Horn Shank Repair - Stanwell Brazilia

[ontariopiper]

Hi folks,

Thought I'd share this with the group here as I'm quite happy with the way this repair came out and I figure I can't be the first or last piper to run into this issue.

I was faced with repairing the mortise in a horn shank extension on this RegD No Stanwell Brazilia. I don't know if Stanwell sent it out from the factory with any sort of mortise insert; when I received the pipe the mortise was completely shot. The bore through the horn shank was ragged, jagged and worn out. The stem stayed put through the dubious virtues of about a half ton of tars and crap in the mortise. As you can see in the pic, the horn shank was also cracked.

Mortise As Found

I decided to drill out the damaged material and glue in a section of brass tubing to reinforce the horn and provide a stable mortise for the stem to sit in. After a bit of tweaking the pipe fits together very nicely!

Mortise with Brass Insert

You can check out the entire restoration here on my blog.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Stick]

That's a terrific repair job, very impressive and may I offer, better than new?

 

[ontariopiper]

That's a terrific repair job,  very impressive and may I offer, better than new?

Cheers, Stick! And you may be correct. Clearly the factory mortise insert, assuming there was one, was insufficient. The new brass insert should last much longer.

 

[Brewdude]

Very impressive restoration Charles. You've clearly a lot of time in that one and it shows!

8)


Cheers,

RR

 

[ontariopiper]

Very impressive restoration Charles. You've clearly a lot of time in that one and it shows!

8)


Cheers,

RR

Thanks Rande. This one certainly had its finicky moments! I was worried the cracked horn might disintegrate in the drill press but it survived my ham-handed treatment and came out the other end just fine. ?

 

[huffelpuff]

Looks like you did your usual stellar job mate! Very nice save by the way. Love a nice accent piece like that on a bigger pipe for sure.

Jim

 

[Ozark Wizard]

I hear you on the worries of blowing the horn material to bits. That was a hell of a crack. The brass insert is an excellent idea too. If I didn't thread my stems in I would definitely apply that feature.

Well done on the restoration!

:cheers:

 

[AJ]

It looks to be a very fine job. Well done!

AJ

 

[ontariopiper]

Thanks, gents! I've got at least one other pipe in the refurb box with a blown mortise like this. I'm keeping the brass tube handy for that one.