Tight Stem on Estate Barling

[MonarchistPiper]

So I got this beautiful estate Barling, problem is the stem is tight and squeaky and Im scared to break the tenon, any fixes besides the freezer (it worked for a bit but went back to being tight in a day). Someone said to sand the actual tenon, Im reluctant to try.

PS: Sending it to a professional restorer is not an option for me as I live in South America

 

[camaguey]

give it a rest on the refrigerator for a couple of days.

 

[romaso]

Rub some beeswax on the tenon, repeat as needed

 

[MonarchistPiper]

give it a rest on the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Only the stem or the whole pipe?

 

[Servant King]

My tight tenon trick is to rub the tenon with a nub of dried out bar soap just prior to reattachment and smoking. Beeswax I use for a loose tenon.

 

[renfield]

Beeswax on the tenon, as mentioned above. It takes very little. Re-apply if it tightens up over time.

Interestingly beeswax will also tighten a slightly loose fit as well. The magic of the bees.

 

[camaguey]

Only the stem or the whole pipe?

the whole pipe. After you can separate it , pass a pencil on the tenon.

 

[xrundog]

For starters, as an estate, my assumption is that some crud is lurking in the mortise. It’s really typical to have a tight stem and then when everything is squeaky clean, it can actually be a tad loose. So use alcohol and swabs to get that area super clean. Use picks of some sort to scrape every nook and cranny. Let it dry out thoroughly. Only after doing that should you alter the fit. Some people like to roll up a medium grit sand paper and work the mortise. Whatever you end up altering, Do a little at a time and check the fit often.

 

[ssjones]

I like to rub on some powdered graphite, just a tiny amount.
I don't like introducing anything that increases the diameter, as the stem is already tight. So personally, I wouldn't use beeswax for a tight stem. (learned that from George Dibos).

 

[ssjones]

For starters, as an estate, my assumption is that some crud is lurking in the mortise. It’s really typical to have a tight stem and then when everything is squeaky clean, it can actually be a tad loose. So use alcohol and swabs to get that area super clean. Use picks of some sort to scrape every nook and cranny. Let it dry out thoroughly. Only after doing that should you alter the fit. Some people like to roll up a medium grit sand paper and work the mortise. Whatever you end up altering, Do a little at a time and check the fit often.

Good points. I paper towel, dipped in alcohol, scrunched into the shank will remove the crud and not any wood. Give that a try first.

 

[huntertrw]

I agree with xrundog: Make certain that the mortice is clean first and then, and only then, address the fit if the tenon is still too tight. Rather than powdered graphite, I use a Number 2 pencil on the tenon; it works for me to ease a tight fit and is much less messy.

 

[Sigmund]

Once it is clean the pencil/graphite solution works well for me.

After that if all else fails I pull out the 400 grit sandpaper and move very slowly to make it fit.

 

[camaguey]

I like to rub on some powdered graphite, just a tiny amount.
I don't like introducing anything that increases the diameter, as the stem is already tight. So personally, I wouldn't use beeswax for a tight stem. (learned that from George Dibos).

I agree. In my experience , beeswax eventually stuck the pipe again.

 

[Roach1]

Once it is clean the pencil/graphite solution works well for me.

After that if all else fails I pull out the 400 grit sandpaper and move very slowly to make it fit.

I have used about 400 grit and it worked for me.

 

[sablebrush52]

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING!
BEFORE YOU RING A BELL THAT CANNOT BE UNRUNG!

Vulcanite has memory. Follow this video by Walt Cannoy to establish the tenon to its original shape first!

Yes, it refers to loose tenons, but the point is to establish the original shape. There's no guarantee that an earlier owner attempted to spread the tenon, causing the issue.

Once you have reestablished the proper tenon shape you can use some of the above suggestions to improve the fit.

 

[ssjones]

Jesse's words ring true!. Measure twice, cut once!

 

[MonarchistPiper]

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING!
BEFORE YOU RING A BELL THAT CANNOT BE UNRUNG!

Vulcanite has memory. Follow this video by Walt Cannoy to establish the tenon to its original shape first!

Yes, it refers to loose tenons, but the point is to establish the original shape. There's no guarantee that an earlier owner attempted to spread the tenon, causing the issue.

Once you have reestablished the proper tenon shape you can use some of the above suggestions to improve the fit.

For some reason cant see the vid

 

[sablebrush52]

For some reason cant see the vid

Don't know what to tell you. I just tried it and it plays for me.

I just noticed that you're in Uruguay. Could there be some sort blocking of particular YouTube subject matter?

 

[MonarchistPiper]

Don't know what to tell you. I just tried it and it plays for me.

I just noticed that you're in Uruguay. Could there be some sort blocking of particular YouTube subject matter?

I doubt it? But maybe. Thanks anyway!

 

[ClassicKehler]

A squeaky mortise would imply that it is dry. Bees wax could fix this, but it is possible to lubricate a tenon so that it will go into a mortise that is too small and split the mortise. This can especially happen if there is too much beeswax. Graphite from a pencil is probably safer in this respect. Also, even though it was mentioned, sanding the mortise will be much more difficult and inconsistent than sanding the tenon. Grab some 800 grit paper and carefully sand the tenon a little bit at a time, being sure to wipe of the dust before fit checking. The dust can get stuck in the mortise and give a false tightness.