Oops, filed too far

[JSPipes]

I started buffing a stem as I'm just finishing up a pipe. There was a scratch on the top that just wouldn't come out. So I went and took a look. Turned out that I filed just a little too much off there. The crack is actually the top of the airway .

So I started on a new stem for it. Drilled it, turned down a tenon and then the stem to a few thou oversized. Shaped the stem and button and started a slit as a guide (I usually save the funnel for near the end). Roughed out the stem. Then I wrapped a single layer of masking tape around the shank 1/4 of an inch in from the end.

I'm very gently sanding it flush now. Just finished the 150 grit and gave it a rinse. Obviously, the dye will come off as I bring the sanding grits up and I'll have to recolor it and blend it into the rest of the stem, but so far so good.

This is a good exersize to do if you've never tried to make a new stem for a pipe.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's had to do this.
Joel

[Tyler]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's had to do this.
Joel

Actually you are. I never screwed up anything when I make a pipe.

[KurtHuhn]

I have. But it was fairly early in the process, thankfully. I hadn't applied any stain yet.

I have replaced some stems on pipes, and it's a perfect exercise in exactness and manual control.

[achduliebe]

Joel,

I did kind of the same thing with the last pipe I did. I haven't posted pictures of the completed pipe yet. When I was cutting the stem for the pipe I got to a point where a section on top of the stem looked very shiny. The more I sanded the bigger the shiny area got...turns out the shiny area was actually the delrin insert that I used for the tenon. So I had to cut another stem but fortunately the pipe was still a little ways from being completed.

[JSPipes]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's had to do this.
Joel

Actually you are. I never screwed up anything when I make a pipe.

HA!

Update. I have fit the stem and restained the pipe. The stem looks like it was the original. I'm thrilled that it came out as well as it did. I still have a little work to finish it up. Pictures will be available eventually!

[bvartist]

Thats why I like trim beads and shank caps! If I do have to make a new stem I don't have to match exactly the same diameter, just close enough the eye can't really tell. Now if pipe smokers will just leave the calipers at home!

I have done the masking tape thing a couple times though.

David