Different grades of vulcanite?

[didimauw]

I ordered a University pipe from Pipes and Cigars a few months ago. They claimed it has a vulcanite stem. However I have never seen or had one like this. Im pretty sure it's plastic. This is nothing like the other vulcanite stems I own, in looks, taste, oxidationally (is that a word?)or feel. I have never made an indent in my vulcanite stems, and this one i've almost bitten through already. I also know this is definitely not acrylic.

So are there different grades of vulcanite stems? I'm sure pictures won't help but I'll add some anyways.

 

[aldecaker]

Oxidationality? Never heard of it, but it sounds good.
Yours does look a lot like plastic. However, I have vulcanite stems that run the gamut of hardness and resistance to oxidation, so it may just be a softer vulcanite. Did you do the friction test to see if it smells like sulfur?

 

[didimauw]

Never heard of the friction test.

 

[aldecaker]

Take the stem out and rub the tenon on your jeans very briskly for a couple seconds. Then take a whiff of it. If it smells sulfury, it's vulcanite.

 

[georged]

Low quality vulcanite isn't really softer, it just tends to be impure (has lots of inclusions, and occasionally voids).
Going from the pics I'm not sure what you have there, OP. It LOOKS like vulcanite except for the smushed part.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It could also be that becoming a moderator has given you a little stress, ha ha. Grinding your teeth while sending out warnings and holding back what you "really" want to say. Closing threads while guys are throwing beer bottles at you and making fun of your pajamas. I know, I know. Next it's the hard stuff... Cotton Bole Twist, Dark Flake, Picayune, then next thing you know, you'll be urinating in the kitchen sink and talking to ice cubes. Yeh, BTDT. Eventually it gets easier. We have a moderator psychologist, well... a counselor. Or, well... it's a 900 number you have to call. Just a couple of credit cards, and soon you won't be biting through vulcanite any more.

 

[didimauw]

Hahaha cosmic! Chewed through a few stems yourself eh?

 

[ssjones]

Pipes Magazine Moderator stem:

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, I imagine that as respectful as Al is in dealing with people, he could probably chew through the briar, ha ha.

 

[madox07]

didimauw why don't you send it back?

 

[didimauw]

Oh, I dont really have any complaints, just curious. Ill try the friction test today.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

Didimauw, you may want to read rule number 9 again. As a mod, you should follow the rules and capitalize the first letter of words in the title thread. :nana:
I've been wanting to ask about the softness of vulcanite and thought I may be able to sneak it in here? Cumberland and other pigmented vulcanite stems feel softer to me. Is there anything to this? A stem feels extra rubbery to me when it's got color. Does adding pigment soften vulcanite?

 

[didimauw]

Oh crap did I really do that ??? Wow... AND you totally called me out...thanks :nana: (Thank you, whoever fixed it for me lol) But I'm not going to delete your post, cause I'm an honest guy who makes mistakes. :lol:
Figured I should now read the rest of your post. And yes, I have always wondered about Cumberland stems, they look awesome to me. But can't answer your question, cause I've never owned one. So, there you go.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Didi, It should read "Different Grades Of vulcanite?" instead of "Different grades of vulcanite?"
But, we'll let you slide. Just give out 50 capitalization warnings and 4 Hail Carter Halls as your penance.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

Didi, It should read "Different Grades Of vulcanite?"

How many mods does it take to get Rule 9 right? :clap: It should read, 'Different Grades Of Vulcanite'. I don't think Kevin would say that the preposition really needs to be capitalized. It's like getting to tell your teacher in school that they were wrong.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I always try to capitalize the prepositions, because it clearly says "every word," so being a letter of the law type of guy...

 

[mso489]

I don't know how well I can interpret from the photos, but that stem sure looks more like plastic than Vulcanite. I don't think Vulcanite would chew through this quickly. Also, this stem has a shine to it that I don't associate with Vulcanite. I'm just going from the photo here, but I'm seeing plastic, and not lucite or acrylic which I think are higher grade, harder plastic.

 

[mso489]

Another thought. Usually Vulcanite gets gnawed through very slowly, and it is a process of the smoker actually gnawing through the material, like a little chewed hole. Plastic tends to weaken first and kind of fold inward, as this stem appears to be doing. Another clue it's plastic and not Vulcanite. I could be wrong just judging from the photo, but I'm telling you what I'm seeing.

 

[aldecaker]

Is that an injection-molding seam on the right side of the slot?

 

[didimauw]

That's sort of what I thought it was as well Aldecaker.