Straight Stem on a Carved Meer

[Briar Tuck]

I recently acquired this estate meer as part of an auction lot, and it's in great shape, but the straight stem on it seems odd to me. I'm used to seeing at least slightly bent stems on meers like this, and this one with a straight stem just looks weird. I'm sure it's smokable, but I don't really like the way it looks with that stem. I'm considering either attempting to put a bend in this stem, buying a replacement stem, or just leaving it be, but I was hoping to get some opinions on what to do with it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Looks like it was left in a window and sunlight warmth straightened it.

 

[didimauw]

Yup my bent billiard SMS meer did that. I left it in my hot car one day and the stem straightened out. Couldn't even put it back in the case. Boiled it for a few minutes, and rebent it on the counter. Easy fix.

 

[didimauw]

 

[fMf Piper]

Nice looking meer, but I agree the straight stem looks out of place to me.

I say try bending the stem. I know @Lumbridge bent some of his cob stems and they turned out really nice. Here is a post with the photo of the finished product. Show off Your Corn Cobs Here! :: Pipes: Show Us Your (fill in the blank) Pipes - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/show-off-your-corn-cobs-here.24153/post-36768750

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

warm it up with a heat gun until it’s pliable, gently bend it to desired radius and run it under cool water to set it. Easy peasy. Thats how all pipe stems are bent.

 

[Briar Tuck]

Thanks, guys. I'll will try to bend it back into shape. Hoping to smoke this one for March Meers Madness.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Nice looking meer, but I agree the straight stem looks out of place to me.

I say try bending the stem. I know @Lumbridge bent some of his cob stems and they turned out really nice. Here is a post with the photo of the finished product. Show off Your Corn Cobs Here! :: Pipes: Show Us Your (fill in the blank) Pipes - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/show-off-your-corn-cobs-here.24153/post-36768750

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

Unless the stem is vulcanite. Boiling water will flash oxidize vulcanite.

 

[kcghost]

You may want to give this to someone who has done this and let them bend it.

 

[Uniquemeerschaum]

If it is polyester, you can bent it with hot water.Carvers already bent them with hot water.Just put it in hot water for 1 mibute than bent it and put cold water.

 

[TheWhale13]

It's not impossible that the carver just had no clue and did not bend it.