Removing Silver Band from Peterson Meerschaum Pipe

[runscott]

Does anyone have ideas about how to remove the silver band from a 1950's Peterson meerschaum pipe? If the band attachment is vintage, then I would assume the glue could be loosened with a heat gun, and the band worked off; however, it isn't budging.

Any other ideas would be appreciated. It's a smooth small 317 shape, probably 1950's Turkish meer (not a late '60s/'70s African meer Peterson).

 

[jpmcwjr]

Photos, please.

Why, may I ask, do you want to remove the band?

 

[runscott]

Photos, please.

Why, may I ask, do you want to remove the band?

There are dings all over the top of the band. I'd like to remove the band and get the dings out as part of the restoration.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Thanks. I see what you mean!

Since that pipe will never be a beauty, I'd leave it alone. Lots of character dents, no?

 

[runscott]

If anyone has any ideas on how to remove the silver band, please share - thanks!

 

[Briarcutter]

Looks like a spigot, if so, it may be tricky. There may be more adhesive than just the outside of the shank. I'm actually surprised it doesn't twist off considering the age, may be pressed in. You may want to contact Peterson. Good luck. I'm sure there's someone here with more help me.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well, sure, I have an idea: Soak it in warm water for an hour or so.

 

[runscott]

Well, sure, I have an idea: Soak it in warm water for an hour or so.

No one in this forum, or any other, has ever recommended soaking meerschaum in water. If you have a reference to others who have recommended such treatment, please post a link.

 

[jpmcwjr]

There's no link, and I am not doing research for you. What's the risk?

I'd bring your tone down a few notches.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Freezer ?

 

[xrundog]

First idea I had was a heat gun. A real danger is crushing the cap taking it off. Silver is soft so go easy. I have not soaked a meerschaum. But I have scrubbed them under running water. You could just put the cap end in boiled water and see if that does it. Shouldn’t hurt it. But you don’t know the condition of the material under the cap either. There is an element of risk.
Do you have a jig or something for the cap? I’m curious how you’ll get it perfectly smooth.

 

[runscott]

Freezer ?

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried that on another meer and it didn't work. My concern before trying it the previous time was that freezing might crack the meerschaum - probably no good reason for such fears. It didn't work and I haven't tried it since, but I might give it another shot.

 

[runscott]

First idea I had was a heat gun. A real danger is crushing the cap taking it off. Silver is soft so go easy. I have not soaked a meerschaum. But I have scrubbed them under running water. You could just put the cap end in boiled water and see if that does it. Shouldn’t hurt it. But you don’t know the condition of the material under the cap either. There is an element of risk.
Do you have a jig or something for the cap? I’m curious how you’ll get it perfectly smooth.

I've removed many silver bands from briar stummels using a heat gun. Sometimes they came off on their own just from hot water. But the ones I've removed from meers came off on their own just from twisting by hand - cracked bits of old glue beneath.

I'll give the heat gun a few more tries. I've scrubbed meerschaum under running water, but always kept it as short as possible. All the ideas I've come across researching the 'water/meerschaum' idea has said to keep water use to a minimum. I've had meerschaum get a little gooey from too much exposure to water - never ruined a pipe, but I think I was heading down that road a couple of times. Given that meer carvers get the meerschaum wet to carve it, I can only assume that it would soften substantially if soaked.

 

[runscott]

Do you have a jig or something for the cap? I’m curious how you’ll get it perfectly smooth.

I read a recent blog somewhere (I can't remember where and can't find it) by a guy who rubbed the inside of the ferrule with piece of wood he carved, until it was smooth. In the 'before and after' pics it was an incredible transformation. I don't have a jig, which is why his 'by hand' method appealed to me. I know a guy who can find the guy who did this and point me to his write-up, but I think I can still figure it out on my on. Or maybe I'm remembering things incorrectly and I'll need a jig

 

[Uniquemeerschaum]

I've removed many silver bands from briar stummels using a heat gun. Sometimes they came off on their own just from hot water. But the ones I've removed from meers came off on their own just from twisting by hand - cracked bits of old glue beneath.

I'll give the heat gun a few more tries. I've scrubbed meerschaum under running water, but always kept it as short as possible. All the ideas I've come across researching the 'water/meerschaum' idea has said to keep water use to a minimum. I've had meerschaum get a little gooey from too much exposure to water - never ruined a pipe, but I think I was heading down that road a couple of times. Given that meer carvers get the meerschaum wet to carve it, I can only assume that it would soften substantially if soaked.

Best way remove it to heat silver band,but you need to be fast to remove it immidiately after you heat it.

To carve meerschaum easier it already wet to carve it.Main point in here after wet you need to reduce humidity.You can keep it on the radiator to reduce humidity.

 

[Briarcutter]

Is it a spigot? What I mean is, is it a tapered mortise with silver lining the mortise?

 

[georged]

Bandsaw

 

[runscott]

Is it a spigot? What I mean is, is it a tapered mortise with silver lining the mortise?

Great question - Yes, it's a silver cap where the top of the ferrule slides over the sides of the mortise to line it, as opposed to the ferrule just going to the top of the mortise.

I have another meer with a similar 'cap' ferrule design, that I also tried to remove without success. I was trying to remove that one because long ago it was re-glued, slightly askew, with the stampings positioned incorrectly.

Also a great question because I had not looked at it closely and, because the silver inside the mortise is so dirty, I thought I was looking at meerschaum. So...this will basically be impossible for me to get the dents out of with the tool I had in mind, even if I can remove the band.

 

[AroEnglish]

There's no link, and I am not doing research for you. What's the risk?

I'd bring your tone down a few notches.

I think he was asking because soaking it in water might not be good for the meerschaum since it porous and just wanted to make sure that there was some support for that method before trying it on the pipe.

 

[Briarcutter]

Great question - Yes, it's a silver cap where the top of the ferrule slides over the sides of the mortise to line it, as opposed to the ferrule just going to the top of the mortise.

I have another meer with a similar 'cap' ferrule design, that I also tried to remove without success. I was trying to remove that one because long ago it was re-glued, slightly askew, with the stampings positioned incorrectly.

If that's the case, you've got double the surface area binding the silver to the meerschaum. May be why it's a bit tricky. i don't know how much "give" is in the shank but as you squeeze the silver to remove you may be tightening it on the silver mortise. Just thinking out loud here