Good morning fellow Pipers. I have this small Stanwell pipe that was gifted to me by a dear friend that has passed away. This little pipe is a great smoker and I think of my buddy every time I light it up. The problem is that there is an acrylic mortise on the end of the shank that is cracked. It's only a matter of time before this acrylic. Park cracks the whole way through. I do a lot of pipe repairs that have not run across this problem. Do any of you have any suggestions on anyway I could repair/stabilize or replace this part. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This pipe has great sentimental value to me and I would like to continue smoking it in my friends honor.
Repair Suggestion Please
- Thread starter PApiper63
- Start date
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A couple of thoughts. Try spreading the crack ever so slightly and injecting epoxy into it. Try contacting Stanwell about a repair and replacement of the acrylic Cap.
I'm no pipe mechanic but I have seen cracked shanks near the mortise get banded to hold it together. I would try what Sablebrush52 suggested, sounds like a good idea. Get Epoxy in there and apply pressure til cured. If all esle fails there's a little lady in Pennsylvania that is a pipe repair wizard.
I restore straight razors and use a glue to make acrylic scales. The glue actually dissolves the edge of the acrylic that it is applied to, then it reforms solid.
If you could apply it in the crack and then squeeze it together, I am sure this would hold. Do you think you could squeeze the crack closed? You might need to hold it closed for a minute.
If you could apply it in the crack and then squeeze it together, I am sure this would hold. Do you think you could squeeze the crack closed? You might need to hold it closed for a minute.
IPS Weld-On 16 Acrylic Plastic Cement
slightly clamp it together (not overly tight though)
Also what is your highest grit stone for sharpening a straight razor? My favorite straight is a Bowens wedge I use.
I have a thread going on the Badger & Blade site on small wedges. I love them, including the Bowden’s.
Highest grit senthetic stone is 12,000. I have natural stones that go up from there - Japanese and thurigan.
I got a Sharpton 30000 grit it makes a BIG difference before the stop. Take the edges and from from a 3009, to a 6000, to a 12000, to a 30000, stop a strop with micro. Makes a difference. And a lost art.
That would be Shapton not Sharpton in case some one goes looking for those stones. Yeah I do a bit of that sort of thing myself.
Autocorrect sometimes along with typing on a cellphone….
Tape the spine and give it a go!! Not “take the edges” yet another auto correct…
3000 not 3009…. Cellphone fingers…
Tape the spine and give it a go!! Not “take the edges” yet another auto correct…
3000 not 3009…. Cellphone fingers…
I tend to think the “banding” idea seems the best bet long term. That is what they do for barrels of clarinets in which the grenadilla wood begins to crack. Although the diameter of the shank is much smaller than the barrel of a clarinet, I think an instrument repair shop would have or could make a band to do just what you are seeking.
They might even find it fun to apply their skills in this situation.
They might even find it fun to apply their skills in this situation.
How does the mouthpiece fit now? It looks like horn that is cracked, it looks like an old crack as well. Does the crack go into the mortise, if so and the stem fits well now, epoxy and compressing the ferrule may make it too tight for the mouthpiece. Just some things to ponder.
Exactly! Compressing the crack simply reintroduces the stress that caused it in the first place. If it is stable and everything fits, just fill the crack!
If it's the same Lady I have used in the past, yes she is very good, reasonable and prompt. I'll give her a plug here:
American Smoking Pipe Repair Company | Pocono Mountains, PA
Mary Ann Keller and her team provide expert repair and refurbishing services for your favorite tobacco smoking pipes. Get your pipes restored to like new condition with American Smoking Pipe Repair Company.
www.americansmokingpiperepairs.com
Indeed it is her. She used to work for Mark Tinsky repairing for him. I had a good experience in the past with her.If it's the same Lady I have used in the past, yes she is very good, reasonable and prompt. I'll give her a plug here:
American Smoking Pipe Repair Company | Pocono Mountains, PA
Mary Ann Keller and her team provide expert repair and refurbishing services for your favorite tobacco smoking pipes. Get your pipes restored to like new condition with American Smoking Pipe Repair Company.
I think it looks like horn as well. If so, clamping would probably make things worse. Clean the crack, drill a tiny hole at the end of the crack, and fill with G-flex.
Beautiful pipe,
Interesting problem and discussion.
I assume this is a Stanwell "Brazilia"?
Early Brazilias used real horn. Later examples swapped the horn for acrylic that looked like horn
Whatever the ferrule is made from- is it solid the whole way through? Put another way, is there some other material inside the ferrule that receives and contacts the stem?
Interesting problem and discussion.
I assume this is a Stanwell "Brazilia"?
Early Brazilias used real horn. Later examples swapped the horn for acrylic that looked like horn
Whatever the ferrule is made from- is it solid the whole way through? Put another way, is there some other material inside the ferrule that receives and contacts the stem?