Potential Mortise crack and alcohol question.

[swilly]

So, I might have been too hasty when I bought my Savinelli Tortuga. I've smoked out of it twice or so, and when I was cleaning it, I noticed a two scratches around the outside of the mortise. I looked inside, and then.... I saw IT.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swilly/
It's the first two photos. When I saw the two scratches, I looked inside and it looks like the crack kind of extends into the pipe. Should I be really worried about this? Is it possible that the shop I bought it at dropped the pipe on the ground and glued it back on? Or maybe that was the unfortunate little defect that slipped out of the Savinelli factory? Of course I realize I paid about... 700RMB for the pipe, about $110. I know in the costlier side of a pipe (i see it for about $80 online, but it's more expensive b/c of import taxes). Should I go talk to the pipe shop about this issue, or just tack this up as my failure to examine the pipe close enough before purchasing? It smokes fine and all, I'm just worried about the long-term effects.
The photo shows the deepest part, but it's not that deep along the whole mortise...
Let me know if you want more angles regarding this "crack", and please please please, any advice or words of wisdom. I know that my next pipe will be looked over VERY carefully.
As a side note, I have been using grain alcohol for cleaning. Again, near the mortise, I got a tiny bit of alcohol on it while I was cleaning the the acrylic stem, and noticed that some of the stain color came off. I don't know if this is supposed to happen with all finishes, or it's just that the finish on this pipe isn't that good. Obviously I'm not going to be dipping my whole pipe into a vat of the grain alcohol, but have any others experienced such issues?

.

Thank you all. And feel free to look at that flickr. You'll find many yoyos and me cutting onions... ahaha

 

[scotrob]

well i can advise you about the alcohol issue: NEVER allow alcohol to touch the outside of the bowl or shank....there are few things better than alcohol for removing the finish and the stain. Cleaning the inside of the shank or stem is fine, but alcohol and stained/polished briar do not mix!
i would recommend you go back to the shop with pipe and receipt and ask for a refund or at least an exchange...if the pipe is not fit for purpose (which is what i would argue) then you have the right to a refund here

 

[swilly]

Hmm, thanks a lot Scotrob, I will try that. Not to rip on China or it's stores, but generally, customer service is not THAT great... I will try to go in and ask for an exchange b/c I'm sure exchange is better than a refund to them. I'm just worried they'll say, you bought it, you used it, IT'S TOO LATE! Nonetheless, I will make a stand for what I think is my right (regardless of if they think it's my right or not).
Any chance that the pipe will still be okay? And that it's just a minor thing like a fill? Maybe I'm trying to be too hopeful here.
-Swilly

 

[scotrob]

that kind of repair is slightly beyond my expertise..as long as it smokes fine and you are gentle when you clean I would leave it alone...but I think there are others on here who can advise you better on this issue

 

[francois1]

I would return the pipe back straight away and ask for a replacement or

refund

david

 

[swilly]

Ah, I was a bit unclear. I didn't mean that I wanted to fix the potential crack. I am just hoping out loud that the issue with my mortise is minor (and thus doesn't require me to have to replace anything). Of course if I hear a majority say I should definitely try to replace it, I will try. It's just that.... I like this pipe and, although I'm an ABC (American Born Chinese), I can't say my Mandarin is best and I do want to avoid any "confrontations" that I don't allow me to fully express my issues/concerns.
Maybe I just have to find another Chinese pipe-smoker to accompany me...
-Swilly

 

[swilly]

Hoo, alright, on closer inspection, I can see part of the crack on the outside. I don't know how I didn't spot that during purchase. Look at the most recent photo on the flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swilly/
Well, I'm going to do my best and try to get an exchange/refund. Of course I'm worried that they'll be like "Ah, you've used it, you can't get any refunds". What should I counter to that? The only thing I could think of is not going to that store and telling them they've lost a customer, but that isn't really solving my issue...
I know that when I select a pipe, I can't be blinded by the excitement... what a noob I am.
Any more advice? Thanks a lot.
-Swilly, a now frustrated pipe smoker.

 

[swilly]

Hmm, thanks a lot Marc! I assume that I shouldn't smoke the pipe until it's banded then? In which case, I might have to find me yet another briar unless another shop does such repairs...
Well, If that shop doesn't let me refund/exchange but offers to repair it for me I guess that works too, it adds some character to the pipe, I guess.
Worst case scenario --> No refund, no exchange, no free repair, don't go back to the place. Can't find a place/person to band it for me, meaning I probably shouldn't smoke it?
Best case scenario --> Refund/exchange, perhaps I get a new pipe, keep going to that place... etc.
Thanks for the help.

-Swilly

 

[olderthandirt]

Greetings swilly

Yes, alcohol will remove stain from briar so you want to avoid that contact when possible.

The crack though. Did you by any chance remove the stem immediately after smoking so to clean it?

 

[rigmedic1]

If you cant replace it, banding the shank is your best bet. I have salvaged a couple of nice pipes that way.

 

[swilly]

I did not. I smoked before dinner, and several hours later, before going to bed, I took apart the pipe and cleaned it when it was room temperature. I'm certain that this defect was there right when I bought it, but perhaps it's becoming more noticeable with each smoke. I guess that answers my question "Should I not smoke it until it's banded?".
Thank you so much dirt and rig for the responses. As it's looking, I'm going to try to get that refund/exchange tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll see if they can band it. If I can't find any place to band for me, well... I guess I'm looking at another briar or trying out a meer.
-Swilly

 

[olderthandirt]

Had to ask swilly. (-:

Well then by all means get that exchange or refund!

 

[swilly]

A double post! Please delete this, thanks!
-Swilly

 

[swilly]

Ah, the biggest issue for me is I'm stuck in Beijing right now, and I'm not coming back to the states until next year! That's why it's going to be harder for me. Also I have no credit-card or debit card with which to send payments, so sending it somewhere is a no-go, it'll have to be B&M for me.
-Swilly

 

[swilly]

I'm really thankful for the help Marc. You're probably a bit annoyed with this me and thread at this point, but thanks to you and the everyone else, I know what to do now. Problem solved! I guess I'll just put a little update on what happens tomorrow.
Happy smoking!
-Swilly

 

[thesmokindragon]

I think Boswell's does pipe repair's swilly as perhaps others here in the US, (Tinsky or Tim West, etc.) if you

didn't want to try and get a band and repair yourself (you can get bands (pipemakers.org)/check the diam of the pipe-shank, order a band slightly smaller, then heat the band up with a hand-torch, push onto the shank, when it cools it should fit nice and tight and protect from other cracking) ::
TheSmokinDragon

 

[philip]

I don't have any advice for you, swilly, but good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[cortezattic]

I would say that once the pipe has been accepted and smoked all bets are off, unless you have a premature burn out (or more accurately, burn through) because of a flaw (a knot, burl, or soft wood) on the inside of the bowl. With your pipe the dealer can make a pretty good case for absolving himself of responsibility because a crack in the shank is usually due to improper handling. Ask for a replacement, but don't get your hopes up. Maybe you can whine and moan enough to convince the shop to meet you half-way and sell you another pipe at cost, or at least a good discount.
Life is too short to get aggravated over things like this -- especially in a pastime devoted to relaxation and enjoyment. Chalk it up to experience and do what marc and the dragon suggest, buy another pipe and enjoy it while you have the Savinelli repaired.

 

[swilly]

Well then! I went to the shop, and the manager was there. I was able to hand it to him, tell him my issue and it SEEMS like it might get exchanged/refunded/fixed. Though it's kind of up to the pipe "mechanic" on what the final call is. I hope everything goes fine -- I should find out within a week -- but I still have my doubts..
In the meantime, I grabbed myself a small Radice (freehand?) silk cut billiard and a tin of De Luxe Mixture for 1900 RMB. Still quite a bit more expensive than what I would have to pay for in the states, but either way, it's not like I'm going to find another Radice like that one so I'm still happy.
I'll have to really suppress the PAD here in Beijing b/c the import taxes make things so much more expensive... I shall get some photos of it up tomorrow or something, it's nighttime now.
-Swilly

 

[cortezattic]

I have a Radice hawkbill and it smokes like a dream.