Loose Stem

[Servant King]

The stem of my Savinelli Miele 611 has always had a relatively loose fit into the shank. It's not moving around or anything, but it's definitely not as snug as I feel it should be. Had a bowl of Sutliff Westminster this afternoon, let it cool down like I always do, and when I took the stem out for cleaning, it was the loosest it has ever been. Barely had to put in any effort whatsoever to pull it out. Now, I've dealt with the opposite problem successfully--I used a dried out nub of bar soap on the tenon of my Mattone 601 to get a better fit, as it was too tight. Haven't dealt with the too loose issue yet, and it seems decidedly more difficult than its counterpart.

Anyone have any advice for me on this? It's not a disaster yet...I'm hoping to address this before it gets to that point. Thanks!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I use clear, fast drying nail polish bought at the Dollar Tree (that's enough from the Peanut Gallery).

Coat and let dry. Add another coat if necessary.

Interestingly, I last used it on a blue Savinelli Arcobaleno (and so what if it made me feel pretty).

 

[edger]

A little flame on the end of the tenon and push it against a hard surface. This works for vulcanite anyway.

 

[niblicck]

Light a tea candle an hover the tenon over it an inch and a half over the flame while rotating it in your finger. I start out by counting to 30 while heating tenon. Let cool and check fit. If still loose reheat and count to forty let cool an check fit. Do not overheat whatever you do.

 

[FurCoat]

I've used two methods on acrylic stems. First is to rub bees wax on the tenon. Works well with loose or tight stems. The second is to run the tip of a knife length wise down the tenon a few times. It raises the material ever so slightly along the ct and tightens the fit.

 

[Laurent]

Heating with a candle will make the tenon go back to it’s original size. Tenons have a memory, just don’t over heat.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The heat trick works with vulcanite but can crack acrylic if you're not careful. Acrylic has no shape memory.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’ve found bees wax to fix a tenon that’s either loose or tight. I haven’t bothered trying another method as I haven’t needed to yet

 

[Infantry23]

Bees wax fixed a loose stem for me

 

[sablebrush52]

If your stem is vulcanite, this will work to tighten it:

If it's acrylic, a thin coating of clear nail polish will do the job.

 

[craig61a]

A little flame on the end of the tenon and push it against a hard surface. This works for vulcanite anyway.

While that is a popular suggestion on a lot of forums, I wouldn’t recommend it.

What that does is bell the end of the tenon, and over time will cause more problems.

 

[Servant King]

Thanks for all the tips, gents! I think I'm leaning toward the nail polish fix, if for no reason other than that I'm worried about doing damage with a flame, however unlikely such a thing might be. The Miele's stem is acrylic, not vulcanite. I'll give it a try later this week and report back.

Much obliged!

 

[Ahi Ka]

Bro a Miele deserves the bees wax treatment

 

[Ahi Ka]

Also, from those of you who have tried both, is there any advantage to using a graphite pencil to bees wax?

 

[Servant King]

Bro a Miele deserves the bees wax treatment

I was just thinking that. Miele = honey...beeswax! Of course! It's between the nail polish fix and the beeswax fix, maybe I should just flip a coin. Candle flame fix just fills me with anxiety... ?

 

[Ahi Ka]

I was just thinking that. Miele = honey...beeswax! Of course! It's between the nail polish fix and the beeswax fix, maybe I should just flip a coin. Candle flame fix just fills me with anxiety... ?

Why not combine all three approaches? Go get your nails done, and get your beauty therapist to candle your ears, then use your own wax….and then promptly sell the pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Candle flame fix just fills me with anxiety...

It wouldn't work on an acrylic stem anyway.?

 

[OzPiper]

I’ve found bees wax to fix a tenon that’s either loose or tight. I haven’t bothered trying another method as I haven’t needed to yet

Bees wax fixed a loose stem for me

^^^^ ?
Bees wax works well
Otherwise paint tenon with clear nail polish

 

[Servant King]

Why not combine all three approaches? Go get your nails done, and get your beauty therapist to candle your ears, then use your own wax….and then promptly sell the pipe.

Only if you'll buy it. Hey, NZ is taking USPS 1st class now, it can happen!

 

[Ahi Ka]

Only if you'll buy it. Hey, NZ is taking USPS 1st class now, it can happen!

I would be tempted, but to protect our Manuka honey export industry any wax processed products need to go through fumigation. That pipe would be ghosted more than condorlovers cuttys