A sticky stem - advice needed!

[T.E.Fox]

Greetings to all and sundry

I picked up this smaller 'Chelsea' straight briar in a clearing sale and have set out to tart it up and use it as it is lovely and light and has a bowl size I can enjoy. However, while I've been able to keep myself busy giving the stem a nice polish, I can't seem to dislodge the thing from the rest of the pipe. The stem section of the briar is fairly narrow, and being a fair count of years old, I'd say a bit on the brittle side too. I've tried gently twisting and all the general approaches, but was wondering if the brains trust had any miracle solutions to releasing a stuck stem? Any type of soak or cleaner that works? Not overly confident in what I can and can't put into a pipe without ruining it.

Many thanks in advance
Tom

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[Tobias Lutz]

Place it in the freezer and see if you can get a little contraction to gently work it out.

[JustTroItIn]

Did the freezer trick work? If not, try filling the bowl with alcohol and sitting the pipe at an angle where enough will travel back into the stem but not out. This should dissolve some of the tars that are cementing the stem into place.

[T.E.Fox]

Haven't had any luck yet. But have been cycling the two processes to try and wear away at it. It'll happen eventually!

[Emperor Zurg]

You sure it's a regular mortise and tenon and not one of those wretched screw-in stinger things?

[Lostmason]

The one I broke had a aluminum screw tenon that had "iced" up. After breaking the stem and mouth piece, I still had to take pliers after it.
Can a person run a little olive oil in to free them up?

[GWBowman]

I wonder if a Pipe Retort would clean it out.

Crap, that reminded me, I forgot to pick up some 91% rubbing alcohol or Everclear.

[Mister Moo]

I don't think I have had a stem that wouldn't come loose after 30-40 minutes in a freezer, per Tobias Lutz advice.

If it is a screw-mount or you're not sure then twist gently anti-clockwise; if it is not a screw mount, twist gently clockwise. In both cases hold the wooden shank or stummel portion firmly as you twist or you might snap it off. Anyone who ever snapped a shank when removing a lock stem said it was easier to do then they expected. If torque enough to remove a snug bottle cap won't release it, quit, freeze again and try again. That aluminum-looking ferrule sure looks like a screw-in stop. I'm betting left turn to remove.

Any other nomenclature on the pipe besides "Chelsea"?

If that won't do it, take two aspirin and come back in the morning. When cold won't work then there are some heat-expand options. Nobody ever broke a pipe being too patient or too careful, by the way.

[T.E.Fox]

All excellent advice gents, and I thank you warmly. I've tried methods various but still to no avail - tried smoking it and smoking it hot to see if there was any luck. Maybe an overnight dose in the freezer and a very careful method of holding the shank is in order. There is no other mars on the pipe besides "Chelsea. Made in France" written upon it. I found one small article about them saying they are a secondary line to a better known manufacturer. I agree with the thoughts of a screw in stem. It wouldn't bother me so much but I can't get a pipe cleaner through it for the life of me, so I'd like to find out what is in it. It gurgles quite bad if the tobacco is anything but bone dry - which is something I'd also like to try and fix. Back to the laboratory for more tests!

[JustTroItIn]

It wouldn't bother me so much but I can't get a pipe cleaner through it for the life of me

This would support the theory that it's a screw in with a stinger. Ideally I think heat would be what you would want here, but I think the vulcanite would get too soft first. If it were me I would probably risk using a bit more elbow grease and accept the chance of possibly breaking it.