I don’t have a problem clenching with vulcanite. It’s my preferred stem material, so I went that route instead.
Give Me the Pros and Cons of Softy Bits
- Thread starter mikethompson
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Vinyl tape or softy bits while driving other than that I avoid using them,candidly saying, I can't stand those,
They are too thick for me as well, I moved to the vinyl wrap as well but that too can be a pita but it is easily changed and you can adjust the thickness. I have slowly moved away from the wrap as well and just using the pipe as intended with bite marks and all.
Try them and let us know how you fared, good luck!
Try them and let us know how you fared, good luck!
My name is Steve and I am a softy bit user.....
A couple of great ideas suggested above I am going to try to see if I like them just as much because you CAN taste and smell the rubber. Silicone and food grade shrink tape are great ideas!
A couple of great ideas suggested above I am going to try to see if I like them just as much because you CAN taste and smell the rubber. Silicone and food grade shrink tape are great ideas!
I’m very fond of my softie bits, though it really sucks to get kicked in them.....
I put them on all my pipes now. Hated them for years and wouldn't consider them. I'm a chewer. I got tired of chewed up bits. Yes I could have adjusted my technique blah blah blah blah blah. I could have done a lot of things. I went the route of getting like 20 if the silicone ones (much better than rubber) on eBay for $1.50.
They are like anything else, awkward at first but you get used to them. Now they are really comfortable to me and a naked pipe feels weird.
They are like anything else, awkward at first but you get used to them. Now they are really comfortable to me and a naked pipe feels weird.
I neither love them nor hate them. I use them on some stems because they are more comfortable to me than the same pipe smoked without. Just like I have a couple of pipes that smoke better for me with Nording Keystones. Positive posts here a few years ago were met largely with disdain. But there are three or four pipes in my collection where they make at least a marginal difference, so I still use them. If I like or don’t like something based on my own experience, that is good enough for me.
Folks either love them or think they are awful. Give me your take and why. I'm thinking about adding some to my next order from Amazon just to try them out. Any particular reason why I should or shouldn't?
BTW, AFAIK the BJ long bits are typically one size. You can get.larger from eBay or Amazon. For recently made ultra thick Castello GG bits, using those has saved several from going to @pipestud ?
There is a “technique” for clenching a pipe now? Then there must be a YouTube video.
Dry vinyl tape is what I use. Kind of like electrical tape without any adhesive, it just clings to itself. Two or three wraps gives you the benefits of a softy bit without any added bulk.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00823GUP6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00823GUP6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's what I wonder. I don't think I've ever gotten a tooth mark on anything but a cheap cob but I guess some people really gnaw on their stems like a dog with a chew toy.
I don't like them because the extra girth is uncomfortable. More effort in cleaning. Oxidizes stem if you don't remove them between smokes. Promotes drooling.
Folks either love them or think they are awful. Give me your take and why. I'm thinking about adding some to my next order from Amazon just to try them out. Any particular reason why I should or shouldn't?
And they are ugly.
People who need these things should just give up on decent pipes and stick to Dr Grabow.
Just helping people find their proper path (into the loving arms of Dr Grabow). They'll thank me one day.
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