Steaming out stem tooth marks

[dmkerr]

First of all, my apologies if this topic has come up before and I am too lazy/pressed for time/technologically impaired to find it.

I've heard about steaming out stem teeth marks, and also even small bowl dings, but I've never heard how it's actually done.

Anyone here have experience with this that can share their technique?

Thanks!

[Mister Moo]

I know how to steam dings out of a gunstock but would like to hear about pipe and stem techniques as well.

[Mad Hatter]

No experience here but the way I read that it is done is by putting a drop of water in the indentation and touching a hot needle to it. I've never tried it myself but I've often wondered if boiling the stem would have the same result.

[Mister Moo]

Before putting a hot needle to it I know for sure you have to unload it and remove the firing pin.

[wharfrathoss]

the process for stems & bowls is a little different. both use a heat source, but the wood requires water in the dent & the stems don't. i've tried a few different methods, from boiling water to hot needles to soldering irons to heat guns.

for stems, i've found a heat gun works best for me. since vulcanite has a "memory", just heat the tooth mark up a few times & it'll rise back to the orig shape. i don't recommend using boiling water unless you don't mind sanding off the oxidation it'll cause.

for bowls, i use a damp cloth & a soldering iron. put the damp cloth over the dent & touch the soldering iron to it a few times. the wood fibers should swell back up & the dent will be gone. you'll probably have to rewax & polish the area when you're done.

keep in mind neither of these will work if material has been removed instead of just dented. you can't bring back what's not there. hope this helps.

[dmkerr]

Cool! I'll try that. Thanks!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

...for bowls, i use a damp cloth & a soldering iron. put the damp cloth over the dent & touch the soldering iron to it a few times. the wood fibers should swell back up & the dent will be gone. you'll probably have to rewax & polish the area when you're done.

Does this cause any noticeable discoloration?

[DBCcigar]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I know how to steam dings out of a gunstock but would like to hear about pipe and stem techniques as well.

Ohhhh....

I'd like to know how to steam out dings in a gun stock!

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by DBCcigar

Ohhhh....

I'd like to know how to steam out dings in a gun stock!

Isolated dings and dents with a wet towel and a steam iron, much like above. Serious refurb on old beat wood is a topic for another thread.

[wharfrathoss]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Does this cause any noticeable discoloration?

nope, it does dull the finish, probably from removing the carnuba. sometimes it'll get a little cloudy mark like a water ring on a table. for that, i use a little Murphy's Oil Soap wiped on w/a rag. the cloudiness disappears & then you're set to wax & polish. i've heard of people using a steam iron, but i figure the soldering iron & damp rag is easier to focus on the dent.

[selleri]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

i don't recommend using boiling water unless you don't mind sanding off the oxidation it'll cause.

Me neither since hot olive oil works just as fine. That is if you do not have any other way of heating available. Oil can be heated too hot (heat gun could heat too much as well), so everybody does this at their own risk.

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Does this cause any noticeable discoloration?

It could if the pipe has been stained with water based staining, but I'm not aware if any pipe makers would be using that.