Metal Piece in Tenon

dherbert510 · Dec 7, 2015

Hey everyone! I just bought my first pipe today and like any hobby I pick up I like to tinker around with things to understand what I'm working with. When I opened the pipe after an initial smoke (I let it cool completely first) and noticed this little metal slide piece wedged into the tenon. I haven't seen these in any pictures or videos I have looked at. I took it off to clean the pipe and was wondering what the function of this piece is or whether I should remove it for any reason, such as airflow. Also I didn't pay attention when I took it off to the orientation of the piece. Should the slide part face up or down when the pipe is fully assembled. Thanks in advance!

cosmicfolklore · Dec 7, 2015

That's the stinger. Many of is just pull them out and toss them. They're supposed to help pull moisture out of the smoke by creating turbulence, but they also create moisture in the shank. Upside down, right side up, no idea, and I'm not sure it matters. YMMV.

Chasing Embers · Dec 7, 2015

Never use them here either. Can't get a pipe cleaner through the pipe with most of them.

michaelmirza · Dec 7, 2015

Many pipes by companies like Kaywoodie and Dr. Grabow use stingers. I bought an estate Kaywoodie and sawed the tip of the stinger off to make a more normal airway. I couldn't remove it altogether because the stinger was threaded to match the pipe, thus I was obligated to keep it there. They can be a pain to keep clean but other than that it's a minor nuisance at worst.

blackbeard · Dec 7, 2015

I like one stinger in a pipe. I actually never had any more trouble with cleaning vs a regular pipe. Regular cleaners pass through, if they get stuck in a particular one, just go in stinger side first.

cmclark · Dec 7, 2015

I have a no name pipe that had one. It collected too much moisture and I would end up sipping it up. Also, I think it would narrow the smoke stream and cause it to burn my tongue. I almost stopped using it but once I removed it, it became a nice cool "sipper" pipe.

buroak · Dec 8, 2015

Ditch that stinger. That said, if you buy a Sasieni, old Grabow, or or old Kaywoodie with a stinger, do not make modifications.

ejames · Dec 8, 2015

Looks to me you have the stinger in ass backwards.

aldecaker · Dec 8, 2015

The Czech basket pipes that my local sells (which are surprisingly well made, BTW) use that exact stinger. It is installed correctly; the end with the groove in it tapers, but you can't see it because it is inside the tennon. They cut the airflow way too much and turn the pipe into a gurgle-monster. In my opinion, it should be pulled out and discarded, right before you open the airway to 5/32" and funnel the tennon.

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dherbert510

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