Heat gun for reshaping acrylic stems?

[Tristano-ite]

I have a couple pipes with acrylic stems that have a bend that dips slightly below the point that would be parallel to the bowl. This makes them difficult to clench, as well as uncomfortable to hold and smoke out of, because the pipe has to be held at a downward angle in order for the mouthpiece to be straight in the mouth.

I heard that reshaping acrylic stems is possible by heating with a heat gun. My questions are: will any cheap heat gun from Amazon do just fine? What is the ideal temperature to use on acrylic stems? And how easy is it to mess up (how long does the heated stem stay pliable before rigidifying, etc)?

The pipes in question are not terribly expensive, and if I mess it up I won't cry about it. If I'm successful, I'll have 2 more usable pipes, so it's worth some amount of risk to try it out.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You can do it with a heat gun, boiling water, or a lighter. Just work slowly and deliberately to prevent overheating and bubbling.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yes. I recommend putting a pipe cleaner in the airway just so you don't collapse it by accident (probably won't happen anyway).

The thing with acrylic is it's not like rubber which gets softer the hotter you make it. Acrylic is basically inflexible till it melts, and then it's super floppy. So you heat and test and heat and test it and heat and test it... gently, so gently... and then boom, it's floppy and you can move it and set it. Cold water and you're done.

 

[Adui]

Yes. I recommend putting a pipe cleaner in the airway just so you don't collapse it by accident (probably won't happen anyway).

The thing with acrylic is it's not like rubber which gets softer the hotter you make it. Acrylic is basically inflexible till it melts, and then it's super floppy. So you heat and test and heat and test it and heat and test it... gently, so gently... and then boom, it's floppy and you can move it and set it. Cold water and you're done.

+1 for what he said. I like working with Acrylic (weird I know) but I do know that it has a narrow window between two stiff to bend and oh crap it's falling flat

 

[blackmouth210]

My recommendation is a general reply for a heat gun, if you decide to buy one: Harbor Freight.
I have one of their heat guns and am thoroughly satisfied.
Could it withstand commercial use? I don't know.
But, I don't need it to. I've relied on it for countless projects around the house and it's given me 0 problems.

 

[Tristano-ite]

Yes. I recommend putting a pipe cleaner in the airway just so you don't collapse it by accident (probably won't happen anyway).

The thing with acrylic is it's not like rubber which gets softer the hotter you make it. Acrylic is basically inflexible till it melts, and then it's super floppy. So you heat and test and heat and test it and heat and test it... gently, so gently... and then boom, it's floppy and you can move it and set it. Cold water and you're done.

Very interesting, didn't know that. I have a hard time visualizing what that will be like to work with. Thanks for the info

 

[Notow1]

Acrylic has memory so it might unbend enough before it gets to the floppy stage as You heat it. Be careful not to get the button area too hot and flatten it when applying pressure to adjust the bend.
Norm

 

[Riff Raff]

Hobby Lobby and the like carry a light duty heat gun, about $15. I suspect that will do less damage than the Harbor Freight model (probably for removing paint, etc.) I've only used mine to re-shape vulcanite stems. But, I did use it change the angle of my Ray Ban Wayfarers sunglasses (they are very flat across the face, I put a slight bend in my nose bridge area). Acrylic can wrinkle on the bottom of the bend, if done too quickly and too severe of a bend. So, proceed with caution.

 

[Hoppy]

Good luck, I'd send it out as my track record with this sort of stuff would likely result in involving the fire department.

 

[Mrm1775]

Most any heat gun will work. Take your time, be patient, don't hold the stem too close to the gun (a few inches away), don't hold the heat in one place. Insert a pipe cleaner into the stem before beginning. Slowly apply pressure when bending. You're not in a hurry, acrylic doesn't like to be rushed.

The stem already has a bend in it, that bend should start to relax as it approaches the "bendy" stage.

I use a commercial heat gun (because I already have one). A cheap one from harbor freight, Amazon or ?? will work just fine.

If you don't get the bend exactly as you like it, heat it and bend it again. Be patient and don't try rushing the process, much like waiting on Wifey to be ready to leave.

 

[Zeno Marx]

Go to your nearest optometrist and ask if you can use their heat tub for bending plastic eyeglass frames. I'm half joking. It's too bad they're pricey. From making my own mouth protectors for various sports, I'd trust using boiling water over flame or hot air. I've also screwed up trying to flatten warped vinyl records with hot air. It's difficult to moderate.

 

[Mr Beardsley]

I have one from harbor break with a high / low setting and multiple temperature settings. Works fine for my needs, which is taking bend out of a stem more often than not

 

[Riff Raff]

If you them immerse in cold water, that will set the bend.