Rattling Stem at the Tenon and Mortise

[americaman]

I just got a pipe that is unsmoked from the 2000s. The stem is rattling due to the tenon and mortise not having a tight fit. I was thinking of stuffing a paper towel in there, but is there a more permanent fix to this?

I hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving week.

 

[bullet08]

Have you smoked it yet? Not sure smoking will fix that situation if it's that loose. But most loose fit I had with pipes I haven't smoked in awhile returned to good fit after smoking.

 

[Dyakoff]

I just got a pipe that is unsmoked from the 2000s. The stem is rattling due to the tenon and mortise not having a tight fit. I was thinking of stuffing a paper towel in there, but is there a more permanent fix to this?

I hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving week.

A lot of nail polish would be a better solution than a paper towel.
I’m a big fan of nail polish, cause it was the only thing that helped me. My stem was not “rattling” but it was kinda “spinning freely”

 

[tokerpipes]

Bees wax is good for the rattle if it’s not dramatic. You could also heat the end of the stem and push it down on a flat surface mushrooming the end ever so slightly. It should tighten it up. If it’s to much mushrooming take a pice of Emory or 5000 grit to knock it back down a bit. Careful with the inside mushrooming.

 

[sablebrush52]

 

[paulfg]

I would suggest dont do anything until you have smoked it a dozen times.
Assuming it was ok when new and no one has messed with it,it would suggest the mortice has dried out.
smoking will rehidrate it.

 

[Coreios]

I take a thin strip of paper and wrap it around the the stem then put it back into the pipe. When you pull it out the paper stays inside into a perfect circle.

 

[anotherbob]

I agree with the smoke it and see if that helps. Only had one pipe with a loose fit and I thought I'd have to do something about it (though I did find out I can catch a falling pipe through instinct and reaction) after a few smokes it's fit perfectly. If that doesn't help then try something else.