3d Stem

[Scottmi]

My Merchant Service Cutty, delight that it is, had a very very very tight hole through the bit. A couple weeks ago, I BROKE it pulling the thinnest pipe cleaner I had through. So sad. Emailed them to see if any replacement is available. No response. So. Inspired by Kevin Godbeeee's photos of the LV show (one was of a 3d printed stem) I was like, hey, i can do that!

Chose to make a short stem, a MS Cutty Nose Warmer if you will. First print working great. Will do another as friction fit is close, I'm used to working these out to .05mm tolerance or less on a circumference, and this can do with a teeny bit more hold. Used PETG, which is the same stuff (aka Mylar) as plastic water bottles sold in stores. Comfortable bit, if I do say so myself, and softer than acrylic--tooth friendly. Just under 2 hours to print at .10mm layer resolution. 5 minutes to make a design adjustment... Went with an "Azure Blue" color I had on hand.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well done! You may get some imprecations.....

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have a few 3D printed cubes from artisan puzzle designers and they have a distinct smell. Does the stem smell or taste odd?

 

[Scottmi]

I have a few 3D printed cubes from artisan puzzle designers and they have a distinct smell. Does the stem smell or taste odd?

different plastics (PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, etc) of course have different chemistries, and even different colors in same material can have very different smells/VCs. PETG is among the more friendly materials, and as I mentioned, is commonly used for disposable bottled water, and sealable storage bags, plastic utensils... no discernible smell or taste with this one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

and even different colors in same material can have very different smells/VCs

Being in mold injection for decades I can certainly attest to that.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Nice! I’ve been “not drawn” to MS pipes because of the length of stem, your stem makes that cutty about perfect!

 

[PipeIT]

To bad you didn’t make a video, that would be cool watching the stem being made. You’re the first person I’ve heard if doing this.

Maybe next time...

Can you 3D print Cumberland?

P.S. Looks nice!

 

[Scottmi]

To bad you didn’t make a video, that would be cool watching the stem being made. You’re the first person I’ve heard if doing this.

Maybe next time...

Can you 3D print Cumberland?

P.S. Looks nice!

LOL! I'm not setup for video like some. Pretty straightforward though, to design and print a straight stem. Easy-peasy ;-) Cumberland, no. I wish!

 

[Steddy]

Really cool. I’m one of those weirdos who likes plastic stems, my only experience being cobs. I wonder why the two main stem materials are vulcanite and acrylic. Is there not a middle ground between comfort and durability? I’ve never smoked a pipe with a polyester or Bakelite stem, any thoughts on alternative stem materials?

 

[Reggie]

That is is very cool!

 

[chilllucky]

... PETG is among the more friendly materials, and as I mentioned, is commonly used for disposable bottled water, and sealable storage bags, plastic utensils... no discernible smell or taste with this one.

None of which are meant to be heated up past a certain temperature. If you don't taste off flavors (like the water in a single use bottle that's been in the sun all day) you might be ok, but I would do a little more research. Really neat project, tho!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Nicely done!

Really cool. I’m one of those weirdos who likes plastic stems, my only experience being cobs. I wonder why the two main stem materials are vulcanite and acrylic. Is there not a middle ground between comfort and durability? I’ve never smoked a pipe with a polyester or Bakelite stem, any thoughts on alternative stem materials?

Acrylic and Vulcanite are the most common because they offer the best properties for workability and durability. Polyester, vinyl, and Bakelite were all once commonplace on the market but not the go to for various reasons. Bakelite dust is highly toxic, so working it is hazardous to your health, these days it's overly expensive, and it's nearly impossible to bend without special equipment. Polyester was used by a few pipe brands in the US from the 60-80's but it has to molded instead of cut from rod stock, its nearly impossible to work or polish. It offers little in the way of durability and the colors tend to look washed out.

There are a lot of meer carvers using both Poly and Vinyl stems today but the problem with both is that they are nearly impossible to further shape once they are molded and this poses a lot of problems for briar pipe makers.

Vulcanized rubber and extruded acrylic are the two that offer best workability, durability, and eye appeal. They can be pre-formed or cut from rod stock. If pre-formed, they can be further worked, they offer the highest shine, they resist tooth damage better, and are the easiest to bend. They are the ones that offer the fewest drawbacks.

Juma makes great stems but it also has it's limitations. There are some people that are doing some pretty cool things with cast resin stems but I have not worked with any of them so I couldn't say if they're any good, but they look cool.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Vulcanized rubber and extruded acrylic are the two that offer best workability, durability, and eye appeal. They can be pre-formed or cut from rod stock.

Acrylic can also be cast from liquid. I've made a few this way. It is a pain in the ass to drill after it is shaped, but quite a few pipemakers and pipe artists do this.
Sorry, I was just expounding on what you had said.

3D printed stuff is pretty neat, but everyone I know that has invested in a 3D printer system makes a few things that are neat, but then the thing starts to collect dust. A few years ago, they were a big hit with younger jewelers. They could design a ring, print it in plastic, and then cast it. The problem is that if you don't have a lot of experience making settings and actually setting stones using traditional techniques, you're probably going to make some design mistakes in your printed rings. it's easier using these printers to come up with some very imaginative designs, but then someone buys a ring, and gets pissed when the $3000 diamond they had set into the ring falls out. Or, the ring collapses when knocked against something while wearing it. 3D appeals to the young jewelers that are having problems designing and making jewelry using traditional techniques. This leads to poor designs.

Anyways, I have no personal interest in 3D printing for myself, but it is nice to see someone finding a way to actually use those things for something practical.

 

[Scottmi]

None of which are meant to be heated up past a certain temperature. If you don't taste off flavors (like the water in a single use bottle that's been in the sun all day) you might be ok, but I would do a little more research. Really neat project, tho!

"neat project" thanks!
"might be ok"

Raises a good general question: how hot does any stem (be it rubber, acrylic, polyester, bakelite, horn..) get when smoking? what is the "working temp" of the inside surface of a stem?

Somewhere just a little above room temp, and nowhere near 100C (i.e. sucking on a boiling teakettle spigot) would be my unresearched but rationally considered opinion.

At temps below ~120C I personally don't have even a hint of a toxicity concern with this PETG. Should I be?

 

[jpmcwjr]

None of which are meant to be heated up past a certain temperature. If you don't taste off flavors (like the water in a single use bottle that's been in the sun all day) you might be ok, but I would do a little more research. Really neat project, tho!

It'd be just smoke passing through the new stem; don't see any real heat from that.

 

[chilllucky]

I'm afraid I really don't know. Which would cause me, personally to try and find some one or some resource to ask. If you're comfortable with the vetting you've done about it, there's no reason to help me carry my own anxiety.

 

[jpmcwjr]

My Merchant Service Cutty...... << Snipped bits out >>

View attachment 254013

That sure looks like a stack to me! Where did you buy it? Did merchant dub it a cutty?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Really cool. I’m one of those weirdos who likes plastic stems, my only experience being cobs. I wonder why the two main stem materials are vulcanite and acrylic. Is there not a middle ground between comfort and durability? I’ve never smoked a pipe with a polyester or Bakelite stem, any thoughts on alternative stem materials?

Vulcanite existed long before the myriad of plastics were formed into... just about everything.

I think our OP has demo'ed something fabulous.

 

[kcghost]

Really nice stem you have designed there!!

 

[Scottmi]

That sure looks like a stack to me! Where did you buy it? Did merchant dub it a cutty?

Direct from Merchant Service themselves.