Well f***... (traumatic pipe breakage)

[rd02sir]

Well this is a lesson learned. Don't keep the stem out too long.
I broke the bit off the stem from my Parker pipe. It wasn't the best smoker I have, but I'm pissed. I did a s/a treatment the other week, trying to deghost it for VA's.

Well, left the stem out and went to put it back together, it was a very firm fit and I pushed the envelope too far and this happened

Broke the bit right off. I'm not a happy camper. And with the stress of school, I really don't want to have to send it off to get it fixed.
Sigh...lesson learned...

 

[kasbah]

Truly sorry for your loss, my friend, that's too bad Is that the reason for the breakage? Do stems generally expand when not attached?

 

[rd02sir]

I think it's the wood that expanded, causing the tight fit.

 

[kasbah]

Ah, that would make more sense. Either way this sucks man, I hope you get it taken care of quickly.

 

[modernchicago]

you're lucky you didn't slice your finger open (I assume you were twisting it).

Measure the tenon and shank diameter and i might have something i can throw in an envelope for you. Free.

 

[rd02sir]

modern- youre very kind!! I don't have a caliper to measure, so it won'tbe a very accurate measurement, and i can't seem to get the rest of the stem out. I'll wait a few days to try and take it out and i'll send you some measurements. Thanks again!!

 

[photoman13]

Never had that happen after a salt and alcohol treatment.

 

[modernchicago]

put it in the freezer for 2 minutes and 2 seconds.

Under a bag of Peas.

And fill the ice tray while you're in there.

 

[rd02sir]

Photoman- I left the stem out for about a week, probably 5 days too long. Just kinda forgot about it.
Modern- I'll try that now.

 

[mp31guitar]

I know what you are going through.

 

[hawk60ce]

Its been 4 minutes...results?

 

[rd02sir]

Modern- the tenon is just under 8mm and the stem to bowl is 15mm

 

[numbersix]

Aw that sucks, but lesson learned (by me too) - thanks for sharing.

 

[modernchicago]

what kind of pipe is it? Black basket pipe?

It does have some ring grain.

 

[captainprophesy]

Ah man that's sucks ass... Man I am truly sorry.

 

[ghost]

Hey CAP, just out of curiosity did you fill the shank with the SA too?
I've forgotten to put a stem back on before, but never had that happen. Usually after a good cleaning on an estate it may be a bit loose, but that's what the beeswax is for...

 

[rd02sir]

Modern- it's a Parker Jockey Club pipe. Its laqured(sp?) back rusticated.
Ghost- well i actually used cotton balls, salt is too messy and can be hard to clean out. I stuffed the shank with pipe cleaners and a napkin. I'm thinking it's due to the big humidity change here. It's getting cold and dry, so maybe that had something to do with it.

 

[ghost]

Okay, I was going to suggest cotton. I just switched to that myself, it's way easier to clean and I was getting paranoid about salt getting in the shank for that reason.
Still a bummer...

 

[wolfie90]

That sucks bad man ive never had that happen.

 

[gnatjulio]

Thanks for the heads up CanAsian. Soon as I read your post I remembered that I have three GBP estate pipes I'm working on seperated from the stems for about a week and a half. Sure enough first was really tight 1/4 the way in. Was able to separate it and used a chapstik that was handy to get them all in. Now I hope the chapstik doesn't cause a problem.