SEM Early Shipment Ebonite Issues?

sethile · Post by **sethile** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:07 am

Hello All,
I've just run into another bad stave of ebonite from SEM. This one is just plain soft. Really soft... I cut a tenon and discovered it as I was trying to fit it to the stummel. Real spongy feeling--I could hardly even twist the stummel onto it with it chucked in the lathe. It acted like it was real hot, and I thought maybe it heated up a bunch from turning the tenon, but it acted the same when it had completely cooled down.... Then trying to clean up the tenon I noticed it won't take a shine at all. This is from 25mm rod.

The first bad rod I had was not soft like this one is, but also had problems taking a shine. It was 22mm rod, and I'd heard reports that others had issues with some of the early 22mm stuff. I guess that extends to some of the 25mm too.

Anyone else having these kinds of issues with the early production?

I assume they have all this worked out now. I'll see if I can get some replacements for these. I'm really hoping this is isolated, but have to think at least a few other bad staves are out there.

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:23 pm

Curious Scott. Have you contacted the folk at SEM. I have found in the past they they are pretty quick to respond. Just wondering?

sethile · Post by **sethile** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:38 pm

LexKY_Pipe wrote:Curious Scott. Have you contacted the folk at SEM. I have found in the past they they are pretty quick to respond. Just wondering?

Not yet, but I will. I want to test each of my remaining staves to see If there are any others with issues. I should be able to get that done this weekend. I'll report back with how that goes.