Has anyone ever tried to heat up a premolded stem and flatten it out more?
Not straighten a bend, but actually apply pressure to the top and underside of a saddle type stem to make it wider?
I want to shorten a saddle stem and recut a button, but I may not have it as wide as I would like after cutting off the end of the stem. Thickness is good, and I'll have to take care not to crush the airway, but I am concernrd that the edges of the cut end may just crumble under pressure.
Anyone have any thoughts on this please?
TIA
Heating/remolding stem
- LexKY_Pipe
- Posts: 875
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
- Location: Lexington, Kentucky USA
For the life of me, I cannot think of how this would work without distorting the stem too much, or without screwing up the airway. Even if you inserted the exact type drill bit or other rod into the airway to keep it from crushing, you may get the stem so hot that it melts onto the drill bit and then you may have a time getting it out (particularly with acrylic).
I agree with LexKy, try this on a scrap stem first. Otherwise, my only advise is to try to acquire a wider premolded.
I agree with LexKy, try this on a scrap stem first. Otherwise, my only advise is to try to acquire a wider premolded.
I have done this. The idea is to heat up the stem so that it softens but not so much so that it melts. I like to insert a wire that has a diameter matching the draft hole in the stem. One it becomes soft, one simply bends it back.
It is jsut the reverse action of someone taking a straight stem and bending it. Neither process is that big a a deal.
It is jsut the reverse action of someone taking a straight stem and bending it. Neither process is that big a a deal.