Stuck Spigot

[jpmcwjr]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

I have a handsome, beautiful black bent billiard by Vauen but the stem is stuck. Being a spigot- parts are in this case silver- I'm not sure how to proceed. Tried hot water and later also continued smoking it- man that filter must be outrageous by now.... But it hasn't gone sour yet. Would like to clean the mortise and take filter out!

 

[BROBS]

I have a handsome, beautiful black bent billiard by Vauen but the stem is stuck. Being a spigot- parts are in this case silver- I'm not sure how to proceed. Tried hot water and later also continued smoking it- man that filter must be outrageous by now.... But it hasn't gone sour yet. Would like to clean the mortise and take filter out!

Have you tried putting it in the freezer?

 

[BROBS]

Then grip ferrule and stem with these :

 

[jpmcwjr]

Been reluctant to try that, in part due to the same material in mortise and stem should shrink/expand at same rate.

Hoping for another idea. Hell, WD-40??

 

[BROBS]

Been reluctant to try that, in part due to the same material in mortise and stem should shrink/expand at same rate.

Hoping for another idea. Hell, WD-40??

It will shrink the mortise and stem relieving pressure. ?

 

[georged]

NOT WD-40

Try the freezer.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Been reluctant to try that, in part due to the same material in mortise and stem should shrink/expand at same rate.

Hoping for another idea. Hell, WD-40??

If it absolutely comes to applying any “slip-em-up,” use something food grade, like a drop of olive or mineral oil. Don’t use WD-40.

 

[Ahi Ka]

KY?

 

[dmcmtk]

I'm going to also say freezer. I took a look at a Peterson's Spigot (mid '70's) and while the male part was sterling, the female part was briar. Of course Vauen could be different.

 

[pipestud]

NOT WD-40

Try the freezer.

Plus one on this... I sometimes gets pipes in with the tenon/shank joint being so tight that it was impossible to remove the stem from the shank. I put the pipe in a plastic baggie and stick it in the freezer for 30 minutes. 9.9 times out of 10 that does the trick.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Seeing as it's male and female parts then maybe try some lube?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

While it does contain a percentage of mineral oil, WD-40 makes for a poor lubricant. It’s primary function is in the name... water displacement.
It’s mostly kerosene.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I was jesting on the WD-40; it'd be very last thing, after all else, save maybe the acetylene torch.

But wouldn't mineral oil be too viscous to flow into the space between the stem and mortise? .

 

[BROBS]

While it does contain a percentage of mineral oil, WD-40 makes for a poor lubricant. It’s primary function is in the name... water displacement.
It’s mostly kerosene.

Hey! Someone else knows!! It was invented to displace water on NASA dry fuel cells.

 

[BROBS]

I was jesting on the WD-40; it'd be very last thing, after all else, save maybe the acetylene torch.

But wouldn't mineral oil be too viscous to flow into the space between the stem and mortise? .

Butcher block or mineral oil is fairly aqueous. ?

I really would try the freezer it should work.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Thanks, gents. 30 minutes in the freezer -in a baggie!- did the trick.

As far as all the suggestions to lubricate my stem, I'd prefer to go clean and natural....

 

[Casual]

I’ve used the freezer successfully on standard mortise and tenon joins, and I don’t see how it would be less effective on army mounts.

 

[BROBS]

KY?

Astroglide is a much superior product. ?

 

[jpmcwjr]

I’ve used the freezer successfully on standard mortise and tenon joins, and I don’t see how it would be less effective on army mounts.

Yes, it worked fine, though it was a spigot, not a military mount.

I don't know why I was so reluctant to try that. I thought the silver on silver would expand/contract at the same rate, but on re-thinking, the mortise, as it shrinks, expands the hole, while the tenon part shrinks as it cools. Both in small fractions of a millimeter.

Thanks, boys; success!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Addendum: Most of my spigots do not have metal lining the mortise; only one does.

So, on the Vauen, also a briar mortise, I scraped out a bit of gunk in the mortise, wiped, applied a touch of mineral oil, and am off and running again with a happy face. Will put a very light touch of beeswax on the stem fitting.