I want to provide an update to my cracked case and stash from the Simrell Collection.
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/dynavap-vapcap.18853/reply?quote=1359793
Austin offered me a full refund on my order with the caveat that I mail everything back to him. He said that he would issue me a refund including shipping costs upon receipt of the pieces. I immediately accepted his terms.
As I cleaned everything to get it ready to mail out, I noticed the one piece that had remained intact, the original stem, had now developed a crack as well. So all the pieces of the original set cracked... Total fail.
I put the stems inside the cases for shipping but I incorrectly assumed that the replacement case had been made to accommodate the original stem, but it wasnt and it got stuck in there when I put it in. I sent him the three original cracked pieces; the case, stash and stem as well as the replacement case, stash and complimentary stem.
I sent him the parcel tracking number and shortly after that he graciously sent me a full refund!!! He didn't wait until receipt of the parcel, which I do appreciate.
I've always taken very good care of my wood. I have many pieces. They all have wood conditioner applied once a month. My home is climate controled. I've never had a piece crack on me before. My original set consisted of three pieces; a case, a stash and a stem. Within two months the case cracked in several places followed shortly by the stash. I initially thought that the problem was just with the brass lined case and stash since my stem seemed fine. But in the end the stem finally cracked as well, but it took almost 6 months for a crack to appear.