Do Stingers really work

[woodrow]

There probably isn’t a day goes by when I’m not digging out a stinger in a KW or other brand.
I can understand how stingers we’re supposed to work, but did they really do the job. Did stingers offer a cooler, less moist smoke.
Refurbing there’s a plethora of different designs, and stingers, and gadgets they claimed they worked.
Thanks all. Time to take some stingers out of the alcohol soak.
-Bill

 

[warren]

Some will say yes, others no. It's purely anecdotal in my opinion.

 

[mso489]

I've had several pipes with stingers, and they have never contributed anything to the smoke except one, so I removed the stingers, which was quick and easy and an overall improvement.

The one exception is my Kaywoodie Drinkless author-like shape with a screw-in stem. The stinger is mandatory, and easy to clean, and actually does seem to dry out the smoke while smoking very well. So I would say, it varies with the pipe smoker and the pipe -- mostly they don't work much or at all, but I found an exception.

I think stingers were intended by pipe makers as a competitive edge back when tobacco pipes were a large industry. I think they were more featured in advertising than perfected for their actual benefits. I haven't seen stingers featured in the promotional write-ups on pipes. A retailer may admit in small print that a pipe has a stinger, usually adding that it can be easily removed. I haven't seen anyone booming them up as a great feature of a pipe, never. I think you may have to go back to pipe advertising in the 1960's or 1950's to see that.

 

[Grangerous]

Do stingers work? They work to keep bits of tobacco from being inhaled. I leave them in. I had a Field n Stream pipe, never bothered me. I own three Kaywoodies, one four hole stinger. They smoke just fine. As intended.

 

[Briar Tuck]

Many of my estate pipes have them. They definitely work to keep a pipe cleaner from passing through. Aside from that I haven't noticed much difference. I still keep them in though.

 

[Humblepipe]

A number of my pipes have stingers. I leave them in, because I like the idea of keeping the pipe the way it was originally intended. I am sentimental that way.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

From time to time, I want to push a pipe cleaner through my pipe while smoking to soak up some moisture or dislodge a piece of tobacco or clog. Stinger impedes that. I haven't smoked a lot of pipes with stingers in them but enough to know I'd not purchase a pipe that had one installed. Same goes for filters. Unnecessary items for enjoying a bowl of tobacco.

 

[greeneyes]

They work great as gimmick marketing ploys. Or rather, they did when they were fashionable.

 

[Grangerous]

Many of my estate pipes have them. They definitely work to keep a pipe cleaner from passing through. Aside from that I haven't noticed much difference. I still keep them in though.

Actually, I pass a pipe cleaner right up to and into the ball of my Kaywoodies, removing any moisture to that point.

But I’m in the habit of doing that with all of my pipes.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I have one in my kaywoodie and I hate it

 

[mortonbriar]

Check out if any artisanal pipe makers are using stingers to 'enhance' the performance of their pipes...I would be surprised if you find a single one.

 

[lraisch]

IMHO, if by "works" you mean do they cause condensation and result in gurgling and the occasional drink, then yes, they work.

 

[georged]

This guy says yes:

 

[Smoke Wagon]

I have 7 Kaywoodies with stingers. They seem to be neutral for me. Some seem to gurgle a bit, some don’t. The stinger does seem to ensure I don’t get any juice up the stem though.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Purely as an exercise statistics, the answer is an overwhelming yes. If you look at the number of pipes KW sold from 1919 to 1941, they were the largest pipe manufacturer the world. They did not become the largest pipe manufacturer in the world by selling snake oil and gimmicks. But you need to view this through the lens of the first half of the 20th century. Pipe cleaners were less common, tobacco was drier, far less humectant was used. While they might seem like a nuisance today they were not then. A KW stem can be unscrewed during a smoke and simply shake the moisture off, or clear a blockage easily with out a pipe cleaner. Also aluminum is a phenomenal heat sink, so yes it provided a cooler smoke. With modern pipes cleaners and sopping wet aro's they are of little use.

 

[Chalaw87]

This is a good article. Apparently Peterson 'chimneys' and possibly Kaywoodie Drinkless stingers are the way to go if you want any jewelry for your stem.

Airflow in Peterson System Pipes: A Conversation with Dr. Dunn | Smokingpipes.com

Airflow in Peterson System Pipes: A Conversation with Dr. Dunn

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[newbroom]

I have more pipes than I smokbe and rotate about 20 or so with lots more to choose from.
I hardly ever reach for my Kaywoodes with 4 hole stingers because the stingers do inhibit the airflow, and clog and whistle and make gurgling noises. I know I can cut the stingers off, I have other pipes I bought from 'estate' sales with that treatment, but I think these pipes will sell to someone and would be worth more as original.
I will likely never sell a piipe, but that's how I think.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

The only pipes with a gimmick gadget I smoke are the original Drinkless ones on KB&B/Kaywoodie pipes. The removable ones.
It's important of course that you clean it after smoking.

 

[Smoke Wagon]

Purely as an exercise statistics, the answer is an overwhelming yes. If you look at the number of pipes KW sold from 1919 to 1941, they were the largest pipe manufacturer the world. They did not become the largest pipe manufacturer in the world by selling snake oil and gimmicks. But you need to view this through the lens of the first half of the 20th century. Pipe cleaners were less common, tobacco was drier, far less humectant was used. While they might seem like a nuisance today they were not then. A KW stem can be unscrewed during a smoke and simply shake the moisture off, or clear a blockage easily with out a pipe cleaner. Also aluminum is a phenomenal heat sink, so yes it provided a cooler smoke. With modern pipes cleaners and sopping wet aro's they are of little use.

Interesting thoughts.

 

[Searock Fan]

None of the pipes I own came with stingers. If they did I would throw them out at once. I believe the basic idea of a stinger is two fold. One, it's merely selling gemik and two it's supposed to keep you from getting a "slug" or little piece of tobacco in your mouth. Proper packing can usually prevent the latter and if it does happen now and then, no big deal. Stingers also go against the law of physics that says, when hot air, or in this case smoke, comes in contact with cold medal, it creates condensation. In other works it makes the pipe smoke wet.