Stuck Stingers

[Monssen13]

I have two estate pipes with ebonite stems and stingers. As per the title, the stingers seem to be rather stuck, and I would like to remove them. Is there a way (maybe a solution or liquid?) to loosen them without damaging the stem?
Thanks

 

[jhowell]

Put them in the freezer for an hour and try again. Please try this first before going to more potentially damaging solutions (pun intended)

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Pictures? Not all stingers are affixed the same way.

 

[Monssen13]

Pictures? Not all stingers are affixed the same way.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Soak the stingers and tenons in alcohol for about 10 minutes. They’re glued in with tar. You can also try a few freeze thaw cycles. Wiggle them out very gently or risk snapping the tenon off.

 

[Monssen13]

Is the alcohol okay on ebonite? Thanks!

Soak the stingers and tenons in alcohol for about 10 minutes. They’re glued in with tar. You can also try a few freeze thaw cycles. Wiggle them out very gently or risk snapping the tenon off.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Slowly heat the tip of the stingers with a heat gun or lighter to soften any build-up in the tenon and carefully pull them free with pliers.

 

[ShopPipesWizard]

Slowly heat the tip of the stingers with a heat gun or lighter to soften any build-up in the tenon and carefully pull them free with pliers.

We heat the stingers up and they come out quite easily also

 

[FurCoat]

Slowly heat the tip of the stingers with a heat gun or lighter to soften any build-up in the tenon and carefully pull them free with pliers.

This would be my suggestion.

 

[Monssen13]

Slowly heat the tip of the stingers with a heat gun or lighter to soften any build-up in the tenon and carefully pull them free with pliers.

This worked like a charm. Stingers removed in less than ten seconds each. Thanks again.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This worked like a charm. Stingers removed in less than ten seconds each. Thanks again.

Very welcome.

 

[ssjones]

Soak the stingers and tenons in alcohol for about 10 minutes. They’re glued in with tar. You can also try a few freeze thaw cycles. Wiggle them out very gently or risk snapping the tenon off.

Bingo, exactly this. You can also soak a fuzzy cleaner, and run it from the button end down, into the stinger. i I insert this in a tall shot glass and it wicks up some of the alcohol (fill to above the stinger line). That almost always works.

 

[ssjones]

Some stingers are threaded and need unscrewed. Those look like push-in (friction fit)
Embers heat suggestion also effective but don't heat enough to tweak the tenon.

 

[Sigmund]

Just for the record. Some i have found to be threaded.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Some stingers are threaded and need unscrewed. Those look like push-in (friction fit)
Embers heat suggestion also effective but don't heat enough to tweak the tenon.

The freezer option can be hazardous as well. As the tars expand from freezing they can split the tenon like water in a bottle.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just for the record. Some i have found to be threaded.

Then there are those that actually are the tenon.

 

[ssjones]

Any luck yet?

 

[Monssen13]

Any luck yet?

As for my removing the stingers? Yep, a lighter and pliers did the trick.

 

[Sigmund]

Your post was very helpful. I had one stuck today. It was broken off and could barely get pliers on it. I used the search function, reread the thread and the lighter trick did the job in seconds.

thanks!