Snug Up a Slightly Loose Stem - ?

[badbriar]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

I have a recently acquired Estate Savinelli Poker that is in nice shape, but has a slightly loose mortise to tendon fit. It's not really loose per se, but is not snug. Is there a way to firm up the fit?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Smoke it.

 

[donjgiles]

I melt a little beeswax and roll the tenon on the hot wax to coat it.
Let it cool, insert the stem back into the pipe and remove the excess wax from the junction.

 

[coming to_falling too]

Smoke it.

This one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If smoking doesn't fix it, try this.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

If smoking it doesn’t quite do the trick (though it probably will): Take a Q-tip, wet it, rub the inside of the mortise until it is a little damp. It doesn’t take much. Put the stem back in and let it sit. It’ll tighten up. If it’s not enough, do it again. Loose tenons usually happen if a pipe sits unsmoked, and gets dried out.

 

[badbriar]

Thank you, gentlemen (yes, I use that term loosely)!
Excellent recommendations. And smoke that briar I will. Much appreciated!

 

[davek]

Beeswax works real well. Lip balm does the trick.

 

[didimauw]

If smoking it doesn’t quite do the trick (though it probably will): Take a Q-tip, wet it, rub the inside of the mortise until it is a little damp. It doesn’t take much. Put the stem back in and let it sit. It’ll tighten up. If it’s not enough, do it again. Loose tenons usually happen if a pipe sits unsmoked, and gets dried out.

Just did this on my Rossi that sat unsmoked in my pipe cabinet for a year. All of a sudden. The stem was wayyyyy to loose.
This did the trick.

 

[mikethompson]

Lots of good suggestions here for those just starting out.

 

[BROBS]

I always use beeswax because not only does it keep it snug, it also keeps the stem turning freely and easily.

 

[mso489]

What chasing and others said -- smoke it. I have a favorite old Peterson B11 bent brandy that went totally loose, just tight enough to light and puff. And that fixed it. 'Could have knocked me over with a feather, but it works. Now it's tight. I guess things expand and stay tight. Or the pipe spirits wake up and pull it together.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

What chasing and others said -- smoke it. I have a favorite old Peterson B11 bent brandy that went totally loose, just tight enough to light and puff. And that fixed it. 'Could have knocked me over with a feather, but it works. Now it's tight. I guess things expand and stay tight. Or the pipe spirits wake up and pull it together.

It’s moisture. Smoking it puts moisture back into the pipe. The wood swells a touch, and the tenon is tight again.

 

[BROBS]

It’s moisture. Smoking it puts moisture back into the pipe. The wood swells a touch, and the tenon is tight again.

LOOK, MSO SAID IT'S PIPE MAGIC, OK?

 

[Country Bladesmith]

LOOK, MSO SAID IT'S PIPE MAGIC, OK?

Pipe magic it is then. ?

 

[BROBS]

Pipe magic it is then. ?

CORRECTION: SPIRIT

 

[STP]

Good information. I just went through some of my old pipes, and two were loose. A little moisture, I mean pipe spirits, did the trick