Sav 320 EX Broken Stem
- Thread starter mcitinner1
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
So I thought I'd update everyone on my experience with sending my Savinelli 122 to the USA distributor for a new stem. In short the experience was okay. Turnaround was about a week, unfortunately the replacement stem is lucite, vice the ebonite of the original, there's a noticeable discontinuity (stem has a slightly larger diameter) where the stem meets the stummel and the new stem doesn't have the Savinelli logo.
From the pictures above the stem on that 320 has better fit and finish than what I got on my 122. If I had to do it over again I'd ask georged. YMMV
From the pictures above the stem on that 320 has better fit and finish than what I got on my 122. If I had to do it over again I'd ask georged. YMMV
@Captpat Yeah I got an email from a Jonathan at Laudisi, saying they could replace the stem. I had sent the pipe to George already and I'm glad I did. The new saddle stem should make the pipe clench-able.
It's something many people don't think about until it's pointed out: shaping a stem originally---when the wood and stem material are mated and the assembly can be treated as a single piece---is MUCH easier than doing it afterward unless you A) grind away some of the shank to achieve level, caveman-style; or B) preserve the shank by not finishing the job and leaving the stem too big.
The first option destroys the pipe for any purpose except tobacco access, imo, and the second is like a body shop giving a car back to a customer with a bondo-covered, unpainted fender.
It's sad how often an "official" replacement stem is obviously a replacement, but there you go. Even stuff that came out of Dunhill's London shop (back when real work was still done on site) was easy to spot. It's just too time consuming to brute-force it (sand a bit, test fit, mark, repeat), and too specialized-bag-of-tricks dependent to do quickly.
Yeah I love the new look. Now I wonder how much I'll smoke the three other 320's I have. They aren't EX's though.
P.S.
For my own "records," maybe you guys can help me with something. Supply a data point of sorts.
I deliberately gave the stem a shallow "Danish bend" rather than the deeper "English bend" because of the pipe's size---it's huge, and even with a thin saddle stem probably won't be clenched much---and because Italian pipes can go either way. It's also a bit more fashionable and trendy at the moment.
My personal preference, though is more English-y. Just because. That's what I grew up with, and it looks more right to me, somehow.
But without asking directly I'll never know what the public wants. At least in percentage terms. So, Modern or Old School... what say you?
(mcitinner -- regardless of the micro-poll results, you can have it exactly the way you want. Just gimme the word.)
For my own "records," maybe you guys can help me with something. Supply a data point of sorts.
I deliberately gave the stem a shallow "Danish bend" rather than the deeper "English bend" because of the pipe's size---it's huge, and even with a thin saddle stem probably won't be clenched much---and because Italian pipes can go either way. It's also a bit more fashionable and trendy at the moment.
My personal preference, though is more English-y. Just because. That's what I grew up with, and it looks more right to me, somehow.
But without asking directly I'll never know what the public wants. At least in percentage terms. So, Modern or Old School... what say you?
(mcitinner -- regardless of the micro-poll results, you can have it exactly the way you want. Just gimme the word.)
That's fantastic work, georged! Really impressive.
As for your question about the degree of bend, it really depends upon the shape of the stummel for me. I prefer to have the stem bend more or less match how the foot of the bowl rolls off. If it's soft, then a "Danish bend". If it's sharp, then a more "English bend". If I had to only pick one though, it would be a deeper bend. Like yourself, it usually just looks more right.
As for your question about the degree of bend, it really depends upon the shape of the stummel for me. I prefer to have the stem bend more or less match how the foot of the bowl rolls off. If it's soft, then a "Danish bend". If it's sharp, then a more "English bend". If I had to only pick one though, it would be a deeper bend. Like yourself, it usually just looks more right.
OK...
I realized after a bit of experimentation that NEITHER the "upright" Danish bend NOR the pre-war Dunhill CK (the most classic of all authors) aggressive, attitude-filled bend was right for this particular Savinelli shape, and that something in between was the answer.
Applying that bit of insight yielded this:
At last, I am happy. :D
I realized after a bit of experimentation that NEITHER the "upright" Danish bend NOR the pre-war Dunhill CK (the most classic of all authors) aggressive, attitude-filled bend was right for this particular Savinelli shape, and that something in between was the answer.
Applying that bit of insight yielded this:
At last, I am happy. :D
- Status