to show up before I start cutting the stem. If the bone tenon doesn't work out I'll be making a new one from aluminum rod stock. The silver collar is split as well, so I'll be turning a buck to reform and re-solder it.