FNG Question - Acrylic stems

[fnord]

I picked up a handful of pipes last week and am now the owner of a pair of burners with acrylic stems. These are my first acrylic stems and I'm curious as to their maintenance needs.
What's the best way to care for them, folks? Will they discolor like Vulcanite? Will I need to use my micro mesh pads on them? Oil? Wax?
Thanks.
Fnord

 

[quaffer]

No, they do not discolor like vulcanite and require no maintenance, other then keeping them clean and clear of gunk. That's why I greatly prefer acrylic over vulcanite and makers that use it.

 

[judcole]

Vulcanite stems are a bit softer then acrylic, so some guys find 'em easier to clench. But, as quaffer pointed out, acrylic does not discolor.

 

[eaglerico]

I really like to options of color acrylic stems offer and they are much easier to maintain. They are much harder on the teeth (as Jud pointed out) so I have recently started using the soft bits on them. I am not much of a clencher so these work for me.

 

[fnord]

Thanks, everybody. I appreciate the info.

 

[ssjones]

I prefer vulcanite but it does require maintenance and I don't clench those stems (most of mine are estates that were too hard to get pristine!). I do have a few acrylic stem pipes that I like for walking around and clenching they are pretty indestructable.

 

[jsiddle]

I love my acrylic stem on my sav...

 

[captainprophesy]

I personally don't mind Acrylic... I have several and I actually enjoy the no maintenance aspect... also I am a clencher and the hard stem doesn't bother me one bit.

 

[taerin]

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