Fixing a lose stem or a tight stem in a briar Pipe

Once in a blue moon a pipe smoker may be faced with a loose stem. Most of the time this problem will fix itself, but if the stem is so loose that it falls out, then something has to be done. Your best bet is to take the pipe to a tobacconist or send it to a repair person. These people will have years of practice doing these repairs, and it will cost very little. It is very easy for an amateur to crack a shank when attempting to repair a pipe, as most of us, at one time or another will agree to that.

Nevertheless, if you are determined to do it on your own, first you have to determine what kind of stem is in the pipe. If the stem is Lucite, the easiest fix is to apply a very thin layer of clear nail polish to the tenon, allow this to dry *completely*, and then carefully sand the tenon to fit. A vulcanite stem, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated, as you will need to heat the tenon and expand it in some way. There are a number of ways to go about this procedure, but the best one is found below.

First, remove the stem from the pipe and insert a drill bit, using the end that fits into the chuck and try it for size. If it fits snugly into the tenon, the next size up is the one you will be using.

Next, carefully heat the tenon over the flame (1/2 inch to 1 inch away) of a disposable lighter for a couple of minutes, rotate the tenon back and forth while moving the flame up and down (the intent is to soften the vulcanite, not melt it).

Then take the drill bit and insert the end that goes into the chuck into the tenon. Push it in about 1/2 inch, be very careful to keep the tenon straight.

Then while holding the pipe and bit with both hands, put it under cold water to cool down. Pull the bit out and clean it.



Fixing a stem that's too tight
If the stem is still inserted in the pipe and is so difficult to remove that you fear your pipe may be damaged, then place the pipe in the freezer for several minutes. This works the vast majority of the time; however, if the stem still proves too difficult to remove, smoke the pipe, allow it to cool, and try to remove the stem again. If neither of these techniques work, then send the pipe to a reputable repair person.

If you do manage to remove the stem, place some sort of dry lubricant, such as graphite (from a soft pencil) or wax, on the tenon and attempt to reinsert the stem. If this does not provide satisfactory results, you will need to remove a small amount of material from the tenon. Wrap some very fine (400 grit or so) sandpaper or some "O" or finer grade steel wool around the tenon and twist the stem gently. Work very slowly and carefully, and check the fit frequently until it is satisfactory.