Replacing a bit

[RJpuffs]

I'd call it a stem, but apparently its called the "bit" while the stem is the part sticking out of the briar, but whatever ...

While cleaning my low-end Viking I looked away and rapped it against the desk with the pipe cleaner in it, crack, mouthpiece split in two.

Probably a good thing, I was never happy with the airflow, it seemed constricted, whistled, and a pipe cleaner could barely pass through it. And it was apparently a acrylic thingie, not vulcanite. That would explain why it never oxidized, or got a shine.

Now I have a replacement "standard" vulcanite bit/stem on order. The length is right (3 3/8") and the diameter is right (5/8") but the tenon is apparently "close" but a hair thicker. Cup-o-joes states the tenon has to be cut to size on a lathe, not having a lathe or a clue on how one works, I am hoping to be able to sand it down to fit. Hopefully also be able to work around the drilling errors with a longer tenon (draft hole too far from current tenon, causing massive gunk/moisture) and maybe even drill out the draft hole a bit. The briar and grain on the pipe are excellent, its a great smoker, albeit a small bowl, but worth trying to save.

And it comes "straight", dip in hot water to bend to desired shape - interesting, never thought about how they made these things. And it comes "unfinished" which means I have to figure out how to sand/wax it assuming I am able to make it fit/work.

Anyone done something like this before? The sanding/finishing lesson from this may help me get rid of the oxidization on my Jirsa - apparently that one was sitting in the B&M for 10 years (if the date on the tag was correct '9 and the top of the stem/bit is a sickly green, while the bottom is a shiny black. Toothpaste didn't do a darn thing for this level of O[SIZE=1]2[/SIZE] pollution. Its a great smoker as well, huge bowl for those 2 hour ruminations over the meaning of the universe.



RJ

[wharfrathoss]

honestly, it'd be a lot easier to have a pipe repairman make a new stem for ya-if ya want to do it yourself, here's a few ideas:

if you can chuck the replacement bit in a drill w/the tenon pointing out, it will make it easier to sand the tenon down evenly-i wouldn't use any less than 400 grit paper, checking little by little

when you bend the stem, put a pipe cleaner in it to keep the airhole from collapsing

to remove oxidation, i wet sand w/600 grit paper, then move to 1000 then 2000 grit, changing the water in between grits-you can get a spiral sewn cotton wheel, drill mandrel & plastic polishing compound at Home Depot for less than $10-charge the wheel w/compound then buff the stem to a shine-then i rub it lightly w/olive oil, leave it to sit overnite, then rub it off-for all the materials you're looking about $20, which you could have a new stem made for-the upside is that you'll be able to refurb estate pipes & keep the stems shiny

be careful if you try any drilling on the stem or shank-i twist the bit by hand, going step by step till it's where i want it (5/32" usually)-i work the interior of the button w/needle files ($6/set @ HD), then charge a fluffy cleaner w/polishing compound, chuck it in the drill & use that to polish the interior of the stem

hope this helps, good luck

[Mr Mojo Risin]

You may want to check this place out..


http://precisionpiperepair.com/airway.php


Hope this helps...Brian..

[bigkev77]

Boswell replaces stems and their turnaround is just two to three days.

[RJpuffs]

Excellent info, thank ye all! It should be an fun project, and yes, it does open up the world of estates (and, shudder, eBay).


RJ

[RJpuffs]

wharfrathoss' da man! Excellent tutorial, dude, thanks!

Check out the Viking with my hand-made bit! The original (cracked) stem is laying under, mine is shinier! A few "oops"es the white scratch on the top for example, but it worked great and smokes much better now!!!


Also polished the moldy looking Jirsa bit, like brand new!


Here is an extreme closeup (go Garth) showing the original putrid green color around the logo which I cleverly preserved.


On the Viking, I was unable to find a lathe to use so had to hand sand (couldn't chuck the bit in a drill). A little mis-shapen on the tenon, seeing some smelly condensation in the gaps, but overall a snug fit. I may try to nail polish it level (or any suggestions?).

I may have overheated the piece for bending, some brown discolorations streaking around. But it worked. I was too lazy to make the trip to Home Depot so raided the auto paint store next door. Sanded away with 400 grit, then 1000 grit, then 1500 grit (the finest they carried). Then three passes with rubbing compound, again some oops-es missed a couple of spots where its still a little discolored - also compounded the airway with a fluffy. Finally finished with Dunhill's pipe stem cleaner, worked better than any toothpaste I have tried (although it does smell suspiciously like Crest).

Also bored out the pipe a tad, by hand, most of the crud that came out looked like the bowl carbonizer (or I have been too lax in cleaning). Had one bowl this morning, smoked MUCH better than ever before. Some odd tastes filtered through but given all the stuff I've been throwing at it, understandable.

A fun pair of projects!



RJ

[wharfrathoss]

wish i could claim it was my idea/knowledge RJ!-it's all stuff i learned on different forums from guys that know a lot more about pipes than i do-looks like you got some nice results-nail polish or beeswax will work for the tenon, nail polish being a lot more durable, plus you can sand it down if you overapply-it seems like any stem on a sub $100 pipe (like all of mine!) can be improved in looks by the sanding w/high grits, seems like the stems aren't taken past 600 grit till ya drop a little more dough-glad to hear everything worked out, sometimes maintenance/refurbs are 1/2 the fun!

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

wish i could claim it was my idea/knowledge RJ!-it's all stuff i learned on different forums from guys that know a lot more about pipes than i do-looks like you got some nice results-nail polish or beeswax will work for the tenon, nail polish being a lot more durable, plus you can sand it down if you overapply-it seems like any stem on a sub $100 pipe (like all of mine!) can be improved in looks by the sanding w/high grits, seems like the stems aren't taken past 600 grit till ya drop a little more dough-glad to hear everything worked out, sometimes maintenance/refurbs are 1/2 the fun!

Still, it was in the right forum and at the right time (for me at least)

I tried using nail polish but it cracked/peeled right off, I may have put too much. Multiple thin layers, drying in between, perhaps?

I also got a block of pure carnauba wax from Cup 'o Joes, it arrived crumbled into debris. I melted it back into a block, using an empty Mac Baren tin floating in boiling water (same time I was bending the stem). Its a tough wax to use, apparently it has to be buffed onto the wheel, then buffed from wheel onto surface. Hand buffing ain't cutting it, may need to get an attachment for the cordless drill driver.



RJ

[wharfrathoss]

you got the right idea w/the nail polish in thin layers, i let 'em dry a day in between coats

you'll bust your elbow trying to hand buff carnuba, but the drill setup works-home depot carries what ya need if ya don't want to order it-make sure to get the spiral sewn wheel for applying the carnuba, unstiched wheel for buffing once it's on-charge the wheel by touching the carnuba to the moving wheel for about 2 or 3 seconds-just like the nail polish, multiple thin coats work best-HD also sells the madrels for the wheel & a plastic polish that i use after sanding stems to bring a shine out-should be under $25 for 2 wheels, 2 mandrels & the plastic compound

[RJpuffs]

A followup to my vulcanite chronicles ... "Herf long and perspire" ...

After several days of micron-thin nail polish coats (courtesy my 7 year old girl, who valiantly donated her American Girl best pink bottle to the cause), drying, fitting, sanding, re-coating, ad naseum - I finally smoked a whole bowl in the refurbed pipe.

Wow, what a difference. No doubt the boring out of the airhole helped airflow a lot, but the pipe smoked incredibly well. It already had a nice cake, one reason I wanted to save it. I chose the MacB Black Ambrosia - one of the hardest to load, light and keep lit. Usually a vicious tongue nipper, it smoked mellow and really well now. The original stem/bit used to give terrible gurgle and gunking, the new home-made one works incredibly well. No gurgle, BA is a very soggy baccy so periodic mopping with a pipe cleaner was obviously necessary, but most importantly it didn't gunk up like it did in the past. The nail polish has created a near perfect seal on the tenon, no vented plasma or drips. I also added a countersunk opening on the tip of the tenon and it may have worked to my advantage. The pipe was cool down to the very bottom of the bowl, I burnt this puppy down to fine ash - something this pipe never allowed in the past without heating fingers and tongue while gurgling dixie.

Happy happy joy joy!