Tenon and Mortise - A Death-Grip Handshake

[Beowoulf]

Hi all!
One of my prized Blatter and Blatter pipes had a problem this morning. I tried to get them apart by pulling and/or twisting but they would not budge. I finally had to wrap the stem in cloth and used vice-grips to twist them apart! (Fortunately no damage or marks left behind!) Vice-grips are obviously not a long term solution!
Is there anything you guys use to relax the grip between the mortise/stem connection? A wax or something? The maker is right here in Montreal so I guess I could go back to him and have the mortise widened a touch. But, his store is right downtown and it is a real pain in the ass to get there. Anything I can do here at home?

 

[MarcosEZLN]

I've had good temporary results with putting a pipe in the freezer for an hour or so, seems to loosen up the connection enough to separate them when you don't want to risk forcing it. You might also try giving the mortise a good clean and see if it's just a build up crud over time.

Another thing I've seen mentioned is rubbing the tenon/mortise with a pencil to get a coating of graphite, supposedly that offers a longer term solution.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I never push nor pull. Twisting clockwise in and out. And graphite or wax will help.

 

[sablebrush52]

Next time you encounter this issue, put the pipe in your freezer (though NEVER meerschaum) and forget about it for a few hours. That generally will induce enough shrinkage to allow removal of the tenon. Once things have warmed up to room temp, thoroughly clean out the mortise and tenon and let dry out thoroughly before reassembly.
You were lucky that the tenon didn't snap off nor did the shank crack.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have always used the freezer method and it has worked every time.

 

[bullet08]

I always take stem out right after smoke. Even during smoke sometimes. But I never pull, use more force than is needed, or wrench to take it out. If the stem refuse to move, don't force it. They will break. Freezer is your friend.

 

[lraisch]

Use a lead pencil (graphite), the softer the lead the better. Rub the side of the lead against the tenon until it is well coated. Graphite is a dry lubricant and will not be affected by the heat of smoking.

 

[Merton]

Hi all!
One of my prized Blatter and Blatter pipes had a problem this morning. I tried to get them apart by pulling and/or twisting but they would not budge. I finally had to wrap the stem in cloth and used vice-grips to twist them apart! (Fortunately no damage or marks left behind!) Vice-grips are obviously not a long term solution!
Is there anything you guys use to relax the grip between the mortise/stem connection? A wax or something? The maker is right here in Montreal so I guess I could go back to him and have the mortise widened a touch. But, his store is right downtown and it is a real pain in the ass to get there. Anything I can do here at home?

put it the freezer for 20-30 minutes

 

[Servant King]

I have had luck rubbing a nub of dried-out bar soap on the tenon, but the best solution for me is beeswax, utilizing the same rubbing action over the circumference of the tenon. I can't explain why, but this also helps with a loose fit just as much as a tight fit. For this reason, beeswax is my standby for all connectivity issues (do I sound like an IT guy? ). You can find small packs of beeswax bars, usually by the dozen, for pretty cheap on Amazon.

 

[OzPiper]

Good suggestions all

 

[Briar Lee]

The ultimate solution is to only own Lee pipes with an everlasting, user adjustable, duralumin, recessed, hidden screw stem with a removable stinger.

They don’t crack around the mortise, either.



But although a man could live by Lees alone, I have lots of common pipes with the basic push tenon.

I use beeswax on the tenon, and lots of hopes and prayers.

 

[Beowoulf]

put it the freezer for 20-30 minutes

Used the freezer ... Success Thanks!

Also tried the soap method on some misbehaving pipes - Success again!

Thanks you guys!

 

[jhowell]

Soap is a surfactant and as such is hydrophilic - it will eventually become a gooey mess... Use beeswax instead...

 

[Beowoulf]

I have a big bunch of "purified" white beeswax pastilles somewhere around here. Off on a mission to find them.
Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[sablebrush52]

Graphite or beeswax would works as a lubricant if the tenon is still too tight. Has it always been this way, or was something done to the tenon to make it fit more snugly?
Vulcanite has memory and will return to it's original shape when gently heated, which restores the original fit, provided the Vulcanite hasn't been sanded down.

Here's a video by pipe carver Walt Cannoy on the topic:

 

[kcghost]

It is amazing that you didn't damage the pipe.

 

[TN Jed]

induce enough shrinkage

 

[ARTOPUT]

I have a big bunch of "purified" white beeswax pastilles somewhere around here. Off on a mission to find them.
Thanks so much for the advice!

you can also find beeswax at Leather shops like Tandy and art supply stores sometimes if you can't find yours.