Are wood stems clench-able?

[Chasing Embers]

I dislike tooth chatter and I find it more comfortable.

 

[dcrguns]

I had two pipes from Chris Askwith with briar stems. Both were excellent pipes and smoked well. I, however, could never get used to the briar stems. First, they always reminded me of having a Popsicle stick in my mouth. They do get wet and soggy after holding them in your mouth. Second, they are not very durable. Both of mine developed cracks after just a few uses. I ended up selling them on the estate market. I could have had them re-stemmed but I just moved on.

 

[didimauw]

A few big companies as well as artisans have made wood stemmed pipes.

View attachment 186825

That looks like the most uncomfortable button I've ever seen .

 

[Chalaw87]

I find horn and full briar stems to feel about the same. Both are softer than vulcanite. I wrap both with a small bit of vinyl friction tape, as I do with any stem material.

So you use friction tape instead of a little softie stem protector?

 

[Ahi Ka]

So you use friction tape instead of a little softie stem protector?

Yep, I use it on all my stems. @hoosierpipeguy has a lead on a great S&M site where you can get it cheap

 

[Chalaw87]

Yep, I use it on all my stems. @hoosierpipeguy has a lead on a great S&M site where you can get it cheap

I dont mean to steer the thread off course but...Im intrigued.

Does the tape cause any discoloration/oxidation to the stem if the tape is removed?

Ive seen a lot of estate pipe that obviously had the softies on the stem for a long time, and I assume the stem under the softie was not clean, which lead to a lot of discoloration.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I dont mean to steer the thread off course but...Im intrigued.

Does the tape cause any discoloration/oxidation to the stem if the tape is removed?

Ive seen a lot of estate pipe that obviously had the softies on the stem for a long time, and I assume the stem under the softie was not clean, which lead to a lot of discoloration.

I leave it on permanently on acrylic, amber, horn and briar stems. I remove it after smoking a pipe with an vulcanite stem, unless the pipe is cased as a line and discolouration can occur. However I think it’s different to what happens with the softy bit, as the covered area is darker than the rest of the stem, so lane it is not oxidising.

I once covered an entire stem with the tape and left it on for a few weeks as an experiment. There was no discolouration, or if there was it happened evenly across the whole stem. I don’t recommend this, I just did it for curiosity

 

[orlandofurioso]

I'm not a clencher anyway, but uh... no, better not.
Its wood, it will swell and get soggy ( horn too ) and you'll ruin it.
Ozpiper is 100% correct.

 

[Reggie]

A few big companies as well as artisans have made wood stemmed pipes.

View attachment 186825

I believe I saw a Comoy wooden stem pipe last night on Etsy or Fleabay

 

[Toast]

They do get wet and soggy after holding them in your mouth. Second, they are not very durable. Both of mine developed cracks after just a few uses.

I have a Pete Prevost with a box stem. It's a tiny little nosewarmer, so I don't really need to clench it.

It did lead me into the dark depths of recorder maintenance (they use box fairly often apparently).

Since then I've been coating it, inside & out, with sweet almond oil to stop it splitting. That's had the unintended effect of significantly improving the mouth feel.

It's a wonderful button, beautifully shaped, but previously it had a weirdly absorbant quality, a bit like a clay.