Ever seen this happen???
Ever seen this happen???
Today I was heating the stem on my latest pipe. As I was heating, the stem got what appeared to be droplets of oil or resin on it. I know I wasn't getting the stem too hot because it wasn't even hot enough to bend yet. I thought WTF, wiped off the oil, and continued to heat the stem. Managed to get the stem bent but I had to wipe off more of the oil(or whatever it was!!) However, when I sanded on the stem I noticed thousands of tiny pinholes in it! And I can't sand out the pinholes without totally changing the shape. Needless to say, I decided not to use that particular stem. Anybody seen this before???
Yes, it was a pre-made stem! Feel free to flame away, I have my reasons for using them, and I'm sticking to 'em!
David
Yes, it was a pre-made stem! Feel free to flame away, I have my reasons for using them, and I'm sticking to 'em!
David
I've seen pinholes in premades and rod stock. But this is the first time I'd seen a stem weep some liquid. My guess is when the stem was poured the batch of rubber wasn't blended well or there was something left in the mould. Strange stuff! I'm just hoping the rest of the dozen of those stems I bought don't do the same thing!
May want to check a couple just to be sure. Maybe heating the stem a couple different ways to see what the results are. I've never seen this, but I've never used direct heat to bend a stem that I can remember. First few I used the PIMO-suggested method of burrying the stem in salt and putting the whole mess in the oven. A friend saw me doing this one day and suggested a hot sand box, so I got a small, deep cast-iron pot, filled it with sand and just heat it up on the stove. I just stick the stem I want to bend in, leave it sit for a bit and it's ready to go. Nice thing is, if you don't get the bend you want right out of the sand, let it cool and put it back in. No problems and never had any holes appear to date. Of course, that will probably happen now.
I beleive the sand method is used by eye glass stores to bend the plastic frames. I have had good results with a heat gun. I place it in a vice, put on leather gloves and hold the stem far enough away while constantly mooving it. I also make sure that I test frequently how soft its getting. Too close you will burn it too far just means that it will take longer.
Just my experience.
Just my experience.
All the best,
Tano
Tano
A hot sand box would definitely be a good way to go. I'd think it would be more even heating. Biggest problem would be regulating the temperature, plus it takes some time to heat up. I've thought several times about finding a small cast iron pot to use on my hot plate. Wouldn't help with the problem I had on this stem though, or I don't think it would. You guys would have to see the problem to see what I did. I still don't think the stem melted, well it did melt, but not by too much heat applied. I still draw the conclusion that something was wrong with the stem blank. (thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it! )
I use mine on a gas burner set somewhat low. I've never had the temperature get higher than I wanted it to be to this point. Heating up time is only a few minutes, surprisingly and it holds heat for a good bit. If I turn the burner off when the temp gets to, say, 230 or so I can still bend stems in it up to 15 minutes later. I'm looking to get a small propane burner for use in my shop so I don't have to haul my stuff into the kitchen. Being a bachelor saves me from the wife or significant other being put off by the practice, but when I go to make a couple over easy and there's sand on the stove top, I get a bit wrankled at myself.
Before I got a heat gun, I tried the open flame method. It never worked well for me.
The heated sandbox sounds like a good idea, but I've always had perfect success with a heat gun and a simple bending jig I whipped up from scrap wood.
The heated sandbox sounds like a good idea, but I've always had perfect success with a heat gun and a simple bending jig I whipped up from scrap wood.
Regards,
Frank.
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Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett
Frank.
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Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett