Note: IMHO, the stem is not a good look with this stummel. It's too long and a bit too large. But I'll be changing it out to a thinner, shorter and black stem after Christmas. Probably change it to a St. Patrick's pipe.?.? At least for now, I have a third alternative for Christmas themed pipes...
I've had a meer lined stummel for quite a while just sitting off to the side. I decided to see if I could find a stem to fit it. First, it was filthy. The rim, including the meerschaum, was totally black and crusty, along with a very thick caking. I addressed that along with cleaning the internals. Now to find a stem. I measured the OD of the shank and started looking... What's the chances of finding the right length and size AND with an OD that perfectly matched the shank! Well, let's just say I'd rather be lucky than good, because that's exactly what happened! All I had to do was turn the tenon to a tight fit, put a bend in it and polish out the stem. After waxing, buffing, etc., here's the final: By the way, it's a GARDEN pipe which is made by Lorenzo...
Since the last pipe didn't require too much work, I decided to start on another one. This Butz Choquin #1656 Canadian also didn't have a stem, and looked a little rough around the edges:
I found a stem I thought would work and stripped the stummel taking care of the nicks and scratches while reshaping the shank and stem to make a smooth transition
After drying and an alcohol bath, I lightly sanded with 600 grit to bring out the grain while leaving around the top of the bowl and the end of the shank black. Waxed, polished, etc., and here's the final:
Here's another noname stummel that had no stem. I had already roughed in a stem when I thought you might like to see the before and after... A nice chunk of briar with a thick bowl but pretty beat up. Also, I had to take about 3/8" off the shank due to a hairline crack...
After a thorough internal cleaning, I stripped the stummel and continued hand-sanding the shank/stem area to get a more finished look... Also, as you can see, I had to take down the sharp edge of the rim to eliminate all the chips and dents that I assume was acquired by banging the dottle out of the bowl...
I didn't want to post this until I finished and it worked. I received a meer stummel with a shattered stem (both ends), but it had the stummel mortise screw-in mount and the screw in tenon. So I decided to try to give it a new stem that would work.
Not knowing if I could get it to work, I used a stem I probably wouldn't use on most pipes. It wasn't in great shape, but the color surprisingly seemed to work well and it was the right size. First, I cut off the tenon and sanded that area flush. Then I drilled that end to accommodate the tap which matched the thread of the screw-in tenon. I surprised myself and got a good tight fit...
Once I realized I was going to get it to work, I started on the stummel. As you know, meerschaum and water do not mix, so I placed it in a small plastic bag and sealed it with tape at the end of the shank while I worked to wet sand a smooth transition from the shank to the stem. It may not be absolutely perfect, but it's better than damaging the meerschaum.
The rim was black and partially charred so I took care of that. I also used dry eraser to take away the majority of that dingy look. Once finished, I used hot wax and waxed the entire stummel. After vigorously buffing with a paper towel, here's the final. Now it's being given a second chance...
Well, I told you I would probably change out the stem for a shorter black one and turn it into a St. Patricks' pipe. I happened to stumble across one and turned the tenon to fit...
I then smoothed the transition from shank to stem by doing a little turning at the base of the stem. After step sanding, bending then polishing, I now have a St. Pattys' pipe. Here's the final:
Received these 2 meers for Christmas. They were in pretty good shape. Basically all they need is a thorough cleaning inside and out along with the stems being brought back to life...
The stems were so clogged I couldn't get a cleaner through them. I had to use a flexible wire to finally penetrant. With each movement back and forth, more bits of tobacco were dislodged. I finally was able to get bristled cleaners and, after about 8 cleaners per stem, they were clear. I know one thing; given the condition those stems were in, they were unsmokable. After that, I used a stem cleaner compound and lightly rubbed over the stems and allowed them to dry. Light rubbing with a paper towel and the buffing wheel left them almost looking like new... I then took care of the massive tar build up on the rim while trying to leave a little patina... The bent was really bad and I had to take it down a little more than I wanted:
So I had this pipe that was added to a bunch of old shoebox pipes because no one wanted it or knew what to do with it. The latch catch was worn down to nothing so it wouldn't stay closed, and in general the hardware was beat up and scratched, plus no stem...
I don't like pipes that have thin-walled shanks. IMHO, they're too easy to crack. I knew I was going to have to beef it up. Also, the pipe incorporated "the system", although the stummel had no stamping except "BRUYERE".
You probably remember that stem. It's the one that was too long/oversized for that Kelly green pipe I put together a while back. Anyway, got a good tight tenon to shank fit...
I then step sanded the extension to a pretty good glossy finish. You've probably already noticed some preliminary lines drawn on the stummel. The stummel had some dents, chips and scratches that left me with no doubt I was going to rusticate this pipe. So this was the result:
Stained the rusticated areas with 40 drops tan, 6 drops oxblood. Then I did a light sanding with 600 grit to expose the high points. I then restained the rusticated areas with just oxblood. After drying, I gave it an alcohol wipe:
Comments
IMHO, the stem is not a good look with this stummel. It's too long and a bit too large.
But I'll be changing it out to a thinner, shorter and black stem after Christmas.
Probably change it to a St. Patrick's pipe.?.?
At least for now, I have a third alternative for Christmas themed pipes...
First, it was filthy. The rim, including the meerschaum, was totally black and crusty, along with a very thick caking.
I addressed that along with cleaning the internals.
Now to find a stem. I measured the OD of the shank and started looking...
What's the chances of finding the right length and size AND with an OD that perfectly matched the shank!
Well, let's just say I'd rather be lucky than good, because that's exactly what happened!
All I had to do was turn the tenon to a tight fit, put a bend in it and polish out the stem.
After waxing, buffing, etc., here's the final:
By the way, it's a GARDEN pipe which is made by Lorenzo...
This Butz Choquin #1656 Canadian also didn't have a stem, and looked a little rough around the edges:
Waxed, polished, etc., and here's the final:
I had already roughed in a stem when I thought you might like to see the before and after...
A nice chunk of briar with a thick bowl but pretty beat up.
Also, I had to take about 3/8" off the shank due to a hairline crack...
Also, as you can see, I had to take down the sharp edge of the rim to eliminate all the chips and dents that I assume was acquired by banging the dottle out of the bowl...
Anyway, after all that, plus waxing and buffing, here's the final:
I received a meer stummel with a shattered stem (both ends), but it had the stummel mortise screw-in mount and the screw in tenon. So I decided to try to give it a new stem that would work.
First, I cut off the tenon and sanded that area flush.
Then I drilled that end to accommodate the tap which matched the thread of the screw-in tenon.
I surprised myself and got a good tight fit...
As you know, meerschaum and water do not mix, so I placed it in a small plastic bag and sealed it with tape at the end of the shank while I worked to wet sand a smooth transition from the shank to the stem.
It may not be absolutely perfect, but it's better than damaging the meerschaum.
I also used dry eraser to take away the majority of that dingy look.
Once finished, I used hot wax and waxed the entire stummel.
After vigorously buffing with a paper towel, here's the final.
Now it's being given a second chance...
I happened to stumble across one and turned the tenon to fit...
After step sanding, bending then polishing, I now have a St. Pattys' pipe. Here's the final:
I know one thing; given the condition those stems were in, they were unsmokable.
After that, I used a stem cleaner compound and lightly rubbed over the stems and allowed them to dry.
Light rubbing with a paper towel and the buffing wheel left them almost looking like new...
I then took care of the massive tar build up on the rim while trying to leave a little patina...
The bent was really bad and I had to take it down a little more than I wanted:
I'm sure after I smoke them a couple of times, the patina will only get better:
After almost finishing a bowl, the bents rim patina is already starting to come back:
The latch catch was worn down to nothing so it wouldn't stay closed, and in general the hardware was beat up and scratched, plus no stem...
I knew I was going to have to beef it up.
Also, the pipe incorporated "the system", although the stummel had no stamping except "BRUYERE".
Anyway, got a good tight tenon to shank fit...
You've probably already noticed some preliminary lines drawn on the stummel. The stummel had some dents, chips and scratches that left me with no doubt I was going to rusticate this pipe.
So this was the result:
After drying, I gave it an alcohol wipe: