Regarding Screw-In Tenons Like Kaywoodie, Grabow… What Do You Do If Stem Won’t Stay Tight?

[Peter - RP]

Hey guys. I work almost entirely with screw-in joints like the Ajustomatic.

I had a customer ask me how to fix their (new to them) very nice Grabow that kept coming loose.

Now, I’ve always found that after a few smokes, the situation solves itself.

For an immediate fix, I will look for something tacky and won’t harm the pipe or the smoker.
Just a bit of beeswax or even Chap Stick can work if in a bind. That works for a standard tenon that’s a bit too tight.

I am just curious what solutions any of you may use if you’ve come across this?

I’ve restored a few hundred over the past year and a half and this is pretty rare but I have a nice Kaywoodie 69 Pot that is in this situation and I figured if there’s another approach, someone here would know for sure.

Thank you for reading and if so, replying. I appreciate it greatly!

- Peter - RadiantPipes

 

[Ahi Ka]

No experience with this personally, but wonder if some high heat Teflon tape would work around the tenon’s threads?

 

[Waning Embers]

beeswax

Bingo?

 

[ashdigger]

No experience with this personally, but wonder if some high heat Teflon tape would work around the tenon’s threads?

That’s what I use. Less messy than wax

 

[warren]

Ash as, usual?, has it right. Plumber's tape is a wonder, four or five tight wraps and, you are good to go.

 

[jewman22]

Teflon tape(plumbers tape).