Pipe stem getting hard to put back in

[bradleycheuk]

I was trying to give my pipe a good clean but it was impossible to put the stem back into the pipe. There seems to be a lot of friction. Is there anything I can do about this?

Thanks
Brad

[dillonmcmurphy]

For a temporary fix you can coat the tenon with graphite from a pencil. It will lubricate it to help it go back in the shank. For a longer term fix, get some high grit sand paper and sand the tenon down. Be VERY careful because if you sand too much the stem will be loose. Hope this helps.

[Dedalus]

So I was searching for a good answer to your question and stumbled across this:
YouTube - Fixing Loose or Tight Stems
Seems really useful...if you can handle the background music.

[wharfrathoss]

since you've just cleaned it, don't go for any "long term" fixes like sanding the tenon. the shank has likely absorbed some moisture making the fit tight. let it set for a few days or a wk & try it again. don't force it as you can crack the shank. if it doesn't fit after a wk then rub some beeswax lightly on the tenon. hope this helps.

[bradleycheuk]

Wow, many thanks for the advice, the graphite works real well. Thanks for the quick replies.

[dillonmcmurphy]

Glad it helped. And yes I did forget to mention that you should not try the sanding before letting your pipe dry out for at least one week because excess moisture could be causing the wood to expand.

[DSturg369]

If a quick-fix is needed, try putting the entire pipe in the freezer for a little while. It will shrink the wood and allow for an easier stem placement/removal. Only do this on a cool pipe, not recently smoked.