pipemakersforum.com

Hey guys!

It's been a long time! Finally last week I've put my hands on my first PIMO kit. Everything was ok (despite I suspect I requested a tapered stem and they sent me a saddle one, but I'm not sure), but a huge disapointment was the churchwarden stem I included in the order.

It is a poorly molded piece of plastic and no way that is ebonite. I was also requested extra $5.00 so they would fit the stem to the kit, but nothing has been done to it. The stem gave a false impression of a poor fit caused by high relief number on the tenon from the original molding (a proof that nothing has been done to it). When I sanded the number out the stem was not able to fit nor the kit or any other pipe I have. Ok, about $9.00 into the garbage can.

Ok, not enough to take me down!

As soon as I start working on it I'll let you know about the progress I eventually make. 8O

Exactly the reason I started buying briar blocks and stems in the first place . It is the way to start (the kit) I think, so let us see what becomes of it will you and good luck with it but most of all enjoy yourself.

Hey buddy! Long time no see.

Gad to hear you're finally getting to put hand to wood.

I was also requested extra $5.00 so they would fit the stem to the kit, but nothing has been done to it........... Ok, about $9.00 into the garbage can.

Unfortunately...... I have found that special requests arent their specialty.

Hows your block? I always wondered if they "cherry picked" for the kits.

Glad you are back Omar.

Do take photos, as we want to see your results. Even photos along the way are fun to see.

Sorry to hear of your ordering issues. That has got to be a real disappoinment! I'd contact Pimo with your complaint if I was you.

As for the churcwarden stem, you might be surprised to find that it IS vulcanite. Of course, I haven't seen it, so I can't say definitively, but cheap molded vulcanite stems look terrible before they are polished up.

Have fun with the kit!

Tyler

Omar,

As far as I know, Pimo does not have a Lucite churchwarden stem. I think Tyler hit on it, that the stem just looks ugly and even a bit rippled. You'll find that with some sanding (220, 360, and 400) and buffing that the stem will look wonderful.

Jeff

Hey Omar,

I will account for the churchwarden stem from PIMO. I ordered the very same stem and was also kind of shocked by it's rough look. If you look at the pipe I have in my section of the photo gallery, it has this stem on it. You have to knock down the seams a good bit and do a considerable amount of sanding, but when it is all said and done it should turn out fine.

Tyler wrote:(...)
Sorry to hear of your ordering issues. That has got to be a real disappoinment! I'd contact Pimo with your complaint if I was you.
Tyler

Well, it would work for the simple purpose of making them know they messed things up but the cost of and eventual replacement is not worth of it.

Maybe I do it in a near future. Not in the mood for a polite reply right now, so I'd better be quiet

Still trying to think of something to do with the kit. Not a clear view of anything in particular looking at it so far (ok, had't have time for a good look so far). I'm not in tune with the "pipemaking Force".

May the Bowl be with you...

Omar,

That churchwarden stem actually is vulcanite, but it's really rough. Tim West sells the same stems for far less, so it's a better deal. The trick with those stems is sanding - lots of it. Also, bend before you sand - otherwise you need to sand the entire thing over again. Start with 220 and work up from there. It will come out rather nice when you're finished with it.

Also, those churchwarden stems have a tenon that, as it sits unfinished, is around 5/16". However, sand off the raised lettering and you have something that's slightly less than 5/16", but bigger than 1/4". I usually take these tenons down to 1/4" and use a 1/4" mortis to make them fit. Unfortunately, if your kit has the typical PIMO mortis/tenon, it's probably about 3/8", and isn't going to be easy to fit that churchwarden stem to that block.

I have considered making kits pre-fit with churchwarden stems, since nobody else seems to do that. I don't know if there's a big enough market to make it worthwhile though....