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Hookah Not Unscrewing


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Hi,

My friend put together one of my hookahs and the stem is not unscrewing from the vase. I have taken it to the hardware store, the smoke shop and i tried putting it in hot water to see if it would help. Still nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks
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hmm just a thought im prob wrong tho. he might have screwed it on WAY to hard and caused to threads to misalign or something. i'd try putting some SERIOUS elbow greese into getting it off. and you would want to do super cold water on it. Heat makes metal expand, cold makes it smaller.... very very slightly tho.
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QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Torch it. That will help it unscrew.


dont i need like a special glove to hold it so i wont burn my hand?


Nah, if you are careful and don't act like a dufus, you will be cool.

Sean, if he just torches the threads, technically it could work. The threads by expanding would break the current seal that it has, and allow him to unscrew.
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QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Torch it. That will help it unscrew.


dont i need like a special glove to hold it so i wont burn my hand?


Nah, if you are careful and don't act like a dufus, you will be cool.

Sean, if he just torches the threads, technically it could work. The threads by expanding would break the current seal that it has, and allow him to unscrew.


So i just torch the middle part and then hold the glass and the circle part and unscrew? I dont want to burn my hands, I need them to pack hookahs...
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QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Torch it. That will help it unscrew.


dont i need like a special glove to hold it so i wont burn my hand?


Nah, if you are careful and don't act like a dufus, you will be cool.

Sean, if he just torches the threads, technically it could work. The threads by expanding would break the current seal that it has, and allow him to unscrew.


So i just torch the middle part and then hold the glass and the circle part and unscrew? I dont want to burn my hands, I need them to pack hookahs...



Well, if you are that concerned with it, go get some gloves.... or a rag. But evenly torch the threads, making sure that the whole circumfrence is evenly heated. (This means, don't put the torch on one spot for too long, keep it moving) Then twist.
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QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 11 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zerodynamic @ Apr 11 2007, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Torch it. That will help it unscrew.


dont i need like a special glove to hold it so i wont burn my hand?


Nah, if you are careful and don't act like a dufus, you will be cool.

Sean, if he just torches the threads, technically it could work. The threads by expanding would break the current seal that it has, and allow him to unscrew.


So i just torch the middle part and then hold the glass and the circle part and unscrew? I dont want to burn my hands, I need them to pack hookahs...



Well, if you are that concerned with it, go get some gloves.... or a rag. But evenly torch the threads, making sure that the whole circumfrence is evenly heated. (This means, don't put the torch on one spot for too long, keep it moving) Then twist.


Alright, I will try it and get back to you.
Thanks for your help.
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+1 dry.gif

QUOTE (Allia22 @ Apr 11 2007, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My "Bad Idea" senses are tingling... >.<


WHY THIS IS A BAD IDEA:
The threaded mount on the glass is epoxied or something. You will just melt it off the glass @ best, shatter the whole thing @ worst dry.gif sad.gif

My plan:

Pair of rubber gloves:

1. SPRAY a LITTLE WD-40 or such in the gap between parts 1st (Not a lot), Try REALLY HARD TO UNSCREW IT (Wear 2 rubber gloves so you can REALLY grab it biggrin.gif)

2. If that DOESN'T WORK, try wrapping the ball in one rubber glove or something like that, flipping it over and putting that part in a vise and clamping enough to hold it in place while not damaging it, then twisting the vase w/ 2 rubber-gloved hands.

3. Last Idea if 1 & 2 don't work: Pop hole unit into freezer for 20 mins, then remove and put a hot rag around the lower metal piece (DON'T TOUCH THE GLASS, JUST THE METAL)
QUICKLY TRY TO LOOSEN AS IN 1 or 2 above. This should give you the temp and size differential you need to help split them (since you are expanding the outer threads while keeping the inner ones cold if all else fails and you are NOT cross threaded.

Hope this helps
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I was under the impression the stem that screws on is all one piece, not glued.

If it is glued, then torching would be a bad idea.

If not, low pressure heat (probably 150) should do it. The trick is to raise the temperature slowly, if you apply 150 degrees immediately, you will crack the base.

Lube would work, but it a hookah is supposed to be air tight, then how can he get the WD-40 in the right spot? No way in hell can you go down the hose tube curve up and aim for the threads... on the other side of the glass. It just won't work.

As for recommendation #2, if you put your base in a vise, I know one of two things will happen. 1) you will scratch the hell out of it. 2) you will break the base.

#3 has the best chance of working, but a hot rag (lets assume 150f) touching an ice cold base (30f) will mean certain cracking.


So like I said, if the threads on the stem are all one piece, then gradually bringing up your temperature with a torch (I use a hand held propane torch that you can buy for like $15) you have a better probability of unscrewing your hookah.
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Alright, I fixed it. I put the hookah in a vice and then took the base off. The threads were SUPER MESSED UP so converted the hookah from screw on to normal by sanding down the part you stick in the base and putting a gromet on it.

Thanks for all your input
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I would either make the guy buy you a new hookah or never let him near yours EVER again (including the mouthpiece) That is pretty bad angry.gif

QUOTE (nbehar @ Apr 12 2007, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Alright, I fixed it. I put the hookah in a vice and then took the base off. The threads were SUPER MESSED UP so converted the hookah from screw on to normal by sanding down the part you stick in the base and putting a gromet on it.

Thanks for all your input
Edited by hookahmike
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