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Clenching- What Is It?

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jpmcwjr

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,264
30,361
Carmel Valley, CA
Holding the pipe in the mouth hands free.
Clenching is somewhat of a misleading term, as it doesn't mean fiercely clamping down with your jaw on the pipe stem. For me, it's using the least amount of pressure while still keeping the pipe from dropping out or flopping around.
Where to place the stem for the best comfort? It seems to vary widely, but few use the front teeth exclusively. Besides, having the pipe stick straight out of the mouth is impractical in many situations, and silly looking in others.
Softie bits? Personal preference. Some say they make clenching more difficult, some swear by them. When I tried them, I didn't know they should be removed after a smoke and the stem wiped off.

 
mso489

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
60,650
In my old jaw, I don't want much pressure against or between my teeth, so heavier pipes are only held long enough to light them. If I'm going to be busying around and doing anything besides smoking while a pipe is in my mouth, it's going to be lit, and it's going to be no more than about 1.6 ounces. For long, meditative smokes, I stay seated and hold the pipe except for relights. Clenching is a kind of misnomer, but another word hasn't risen to replace it, so clenching it is. When I smoke smaller, lighter weight pipes, I usually smoke flake, plug, coin or rope, and get an average length smoke. I have several bigger deeper pipes that weigh less proportionate to their size, and they also work for clenching. Odd (to me) flake, plug, etc., seem to smoke longer even when grated to smaller size pieces, even when somewhat dried.

 
scloyd

scloyd

Lifer
May 23, 2018
5,973
12,236
I hold the pipe more than I clench. If I clench for more than 10 seconds I feel like I'm about to drool. I'll clench for 5-10 seconds and then grab the pipe and hold it for a while. Then I'll clench again, then hold it for a while. I don't want to be known as the drooling piper.

 
irishearl

irishearl

Lifer
Aug 2, 2016
2,292
4,137
Kansas
Early on in my pipe smoking I attempted clenching but it didn't work out for me. Probably couldn't get the hang of doing it right. Merely managed to put teeth marks in the vulcanite stems and it prompted a lot of saliva accumulating around the bit. Then, too, I favor large pipes which are too heavy to clench comfortably. So, it just isn't right for me.

 
jaytex1969

jaytex1969

Lifer
Jun 6, 2017
9,655
52,060
Here
It's what you do from the time you leave Taco Bell until you get home... :rofl:
jay-roger.jpg


 
brooklynpiper

brooklynpiper

Part of the Furniture Now
May 8, 2018
677
1,507
I’m not a huge clencher, which is weird because of how much I clench my jaw and grind my teeth when I’m not smoking a pipe. Just a morning thought I never connected.

 
npod

npod

Lifer
Jun 11, 2017
2,947
1,073
I clench often. That's one reason I have been drawn away from Castello and more toward Danish pipes. The latter have lighter weight and very comfortable stems in general vs the Italian school.

 
PaulTheScandinavian

PaulTheScandinavian

Lifer
Jul 28, 2016
8,122
43,479
Finland-Scandinavia-EU
In order to clench comfortably, there are two main factors that count,first,the stem(button)must not be bulky,and secundo,the pipe itself needs better be light weight,well balanced,so from this point my go to' pipes are either Lovat shapes,light straight or half bent bulldogs.

 
cosmicfolklore

cosmicfolklore

Lifer
Aug 9, 2013
35,394
82,196
Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC
Mike I totally understand the first part of your statement, but this...

Sometimes I'm just re-lighting so much clenching is impractical.
Click to expand...

I find that when keeping the pipe clenched, I rarely ever have to relight my pipe. because their is always a gentle airflow through the pipe keeping it burning cool. If I take the pipe out of my mouth and hold it, that is when I find myself relighting. But, like I said, I can understand not finding a comfortable spot, and looking at the pipe as you smoke. That makes sense.

 
brian64

brian64

Lifer
Jan 31, 2011
10,099
16,245
I find that when keeping the pipe clenched, I rarely ever have to relight my pipe. because their is always a gentle airflow through the pipe keeping it burning cool.
Click to expand...
+1 … I'm nearly at the bottom of a bowl of Irish Flake right now that I've had clenched almost the entire time without one relight. But that's largely due to adequate drying time prior to packing.

 
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