Some Real Progress With Invisible Stem Repairs

[Dshift]

Ever since I started working on pipes I have been trying to achieve undetectable quality stem repairs. It's just such a plus to be able to preserve the original stem of a pipe. Although I am not 100% there yet, I think I got it and just need a bit more practice. This last example is on a stunning birth year Ashton - the top side went really well, but I got some very stubborn bubbles on the bottom and it needs more work but I am sure it will end up as new!
Before:

Top

Bottom

 

[Dshift]

After
Top:

Bottom

BTW the new 5 photos limit sucks....

 

[Briarcutter]

Looks great but the real test is, how will it hold up while smoking

 

[Dshift]

I stress test my repairs - this one is not going anywhere any time soon. But hey I am willing to sacrifice myself and smoke this birth year Ashton for science

 

[xrundog]

That looks good. I too am used to two or three tries to get a stem the way I want it.
I get pretty good results on acrylic stems with CA glue. Which makes sense.
I’ve been using Bob Smith’s rubber formula CA glue on rubber stems. Results vary depending on the type of rubber. I’d rate them from terrific to okay. I too would rather have a repaired original stem than a replacement.

 

[Dshift]

That looks good. I too am used to two or three tries to get a stem the way I want it.
I get pretty good results on acrylic stems with CA glue. Which makes sense.
I’ve been using Bob Smith’s rubber formula CA glue on rubber stems. Results vary depending on the type of rubber. I’d rate them from terrific to okay. I too would rather have a repaired original stem than a replacement.

I have tried over 20 different ca glues and epoxies but 99% either react immediately with vulcanite or active charcoal or they dry soft like rubber and you can peel them off with your fingers... With vulcanite I found a glue that will give me a couple of seconds after mixed with vulcanite powder and for acrylic I found a black ca glue but it wouldn't dry even after 24 hours and leave a bunch of pits even though it was way too thin. Tried a bunch of different activator sprays until flthe planets somewhat aligned.

 

[bootlegpipes]

Another Dshift thread I have to watch...

Great thread! Looking forward to learning a thing or two about how to repair my own stems.

 

[xrundog]

I used to use StewMac colored glues, but they didn’t blend great. I have settled on Loctite clear for acrylic, colored Bakelite and amberloid. It dries nice and hard and once blended the stem color simply shows through.
The Bob Smith rubber formula is black. It dries hard, blends well and shows less than other glues. Sometimes it doesn’t show at all. Like I said, it depends on the rubber.
Also on how shiny you can get the stem.
Excuse me if I’m telling you stuff you know already.

 

[xrundog]

I find epoxies suck unless I am plugging a hole.

 

[Dshift]

I find epoxies suck unless I am plugging a hole.

Even then they end up very soft for me whatever I do...

 

[xrundog]

Even then they end up very soft for me whatever I do...

I use the 5 minute stuff. Seems okay. Plug it with epoxy and cover with CA. Maybe your mix ratio is wrong. More hardener.
I took pics of a Kaywoodie stem I did. Indoors you can barely see the fill.



Outdoors in the sun, the CA reflects differently so it jumps out. Gee, enlarged it looks terrible.

 

[woodrow]

Has anybody tried JB Weld in black? I didn’t know they made it in black but I’d like to try it on some stem repairs.

 

[Sigmund]

Jb weld is not a true black. Its really a dark gray.

 

[georged]

Replacing Lost Vulcanite Stem Material

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[Dshift]

Replacing Lost Vulcanite Stem Material

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Great three videos, but the magic happens in the forth and I just wonder why he never made the part 4..