Crack-Stem

buflosab

Wonder if anyone has a quick fix. A crack is starting on the top part of stem,trying not to let it get worse. It's not all the way through,the crack is we're the stem meets the bowl. Haven't got the faintest idea how this happened . I guess that is irrelevant. Any ideas gents?

AnantaAndroscoggin

Knowing if the crack is longitudinal or athwart the pipe is a first clue as to the cause.

KA9FFJ

Agreed @AnantaAndroscoggin , also the length of the crack could be relevant also... If you can post a pic, let's see it...

buflosab

buflosab

These were the best I could get, one was a overall plcture if my pipe.

Danfriedman

Although I am not an expert on pipes, If you are dealing with an acrylic stem, I would use full strength acetone in a small syringe with a small needle to inject a small amount into the crack. This is what we use for industrial repairs on acrylic valves and pistons that develope small cracks.

motie2

Judicious use of alphacyanoacrylate ( sp?)..... Aka crazy glue.

buflosab

Thank you everyone for taking the time and posting, really appreciate it.@motie2, thank you for breaking that word down for me. When I first looked at it my initial reaction was WTF.

jfreedy

I think after the super glue I'd wrap that area with black waxed hemp twine (find it online or hobby stores). I did this to my clay pipe mouthpiece, and it actually looks pretty cool. The other (more redneck option) would be to wrap it in black electrical tape. Neither option is great, but both should work in keeping the crack from getting worse. My two cents.

buflosab

@jfreedy, Thankyou very much. Sort of weighing all options.

KA9FFJ

@buflosab After injecting the acetone into the crack, use a small padded clamp and clamp it using LIGHT pressure. Just enough to close the crack. Do this AFTER taking the stem off the stummel. Make sure the small clamp does not touch the crack or the acetone and allow to dry twice as long as the directions state on the tube, box, whatever... Good luck

buflosab

Thank you so much.

PappyJoe

I've read elsewhere that they actually make a black tinted Ethyl cyanoacrylate (Super Glue, Krazy Clue, Gorilla Glue, etc) that would probably do the job for you.

buflosab

Thank you so much for the tip.

RockyMountainBriar

Loctite 380 “Black Max” is black toughened cyanoacrylic “Super Glue”.  It works great.  Clean the crack with alcohol before applying the Black Max.  Be very careful if it is an acrylic stem, strong alcohol will haze it white.  Also, if you want to reinforce the crack, “Spider Wire” kevelar fishing line is great.  I have repaired a broken fishing rod tip and a “Zest” tobacco pipe using it.  I wrap the line tightly, then apply some Cyanoacrylic to it and let it soak in. The “Zest” has a “reverse tenon” and the stem was cracked. It had been repaired in a similar way before I got it.  My thoughts were that it was done by a flyrod maker?  The wrap was unraveling and in bad shape after the years, so I removed the old thread and reworked it.  This pipe came out shortly after Kirsten pipes, similar to, but much smaller and (cheaper?). It can use a “Graybow” type filter.  

buflosab

@RockyMountainBriar,Thank for that, I basically did the Krazyglue fix, so far so good, The crack seems to be a surface type deal. It's a pretty sturdy stem. Again thank you.

motie2

You think you have stem problems?
https://rebornpipes.com/2018/11/01/reworking-a-chewed-savinelli-alligator-stem/

buflosab

Good Lord.

riobrusa

Wow, that's bad. What happened?