Anyone have a good idea of how to reshape a pipe stem?

[clancy0below]

Recently started enjoying epipes, and purchased a few of these tips: CHINA-SELLS.COM-Wholesale and retail supply of electronic cigarettes from China - Mouthpiece (drip tips) for electronic pipe E-King (mini) - free shiping. I would like to lightly heat them up and rebend the curve. Would be nice to be able to change them up slightly and also to match the genesis tilt better.

So how would I heat these up with out damaging them, just make em a tiny bit softer?
Thanks to anyone who can help!

 

[duckie_44]

Hey....Clancy......goto...http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-talk-all-makes-models-designs-21.html...read down a couple of posts.....

duckie........

edit....That link didn't work for some reason....

APV discussion>Pipe Talk- Allmakes,models,and designs>page 21>#205.....

 

[clancy0below]

Thank you! wow you woulda thought boiling it would be the first thought.

 

[Big Loaf]

Yup, boiling it or a heat gun Are what most pipe users do. Boiling it would also clean it out from that nasty mold release agent they use on plastics.

 

[Big Loaf]

Oh also put pipe cleaners in the stems to keep them from closing up when you go to bend them.

 

[clancy0below]

This is some serious plastic. boiled for over 20 mins still not soft or straight at all. still trying.

Edit: It did finally soften up. Thank you again everyone!!!!

 

[Big Loaf]

You may have a problem with bending it because they are made from a different material. The stems I have experience with are vulcanite, which is a special type of rubber. Maybe a heat gun is your best bet.

 

[Tezcatlipoca]

Yeah, with many stems (like lucite and acrylic), you don't want to actually boil them -- it's too hot and you risk deforming or damaging the material. It's better if it's under boiling. The heat gun is good, but if you don't watch it carefully you could run into the same problem. I use a heat gun, but I nearly ruined a couple before I got the hang of it. I'd probably recommend a hair dryer or hot water and some patience. Fine sanding and buffing after the bend will make them shine like professional stems.