Question to the brain trust here. I need to replace broken or missing stems on a few pipes I had picked up. Should I try this myself? I don't have a lathe, at least not yet. Should I forget attempting it myself and send it to a pro. If so, who would you recommend?
Pipe stem replacement advice
- Thread starter Slickside
- Start date
I just sent my Barling Cherrywood to Walker pipe repair to be fitted with a new stem.
I purchased the pipe as an estate pipe and the original stem apparently had been over sanded and the airway started to surface though the top of the stem.
I purchased the pipe as an estate pipe and the original stem apparently had been over sanded and the airway started to surface though the top of the stem.
Some disorganized thoughts...
On eBay you can get a grab bag of stems. I got a lot of 7 new old stock stems for $6 shipped. It's a gamble but you're likely to find something that will fit with a little careful sanding.
Use this as an excuse to buy a lathe.
Sending it to a pro is surprisingly inexpensive. I was googling something recently and ended up seeing pipe repair prices at a few shops, new stems were $10 to $20 I think.
For some popular pipes you might be able to just name the pipe to Walker Briar Works or another company known for stems and they could do it.
On eBay you can get a grab bag of stems. I got a lot of 7 new old stock stems for $6 shipped. It's a gamble but you're likely to find something that will fit with a little careful sanding.
Use this as an excuse to buy a lathe.
Sending it to a pro is surprisingly inexpensive. I was googling something recently and ended up seeing pipe repair prices at a few shops, new stems were $10 to $20 I think.
For some popular pipes you might be able to just name the pipe to Walker Briar Works or another company known for stems and they could do it.
I don't want to speak for @Alpster, but he did hell of a job on a pipe with broken stem.
Also, Mark Tinsky can make replacement stems. He will even try to replicate logos if the stem has one. Another restorer/repairer that I have experience with is Briarville Ric. These guys do great work. Plus, Mark makes our BL LE pipes.
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks for the feedback. Depending on the price, I may tackle some of this myself. I have about 11 pipes I've picked up at fleas and lots on ebay. I'm going to try a Custom-Bilt first. Just shot off an email with pics to Walker to see what they say. Walker was my first choice, as I had purchased from them before.
I'll echo the Alpster choice. He did a stem for a Blatter Bros pipe (thank you Eric) and it's great.
Boswell's is also another option. Doing it yourself is possible but it's gonna take a lot of time and may not deliver a product that you enjoy as much as a professionally hand cut one.
Boswell's is also another option. Doing it yourself is possible but it's gonna take a lot of time and may not deliver a product that you enjoy as much as a professionally hand cut one.
Alpster choice?
Many good names have already been mentioned. I personally have used Mark Tinsky and Howard Schulte. Howard is especially good choice if you need a Charatan replacement stem, he can do the stamp and everything. I also believe he is an authorized Dunhill repairman.
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks for all the suggestions. Been looking at lathes yesterday and today trying to justify a buy. Still debating what to do.
Because some guy with a cartoon character avatar said so. That should be good enough.
- Thread starter
- #12
That should tip the scales in favor of buying one.
If you get the lathe you can make us all new stems! Even at $5 a stem it'll be paid off in weeks! (See what I did there?!)
- Thread starter
- #14
Hey, not a bad idea. Now if I can just get my wife to see it that way...If you get the lathe you can make us all new stems! Even at $5 a stem it'll be paid off in weeks! (See what I did there?!)
Seriously, I took a stem from one of the pipes in the lot I bought and pretty much worked it to fit. I know, pics or it didn't happen. I have some before shots and I need to get everything finished and I'll post the before and after shots.
- Thread starter
- #15
I decided to give it a go myself. I found a stem that came in a pipe lot I got that looked pretty good. It was a little lose, but heating and pushing the tenon on a flat surface cured that. I played around with the oxidation on the stem and was able to get it in pretty good shape by hand. The bit end was still not fully relieved of tooth marks, so for now I put on a soft bit. the stem is way shinier than the pic shows. iPad camera and insufficient lighting. Also, this Custom-Bilt was in need of a minor restore and I tried my hand at that. Still thinkng about the lathe, though.
Before
After
Before
After
Good job, it's a very unique pipe!
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