While Your Wife Is Out

drbridges · While Your Wife Is Out

Today, while my wife was out of the house, I went through my vps pipe drawer and selected the ones with loose stems.

I brought a small saucepan of water to a boil, and I got her lucite cuttingboard. I put each stem's tenon in the boiling water for about 15 seconds, then pressed it down onto the cuttingboard to swell it slightly. Then I replaced the swollen stem tenon back into the pipe.

A dab of vaseline on the stem. Everything was cleaned up before she returned.

ozark southpaw

You clean up your messes? Does it help??... I have heard of heating the tenon over a flame to do that but never heard of using boiling water. Thinking about it, it would seem to be a better way of tightening a stem-less chance of getting it too hot and burning it!! I'll have to remember that little trick!!

Terry292

You can also use a pan of hot salt to bend stems and expand tenons. I used to keep a hot plate with a sauce pan of salt around all the time, but don't have the room any more. I learned that from an optometrist. He used hot salt to work plastic eyeglass frames. I've also used butane to set stems and tenons. It super cools them. You just have to remember to point the butane away from your heat source, or you could have a problem. I don't recommend either of these methods above any other, but they've worked for me.
Terry

drbridges

Hot water seems the easiest. I've kind of melted some tenons with an open flame.

This was ted's idea.

I try to clean up the messes that might concern her before she gets home.

ozark southpaw

Terry,how are you using butane to "super cool"?? Are you talking about butane lighter fuel? If so I think I know what you mean.Reminds me of cooling off a can of beer with a CO2 fire extinguisher!

Sir Duke

I cool them by swabbing with denat. alchohol.

But Im a loser when it comes to this method anyway. I always seem to wreck the stem to shank registration so instead I use clear nail polish.

Then I put it back on my wifes bureau before she notices...

Terry292

OS, you're right. It's just like using CO2 to cool beer. I just put one of the adapters on the nozzle and give the tenon or stem a short blast straight from the can. It only needs a fraction of a second. The cold butane super cools the hot tenon and sets the expansion. Then I use fine grit sandpaper and a #2 pencil lead to adjust the fit, if necessary.
Terry

ted

Terry.....You are the first person I've seen mention a #2 pencil on this forum.

I worked with H.R. Freedle off and on, and Mr. Freedle did smokers repairs for Grabow. For tenon work all he used was "super hot" water, a #2 pencil, and a pocket knife. Swell it with the water, shrink it with the knife, and lubricate it with the pencil......

We super heated the water by adding a little methanol and could raise the temperature to 240 without boiling. This also works well for bending or straightening bits......You'll need your wifes "OVE-GLOVE" though...

Thanks.....ted

drbridges

drbridges

So it seems this farmer bought a new rooster for his chicken coop. The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, 'OK old fart, It's time for you to retire.'

The old rooster replies, 'Come on, you can't handle all of these hens by yourself. Look what it has done to me. Can't we share the job?'

The young rooster says, 'Beat it: You're washed up, and I'm taking over.'

The old rooster says, 'I tell you what, young stud. I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive rights to the entire hen house.'

The young rooster laughs. 'You know you don't stand a chance, old man. So, just to be fair, I will give you a head start.'

The old rooster takes off running. About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster is closing the gap. He is only about 5 feet behind the old rooster and gaining fast!

The farmer is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch when he sees the roosters running past. The Old Rooster is squawking and running as hard as he can.

The Farmer grabs his shotgun and - BOOM - blows the young rooster to bits. The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, 'D@mmit ...That's the third gay rooster I bought this month.'

ozark southpaw

Me thinks the old rooster is smarter than the farmer also!!

steverino

Texhealer

If a # 2 pencil is the most popular pencil...How come it's not #1?

drbridges

I would actually prefer a pencil slightly softer than a #2. Do they make a #1.5 pencil? Or perhaps a #1.67?