Heeelllp! Stuck stem

[simon1]

Since I haven't had a cob pipe in years I picked up a MM at a local smoke shop (we don't have tobacconists here). When I took the Medico filter out the stem removal was a bit tough, but not too bad. Put the stem back in then did a bowl of 5 Brothers through it for a first bowl. Sipped it nice and slow, no tongue bite, and didn't worry about relights...did 5 or 6 relights for the whole bowl.

Dumped it out, let it cool, then tried to take the stem off to clean. It wouldn't move. I finally got it to twist about 1/8th of a turn, but that's all. I did manage to get it turned back straight, but can't get it out.

It's cooled for 3 hours and still won't budge. I thought about putting the stem in ice water for a bit but didn't want to get it brittle then try and twist it out. I've never had one do this before. I've known the lady at the shop for years from a former job of hers, and she took the display pack from behind the one on the front of the display and I helped her take the plastic off of the new display card of pipes, so it is from a brand new display card. I got the bent stem model and I can't just run a pipe cleaner through the bit end to clean it.

Any suggestions?

 

[Commander Quan]

Put it in the freezer for 20 minutes.

 

[michiganlover]

If you get it free, take a look at the stem. I am willing to bet there is a seam on the stem, and there is some mold residue on that seam that you will want to sand away with some fine sandpaper.

Even if there isn't, the sandpaper can be used to slightly reduce the diameter of the stem so it better fits the pipe.

 

[Commander Quan]

I wouldn't sand anything just yet, smoke it a few times and see what it does. Sometimes this things just happen. The pipe gods like to watch and laugh.

 

[simon1]

Well, about 30 minutes after I put up this post I tried to take the stem out again and it came right out. Got the stem wiped out...it had a few pieces of baccy in it but the moisture that I could see in the stem had dried up.

If you get it free, take a look at the stem. I am willing to bet there is a seam on the stem, and there is some mold residue on that seam that you will want to sand away with some fine sandpaper.

Even if there isn't, the sandpaper can be used to slightly reduce the diameter of the stem so it better fits the pipe.

I kinda thought about some manufacturing blurbs that might be on it...when I got the stem out there was a place on the bottom of the stem that fits into the shank (if shank is the right terminology) that looked like a spot from where it might have been from a mold (not growing mold, the manufacture casting mold that it was made from. If they use a mold).

I rubbed my thumbnail over it a few times and it smoothed out. It was a very small spot that really didn't seem to be that much of a problem.

Put it in the freezer for 20 minutes.

That puts the stem and shank both in cold doesn't it?

I was thinking put the stem in ice water then wrap the shank in a washcloth that has warm water on it.

I wouldn't sand anything just yet, smoke it a few times and see what it does. Sometimes this things just happen. The pipe gods like to watch and laugh.

LOL. Yup, after I got it loose it was hard to get it back in. So I just reinstalled the stem but not quite to the point that it met up all the way with the shank. It's still a new pipe.

It might be time for some Irish Flake.

 

[Commander Quan]

That puts the stem and shank both in cold doesn't it?

Yeah, it works I promise.

 

[njpaddy]

I had the same problem with my MM the first two bowls, but it hasn't done it since.

 

[the_edski]

Yeah, it works I promise.

I wouldn't doubt Derrick if i was you. If he told me to spin around 3 times and touch a finger to my nose to un-stick a stem, I would do it.

 

[COHunter]

It does indeed work to pop them in the freezer... On the MM cobs I wouldn't fret too much about sanding a bit from the stem, if you have the original plastic stem it's not like a precision machined implement. Worst thing you do is wreck it and order a forever stem anyway.

 

[brother cavefish]

the freezer trick works, it does the complete opposite that smoking it does, but no more than 20 minutes, just check it every now and then

 

[brother cavefish]

after the stem is out ---, if for some reason the stem still is tight a room temp make sure the wood is not wet, let it sit for a few hours , if it is still tight, just scotchbrite the MP once , and keep fitting, once you sand its done