Pipe Shank and Stem Mate Repair

[Youngbuck]

Hi Fellow Pipe Enthusiasts. Brand new to the forum and still pretty new to pipe smoking only have been involved for a year. Anyways I have a Savinelli 315 EX Hercules. It is my first pipe I had been given and the one that taught me a bunch of different learning curbs one of which was a bad habit of yanking the stem out when hot and blowing out any moisture in the stem and jamming it back in. Due to this, the stem no longer fits snug nor square with the shank. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can make a repair or at least get the pipe into a better situation? I will try to attach a picture and you will see that on the left side there is visible light shining through while the other it’s flush. Thank you so much in advance for any help or suggestions!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Looks like you've got some build-up around the base of the mortise that isn't allowing the tenon to seat completely.

 

[Chasing Embers]

a bad habit of yanking the stem out when hot and blowing out any moisture in the stem a

Why do that when you could hold the pipe with the chamber cupped against you palm, hold the pipe firmly, and snap your elbow and wrist to expel the moisture. You could also use pipe cleaners.

 

[Youngbuck]

Why do that when you could hold the pipe with the chamber cupped against you palm, hold the pipe firmly, and snap your elbow and wrist to expel the moisture. You could also use pipe cleaners.

Yeah bad habit I had until I realized it was too late. Now I throw a pipe cleaner in there to clear it out.

 

[BROBS]

can you take a pic inside the shank with the stem out?

probably just needs scrubbed out with alcohol.

 

[Youngbuck]

I

Looks like you've got some build-up around the base of the mortise that isn't allowing the tenon to seat completely.

I haven’t noticed any funk or grime in there but I try to get in there and give it a clean I really appreciate your help and let you know if make I fish out a hidden piece -Joe

 

[Youngbuck]

can you take a pic inside the shank with the stem out?

probably just needs scrubbed out with alcohol.

I Just gave it a scrub with a shank brush and alcohol as you and chasingembers suggested and I did find a few minor things up in there. The situation is a bit better Thank you gentlemen for your help!-Joe

 

[BROBS]

it honestly looks like you bent the tenon while it was hot to me..

if you heat the whole shank end with a heat gun and jam that thing straight and flush.. then hold until cool it might fix it. Or it might fuck it up.. only one way to find out.

 

[Youngbuck]

it honestly looks like you bent the tenon while it was hot to me..

if you heat the whole shank end with a heat gun and jam that thing straight and flush.. then hold until cool it might fix it. Or it might fuck it up.. only one way to find out.

Very true. You know what, I’ll give it a shot and let you know. Didn’t think about reforming it with some heat. Cheers man! -Joe

 

[BROBS]

I'd just take it as slow and easy as possible!

 

[Youngbuck]

Very true. You know what, I’ll give it a shot and let you know. Didn’t think about reforming it with some heat. Cheers man! -Joe

View attachment 12145We had success!

 

[BROBS]

hell yeah buddy that's way better at least.

 

[Youngbuck]

hell yeah buddy that's way better at least.

Oh it is perfect. I’m not drawing in so much air and the pipe doesn’t fall of the stem! Had that happen a few times ?Thank you so much for your help!

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

And now You may better choce to leave it that way for awhile ,avoid reassembling I mean

 

[craig61a]

if you heat the whole shank end with a heat gun and jam that thing straight and flush.. then hold until cool it might fix it. Or it might fuck it up.. only one way to find out.

Gorilla maintenance...
Not the approach I’d take.

Fold and stuff a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol into the mortise. Let it sit for a few hours to loosen up any gunk. Swab out good with q-tips until it’s clean in there. If you can fully seat the stem and it’s still wobbly then you flared out the mortise by not pulling straight on the stem while there was moisture in there. That can be fixed. I build it up with superglue to tighten stems...

 

[Youngbuck]

And now You may better choce to leave it that way for awhile ,avoid reassembling I mean

Yup and will do Paulie thank you! -Joe

 

[Youngbuck]

Gorilla maintenance...
Not the approach I’d take.

Fold and stuff a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol into the mortise. Let it sit for a few hours to loosen up any gunk. Swab out good with q-tips until it’s clean in there. If you can fully seat the stem and it’s still wobbly then you flared out the mortise by not pulling straight on the stem while there was moisture in there. That can be fixed. I build it up with superglue to tighten stems...

Interesting approach. Did you coat the stem in the superglue or did you apply a coat of the superglue into mortise? -Joe

 

[BROBS]

Gorilla maintenance...
Not the approach I’d take.

Fold and stuff a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol into the mortise. Let it sit for a few hours to loosen up any gunk. Swab out good with q-tips until it’s clean in there. If you can fully seat the stem and it’s still wobbly then you flared out the mortise by not pulling straight on the stem while there was moisture in there. That can be fixed. I build it up with superglue to tighten stems...

The thing was at like a 45 degree angle compared to the shank end.
there is no way to fix that besides bending it straight or sanding the shank end to an angle.

do you see the 2nd pic where the one side of the stem is touching the shank and the other is a few mm away?

putting superglue in a shank might be considered "gorilla maintenance" ?

 

[sablebrush52]

Clean out the mortise thoroughly, then watch this video by pipe carver Walt Cannoy, which deals directly with this issue. He knows what he's talking about and this does work.

 

[sandollars]

BEESWAX!

?