Are Stingers Good or Bad?

[RandyP]

It took me awhile to figure out the name of these odd inserts at the end of the stems of some new estate pipes I just acquired. Apparently, the guy who smoked pipes preferred them, or maybe they were just popular during the era when he smoked. I just wondered if these pieces enhanced or hindered the draw on the pipe. Anyone know?

 

[warren]

There can only be three answers, yes they do, no no they don't, and depends on the brand. You'll most likely get all three. It really depends on what you think about them. My position is' "If you enjoy cleaning your pipes ... use 'em. They'll keep you busier. longer."

 

[georged]

Steve Irwin says they are bad.

 

[OzPiper]

I think there are enough threads on this topic
Just use the “Search” function if you are REALLY interested

 

[RandyP]

Well, that one shaped like a screw seems like it would make a good cleaner, but the one shaped like a torpedo seems like it wouldn't do much except block a lot of the smoke, and jam tar. Just my opinion.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Some they do, and some they don’t and some you just can’t tell.

Some they will, and some they won’t and some it’s just as well!

Never get tired of that!

Edit: wow, a Midnight Special blast from the past! Those were the days.

 

[RandyP]

I think there are enough threads on this topic
Just use the “Search” function if you are REALLY interested

I'd do that, but this is the beginner thread, and I wanted to share the photo with the different shapes.

 

[fireground_piper]

Steve Irwin says they are bad.

Still too soon.

 

[georged]

Still too soon.

I thought of that, then heard Steve laughing from behind me like he was looking over my shoulder as I typed, remembered he always made the best of every possible situation, and found myself smiling. So pressed "enter".

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

It took me awhile to figure out the name of these odd inserts at the end of the stems of someView attachment 282425 new estate pipes I just acquired. Apparently, the guy who smoked pipes preferred them, or maybe they were just popular during the era when he smoked. I just wondered if these pieces enhanced or hindered the draw on the pipe. Anyone know?

I assume they weren’t intended to interfere with the draw. Not sure about popular but you see them in certain older pipes. Only estate I ever had with one it was pretty gross and came out pretty easily and all I can say is the draw was great without it (no idea about before).

 

[OzPiper]

I'd do that, but this is the beginner thread, and I wanted to share the photo with the different shapes.

I apologise for being narky
I stand corrected in that this Forums should be ALL inclusive and anyone with a query is welcome

 

[georged]

... I just wondered if these pieces enhanced or hindered the draw on the pipe. Anyone know?

In the post-WWII decades when 20% of all men in the US smoked a pipe, gimmicks became "brand differentiators". A feature that was distinctive and could be (in many cases) patented, heavily promoted in advertising, and so forth.

Did they work? Only in a placebo effect sort of way. Like the trillions of Wonderful & Spectacularly Good! additives found in toothpaste and bar soap. Everyone is selling the same stuff, otherwise.

 

[RandyP]

I've also read that some will buy these older pipes and get rid of the stinger. These stingers look permanent. At first, I thought they were removable and took some pliers to one. Nope.

 

[georged]

I've also read that some will buy these older pipes and get rid of the stinger. These stingers look permanent. At first, I thought they were removable and took some pliers to one. Nope.

If you want it gone and it's frozen or molded in place, just cut it off with a fine tooth saw.

 

[anotherbob]

I'd do that, but this is the beginner thread, and I wanted to share the photo with the different shapes.

feel free to ask questions no matter how many times they've been asked before. If someone has a problem with repeat questions they're possibly on the wrong forum.

 

[Auxsender]

Like literally everything in the pipe world, it boils down to preference.
I don’t think there are any modern pipes in any price range that are made with stingers so there’s that.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Like literally everything in the pipe world, it boils down to preference.
I don’t think there are any modern pipes in any price range that are made with stingers so there’s that.

I have some Chacom pipes with them.

 

[telescopes]

Are stingers a good thing? No.

Should they be removed? It depends. If it will devalue the collectibility of the pipe, owner snip away, but realize you may have devalued your pipe for later resale.

If a stinger can be removed easily, put it in a drawer and add it back to the stem when you go to sell it.

I leave them on the pipes if they came with it. I don’t personally believe they add anything to the pipe’s ability to function properly.

It’s your pipe. Do what you want. It’s not like pipes with stingers are hard to find.

 

[Briar Lee]

I own over a hundred Lees and maybe half that many Marxman pipes and every Lee and most of the Marxmans had removable stingers. I own a couple of dozen Kaywoodie four hole stinger pipes with fixed, forever stingers-it was a selling point for Kaywoodie.

The classic stinger works so well I remove them and put them in drawers, except of course for the Kaywoodies.


The stinger acts as a mechanical filter to trap a small amount of water and tar. Each smoke requires a paper towel be used to wipe off the wet, brown residue.

I want all that tasty nicotine and tar in my mouth.

Kaywoodie used to claim the stinger lowered the temperature of the smoke entering the mouth. That stands to reason. It surely won’t make it hotter.

But after years of practice I think the smoker subconsciously controls the temperature of the smoke. Think of a stinger as training wheels.

The removable stingers were cheap to make , but they weren’t free. They required an extra step in manufacture.

I wonder if any new pipe today comes with a stinger?

 

[lraisch]

IMHO they are bad. They seem to condense some moisture from the smoke and promote gurgling. I removed them from the few pipes that I have had that came with them. The Kaywoodies which were non-removable just got traded on.