softy bits
- Thread starter philous
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Do what you like, but I'd rather be gagged with a baseball and have it held tight with duct tape. Terrible things. They are my pipes, and they will have my tooth marks, because that is the natural consequence of smoking a pipe. I will never resale them, and I don't care a hill of beans about keeping them pristine. They will be piled on my funeral pyre and sent with me the next world. But, do what you like. :wink:
You can also cut some sections of clear tubing used with aquarium equiptment. Or, those heat shrinking sections of black rubber found in the elctrical section at Home Depot. Then just heat them with a lighter or heat gun for a perfect fit. I don't use any of these, but forum members have mentioned them over the years.
I don't know, because I've never used them. But, do you really need great quality? It's not like a condom, where if it breaks you end up with a kid... or herpes, ha ha!
"Are they of the same quality? "
To me they seem the same period. I've looked at both the aquarium tubing and heat shrink tubing. The aquarium tubing seems too stiff and un-stretchy and the heat-shrink material is too thin to provide much cushioning. I'm speaking here of tooth comfort and not bite mark protection. Also I have seen much smaller packs than 100 of softys on Amazon and Ebay. Pretty much any size and combo can be found here:
Softys
To me they seem the same period. I've looked at both the aquarium tubing and heat shrink tubing. The aquarium tubing seems too stiff and un-stretchy and the heat-shrink material is too thin to provide much cushioning. I'm speaking here of tooth comfort and not bite mark protection. Also I have seen much smaller packs than 100 of softys on Amazon and Ebay. Pretty much any size and combo can be found here:
Softys
Have never used them. I smoke my pipes as they are. Have had a lot of stems replaced over the last 53 years, including some nice ones like my pre-Transition Barling Ye Olde Wood. I don't care about collectivity, nor about appearance. Don't have heirs, so the only thing important to me is how it smokes. When I'm gone, I will not be concerned about what happens to them.
Using softy bits is a personal choice. Some love them and other hate them. I used to smoke my pipes without softy bits. After a while I realized that I leave huge teeth marks on the stems so I ordered some to give it a try. At the moment I am using softy bits both on my Peterson P-lip vulcanite stem and Nording acrylic stem. I just love them. It feels comfortable and easy to clench.
I bought some softy bits from ebay ,came from china.Absolute rubbish didnt stay on the stem even though tight when fitted also bit through in no time.
I then bought BJ long ones from US much better quality but was disapointed to see what looks like small cracks appear on the side of the stem in the rubber like the rubber has perished .Only used them for less than a month.
I now dont use them at all but do worry about stem damage,I dont know why as I am like checotah .When I go the pipes will probably be thrown in the rubbish bin
I then bought BJ long ones from US much better quality but was disapointed to see what looks like small cracks appear on the side of the stem in the rubber like the rubber has perished .Only used them for less than a month.
I now dont use them at all but do worry about stem damage,I dont know why as I am like checotah .When I go the pipes will probably be thrown in the rubbish bin
I try them from time to time... especially on certain forms of acrylic bit/stems that squeak against my teeth(which I patently do NOT like!). I enjoy the "soft" bite sensation, but I find that from time to time that nasty draft-hole puke stealthily regurgitates and hides in between the rubber bit and mouthpiece til I bite just the wrong way and get a disgusting surprise! Derned if I do, derned if I don't.
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