Tight Stem on Estate Barling

[cosmicfolklore]

I certainly wouldn't be sanding it, because it is easier to fix a tight one than a loose one. Bees wax is good, but I use it more for loose stems.
On mine, the least evasive way to fix is to take a #2 graphite pencil (Ticonderoga if you have it) and just color the whole end of the tenon with it giving it an even layer of graphite, and viola... it will work. You may have to do this every couple of dozen times you remove the stem though, but it is the least evasive means of fixing.

 

[SSGT.]

I can't say an easy fix because I don't know one but what I can advise is to be extra cautious I snapped a mouthpiece on a KB&B trying to force it to turn. found a replacement p-lip and the pipe smokes fine but destroyed the nostalgia of the pipe. Wish I would have posted for a fix beforehand, but then you know about hindsight.

 

[ShopPipesWizard]

I will also hop on the train of using graphite. We use graphite powder but using a pencil works great! Color the whole tenon and insert. I would avoid sanding anything at all cost, when the pipe was made, it was made with the correct fit!

 

[Questionable Source]

On mine, the least evasive way to fix is to take a #2 graphite pencil (Ticonderoga if you have it) and just color the whole end of the tenon with it giving it an even layer of graphite, and viola... it will work.

Staedtler is my preference, it will make it nice and smooth, if before it was gutentight.

 

[georged]

Adjusting an Out-Of-Shape Vulcanite Tenon

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[VUswim73]

Thank You!! Several of you contributed to resolving an issue I had with a stem that would not budge from a brand-new MM Cob I recently bought. The combination of 400 sandpaper and 400 steel wool, plus an old fashioned #2 pencil, sharpened the traditional way with an hand-cranked sharpener, did the trick. The stem now moves as it should, at least before smoking. If things change after my next bowl with this pipe (sometime in the coming week), I will let you know.