Opening a Lucite Stem

[Sigmund]

I have a pipe with a short and straight lucite stem (aprox 4 cm). The draw is too tight because of this. The stummel is drilled just fine. I presume I need a taperd bit (I could be wrong) but in mm I dont know the diameter I should use or type of drill bit. I dont want too crack it. I otherwise like the pipe but I dont smoke it because of this. Im happy to hear suggestions.

 

[newbroom]

4 cm should be plenty open. If you want to be sure, hand turn a 4 cm drill bit through it. Clamp the bit to a vise or vise grip.

 

[Sigmund]

Im presuming you are talking about circumference and not diameter as 4mm diameter would be almost as large as the stem end itself ???

 

[orlandofurioso]

I once did so with a cordless drill at high speed on a crappy stem.
Turned out fine, but please do not try this at home

 

[kcghost]

I would send it to a competent repairman. They will know the details.

 

[Sigmund]

I might. Im pretty confident I could do ot if it were vulcanite but lucite is hard and I suspect brittle. Would take a pipe guy more time to change bits than to do the job.

 

[Coreios]

I've heard you can open it and even fix a whistle with a very tiny diamond file. Rub it in and out once and test the draw . Disclaimer; I've never done it, and I have no idea how dangerous it is. Maybe someone here has.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Opening up the bore of a lucite/acrylic stem needs to be done with straight flute tapered reamers. I use tapered pin reamers 2/0, 0, & 1 sizes. I chuck them up in a tap handle and ream by hand.

 

[Sigmund]

@RustiePyles CPG Im in France. They are probably called something different (obvously). Can you show a pic or a link to one so I know what Im getting. I wrote to a pipe repair place and they said it MUST be done by the designers of the pipe....in otherwords they dont want to be bothered with it.

thanks

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

@RustiePyles CPG Im in France. They are probably called something different (obvously). Can you show a pic or a link to one so I know what Im getting. I wrote to a pipe repair place and they said it MUST be done by the designers of the pipe....in otherwords they dont want to be bothered with it.

thanks

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[Sigmund]

Thanks much!