stone
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Post by stone on May 2, 2019 6:45:57 GMT -5
I am sure there are many here who already know this but it never hurts to share. In preparation for selling some pipes in my auction, I decided to try to repair some bite marks in a few stems in order to make the pipe complete and whole again. I did a ton of research but not quite enough. I bought the below "rubberized black super glue" and tried it on a couple of my pipes which I will not be selling, it doesn't work. It didn't do any damage as it peels off when you sand it and leaves you right where you started.
After a little more research, I found that stem repair works much better with this glue because it is simply tinted glue as opposed to rubberized. I am guessing that the rubberization prevents perfect adhering and will not tolerate sanding. It was somewhat like trying to sand rubber, it rolled around when you sanded it down thin enough.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2019 7:04:37 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing 👍. For me half the fun of this hobby of pipe smoking is either making a pipe or a difficult restoration of an estate pipe .
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,912 
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on May 2, 2019 7:25:18 GMT -5
If not a bite through, I remove toothmarks on estates the same way I fix loose tenons and remove oxidation.  |
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stone
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Post by stone on May 2, 2019 7:48:08 GMT -5
If not a bite through, I remove toothmarks on estates the same way I fix loose tenons and remove oxidation. I tried heat on a few of these and it turns out they are marks from a grinder rather than a clencher and the material is simply gone. It's like wood. if it's a dent, raise/swell it with water, if it's a gouge you have to fill it. |
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stone
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Post by stone on May 2, 2019 7:51:14 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing 👍. For me half the fun of this hobby of pipe smoking is either making a pipe or a difficult restoration of an estate pipe . Me too! There is no better feeling than looking at something after you've built, fixed, or repaired it and knowing that "I did that". I wish I could pass that feeling on to my son, he would just throw it away and buy a new one .... whatever it is. |
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Post by roadsdiverged on May 2, 2019 13:01:45 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing 👍. For me half the fun of this hobby of pipe smoking is either making a pipe or a difficult restoration of an estate pipe . I've been checking Ebay all week for some pipes that need some TLC. I dont need a new pipe, I just like the "therapy" I get from bringing one back to life. |
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stone
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Post by stone on May 2, 2019 13:41:03 GMT -5
^^^^^ +1
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Post by kxg on May 2, 2019 14:27:04 GMT -5
I am sure there are many here who already know this but it never hurts to share. In preparation for selling some pipes in my auction, I decided to try to repair some bite marks in a few stems in order to make the pipe complete and whole again. I did a ton of research but not quite enough. I bought the below "rubberized black super glue" and tried it on a couple of my pipes which I will not be selling, it doesn't work. It didn't do any damage as it peels off when you sand it and leaves you right where you started.
After a little more research, I found that stem repair works much better with this glue because it is simply tinted glue as opposed to rubberized. I am guessing that the rubberization prevents perfect adhering and will not tolerate sanding. It was somewhat like trying to sand rubber, it rolled around when you sanded it down thin enough.
In the FWIW department: I'm not certain that cyanoacrylate (super glue) is the best material for stem repair. Contrary to popular opinion, normal super glue is not water proof. I discovered this in the world of fountain pen repair. If super glue comes into regular contact with water, ie fountain pen ink, the glue will soften and fail. I'm wondering if the same is true for stem repair, especially in an area that comes into contact with your mouth, which is I'm guessing, where most stem repairs occur (other than tenons). George Dibos, in one of his video series on replacing vulcanite stem material, uses a two part epoxy with a black pigment added. He recommends West System G-Flex Thickeded Epoxy and System Three Black Epoxy Paste Pigment. By way of disclaimer, I'm no pipe restoration guru but I have repaired a fair number of fountain pens for my own use and I discovered this information from one of the true fountain pen repair wizards - along with my own experience the hard way. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2019 14:33:14 GMT -5
Thanks, Kelly. I screen snapped your post for future reference. I will buy some of the recommended epoxy and pigment.
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Post by kxg on May 2, 2019 14:39:00 GMT -5
Thanks, Kelly. I screen snapped your post for future reference. I will buy some of the recommended epoxy and pigment. Don't thank me (at least too much)! Thank George, he is the wizard with the videos! Edit: And by the way, you can buy that epoxy in 4.75 gallon pails, just in case you plan on doing extensive stem work! |
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Post by sperrytops on May 2, 2019 15:23:42 GMT -5
Is the teeth chatter heavy? Years ago Tinder Box would buff out teeth chatter on a buffing wheel when cleaning pipes.
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Post by peteguy on May 2, 2019 16:23:42 GMT -5
Are you doing straight superglue or mixing in charcoal or vlucanite dust?
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stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 6:03:20 GMT -5
Are you doing straight superglue or mixing in charcoal or vlucanite dust? Funny you should ask! I did a ton of research and found that black super glue is what many professional restoration guys use so I bought some but it was the rubberized stuff and that didn't work. The good stuff wasn't going to arrive until Monday and joeman PM'd me and told me what to use and so since I am experimenting on a couple of my pipes until I get it perfected, I thought I would try what I had laying around the house and work shop.
NOTE..... Don't use sanded down charcoal briquets and regular super glue!  The instant I started mixing them with a toothpick it started to smoke and I immediately grabbed it and ran outside! It hardened on the end of the toothpick into a rock hard ball.
I don't think the fumes did me any permanent harm, I saw that flying elephant perfectly clearly!
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stone
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Post by stone on May 3, 2019 6:06:08 GMT -5
Is the teeth chatter heavy? Years ago Tinder Box would buff out teeth chatter on a buffing wheel when cleaning pipes. I use micro mesh pads and a series of buffing wheels to take care of teeth chatter but these were cases where the previous owner must have chomped on the stem because the marks were deep and could not be expanded with heat. Thank God I have some old stems that I can practice on  |
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briarbuck
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Leave the gun...take the cannoli.
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Post by briarbuck on May 3, 2019 7:12:42 GMT -5
I've used black fretboard repair glue that's made for guitars.
Warning. I am not a professional restorer nor did I stay at a Holliday Inn.
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The instant I started mixing them with a toothpick it started to smoke and I immediately grabbed it and ran outside! It hardened on the end of the toothpick into a rock hard ball.
