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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 10, 2021 22:29:04 GMT -5
Sorry if my terminology is incorrect, but I acquired a couple of Bones pipes a while ago and the stems are a pretty tight fit. What's the easiest way to make them fit? Should I use a little bit of Emery cloth or something like that on the stem to make it fit easier?
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Post by trailboss on Oct 10, 2021 22:49:38 GMT -5
Graphite for tight stems.
Beeswax for loose stems.
If you bought the pipes from bones or a retailer I would let them know of the issue.
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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 11, 2021 1:20:41 GMT -5
I did, but I didn't really feel like sending it back.
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 11, 2021 3:08:46 GMT -5
I would be careful of taking too much off the tenon in case you go too far in the opposite direction.
I'd go with Charlie's recommendation of graphite. You're adding lubricant, but not filing anything off the actual stem.
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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 11, 2021 4:13:59 GMT -5
Where do you get graphite from?
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 11, 2021 4:31:52 GMT -5
Where do you get graphite from? You can get it from a key cutting place, or the easy way is to rub the lead of a pencil around the tenon. If that doesn't work, take some pencil lead and grind it up and rub that all over the tenon. |
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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 11, 2021 6:43:10 GMT -5
Ok, thanks.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Oct 11, 2021 7:38:15 GMT -5
I've had a similar problem with a couple of stems and I used a real fine sandpaper to take off a minute amount of tenon...I always sand a bit and then check the fit...need a bit more..sand and then try the fit. That way you don't take off too much. Minute amount is the key.
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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 11, 2021 8:33:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the info
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Post by darktater on Oct 11, 2021 8:35:33 GMT -5
My Peterson was doing the same thing. A tiny bit of bar soap eased that up. My Morgan bones is the same way, so I'll be trying either the soap or now some graphite on it.
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 11, 2021 9:08:37 GMT -5
I've had a similar problem with a couple of stems and I used a real fine sandpaper to take off a minute amount of tenon...I always sand a bit and then check the fit...need a bit more..sand and then try the fit. That way you don't take off too much. Minute amount is the key. So only sand it for 60 seconds?  |
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Post by bonanzadriver on Oct 11, 2021 9:52:09 GMT -5
Don't be afraid to use Emory cloth if the graphite / pencil lead doesn't work. Don't get me wrong, nobody want's the tenon to be too loose, but you also don't want a stuck stem, broken stem, cracked shank. I've tried the graphite on several stems that were too tight. It helped on some, but not all.
If you do use the emory cloth, be patient and simply twist it around the tenon a few times, wipe off the dust, apply a little bit of graphite and test fit it. This will take a bit of time but the effort will be worth.
I've refurbed several dozen pipes over the last few years and learned everything I needed from either searching youtube or using my google fu to find articles related to what I wanted to learn at the time.
Just my $0.02
cheers
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Post by sparks on Oct 11, 2021 10:14:16 GMT -5
I find an angle grinder works well. Just use a light touch.  |
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Post by bonanzadriver on Oct 11, 2021 10:24:45 GMT -5
I find an angle grinder works well. Just use a light touch. A tip from Scottie no doubt.  |
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Post by CrustyCat on Oct 11, 2021 11:26:44 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I appreciate it 🤣
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Post by peteguy on Oct 11, 2021 13:57:18 GMT -5
Use a pencil
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Post by pepesdad1 on Oct 11, 2021 14:13:32 GMT -5
I've had a similar problem with a couple of stems and I used a real fine sandpaper to take off a minute amount of tenon...I always sand a bit and then check the fit...need a bit more..sand and then try the fit. That way you don't take off too much. Minute amount is the key. So only sand it for 60 seconds? It isn't time...it is the trace amount that you take off....I wrap the sandpaper around the tenon and twist it around maybe twice and than check the fit...the word is " my newt" not minute (as in time). |
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Post by trailboss on Oct 11, 2021 21:01:08 GMT -5
So only sand it for 60 seconds? It isn't time...it is the trace amount that you take off....I wrap the sandpaper around the tenon and twist it around maybe twice and than check the fit...the word is " my newt" not minute (as in time). So you rub your stems with a Newt, Walt? I know they are plentiful in Florida, so I reckon that it is a Floridian thing. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 11, 2021 21:07:35 GMT -5
It isn't time...it is the trace amount that you take off....I wrap the sandpaper around the tenon and twist it around maybe twice and than check the fit...the word is " my newt" not minute (as in time). So you rub your stems with a Newt, Walt? I know they are plentiful in Florida, so I reckon that it is a Floridian thing. I thought they were from Scotland. They are mentioned in the Scottish Play. |
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Post by trailboss on Oct 11, 2021 21:10:30 GMT -5
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 12, 2021 3:57:24 GMT -5
It isn't time...it is the trace amount that you take off....I wrap the sandpaper around the tenon and twist it around maybe twice and than check the fit...the word is " my newt" not minute (as in time). So you rub your stems with a Newt, Walt? I know they are plentiful in Florida, so I reckon that it is a Floridian thing. It has to be your own Newt though...If I borrowed someone else's it wouldn't be MY newt. Reminds me of a joke... A man walks into a bar sets a newt on the bar. He says to the barman, 'can I have a pint please, and a half a pint for tiny?' The barman asks, 'Why do you call it Tiny?' The man replies, 'Because he's my newt.' |
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Post by darktater on Oct 12, 2021 7:16:50 GMT -5
ok, so the Morgan is now the Tuesday pipe. Before my first bowl this morning, I put just a tiny bit of bow string wax on the tenon and rubbed it around - then wiped gently with a napkin. Fit is much better now. FYI
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 12, 2021 9:23:26 GMT -5
So you rub your stems with a Newt, Walt? I know they are plentiful in Florida, so I reckon that it is a Floridian thing. It has to be your own Newt though...If I borrowed someone else's it wouldn't be MY newt. Reminds me of a joke... A man walks into a bar sets a newt on the bar. He says to the barman, 'can I have a pint please, and a half a pint for tiny?' The barman asks, 'Why do you call it Tiny?' The man replies, 'Because he's my newt.' Ohhhhh no you didn't! |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Oct 12, 2021 9:35:06 GMT -5
We ALL apparently have too much time on our hands!!!
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Post by Professor S. on Oct 12, 2021 21:20:01 GMT -5
For loose tenons, I've discovered that clear nail polish (swiped from my daughter) works well. Since beeswax can be hard to procure, this is a good, workable alternative. I concur with the advice concerning tight fitting tenons. Be cautious and patient.
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rastewart
Junior Member
Posts: 328
First Name: Rich
Favorite Pipe: Freehands, bent bulldogs, and the incomparable Peterson 303
Favorite Tobacco: Mac Baren's Scottish Blend (Mixture), C&D Mountain Camp, C&D Bayou Morning
Location:
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Post by rastewart on Oct 13, 2021 13:04:27 GMT -5
Where do you get graphite from? |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 13, 2021 13:36:53 GMT -5
Just sticking to tenon in boiling water for a few seconds and letting it cool will usually tighten it up perfectly.
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Post by peteguy on Oct 14, 2021 13:53:31 GMT -5
I have been trying to learn the replacement stem side of this hobby for like a year. I have a metal lathe, watched all the videos from Georged and others, I have even had hands on experience from a local carver. There are just so many reasons why it is hard to do on an estate pipe that I will not cover them here. Georged has given lots of reasons over the years and I agree with him. What an under rated skill.
As an example, I popped another shank last night working on an estate bulldog. The fit was great until the last turn, pop goes the shank. Triple checked my lathe, used calipers, used test inserts for size, etc. I have decided that I will never work on a pipe I do not own. Either I do not have the patience, the skill or the knowledge to figure this out. Sometimes they fit like a glove and you feel you have finally nailed this craft down. The next pipe you work on turns into a nightmare. It is not an easy thing to do IMO. Snug and smooth is the goal. If that is where your Dagner pipes are it might be better to live with it. If they are just a hair tight I would rub the tenon with some #2 pencil. If they are a little loose I would do the heat method like Ron mentioned.
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RDPipes
Junior Member
http://rdpipes.briar.club/
Posts: 485 
First Name: Ron
Favorite Pipe: Bulldog
Favorite Tobacco: Escudo
Location:
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Post by RDPipes on Oct 14, 2021 14:47:27 GMT -5
Sorry if my terminology is incorrect, but I acquired a couple of Bones pipes a while ago and the stems are a pretty tight fit. What's the easiest way to make them fit? Should I use a little bit of Emery cloth or something like that on the stem to make it fit easier? Sometimes when a pipe is made the tenon mortise fit is perfect till it gets to it's destination which may be more or less humid and this has an effect on the tenon fit. I would let them set till they get acclimated to the climate, I know the humidity can be very low in the state your in depending what part. If letting them sit for awhile doesn't do it try smoking one a half dozen times and see what happens. Last resort it trying to adjust the fit of a stem because later after several smokes or more it may be too loose. Just my 2 cents.
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Post by trailboss on Oct 16, 2021 15:06:37 GMT -5
^Sage advice.
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