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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
43,450
109,395
The Gandalf one had an acrylic tenon and an acrylic bit (fixed to beach). I wasn’t aware of the interior tube, but makes sense. Either way, it was one of the nicest stems I had seen
Used to have three of them and that tube made cleaning them a breeze. I was worried about a pipe cleaner getting snagged inside of a wooden stem but the tube was smooth as glass.

img_20160103_085359-3.jpg
 
Mar 1, 2014
3,647
4,917
Not quite IPSD but I ordered these from Blakemar Briars last fall (the delay was mostly due to a payment processor going SNAFU) and they arrived a few weeks ago.
Now I've got three more on order, which is the last of the available stummels.
399EBEE5-918C-4EE9-AEE3-DCBE3DEEDF96.jpeg650C2B28-E2BB-451E-982C-2744140E2905.jpeg

The Blakemar King's Imperial Quantock is almost exactly the same as the Peterson XL23, but costs nearly half as much.


4847B409-D010-477D-AAE9-48EA639DB2D8.jpeg
 
Last edited:

olkofri

Lifer
Sep 9, 2017
8,049
14,667
The Arm of Orion
Used to have three of them and that tube made cleaning them a breeze. I was worried about a pipe cleaner getting snagged inside of a wooden stem but the tube was smooth as glass.

View attachment 66994
Doesn't seem to be a major debacle, but still:

Two 'major' cracks: one on the back of the stem close to the tenon:

Vauen_Almar_debacle--02.jpg

And one on the back as well, close to the mouthpiece:

Vauen_Almar_debacle--01.jpg

I'm keeping the stem in a ziploc bag with dessicant for the time being, maybe it'll absorb the extra water that made the wood expand.

In the meanwhile, I'm making a cap because the freehand shape of the bowl prevents the use of the windcap, and I don't want a mess when I need to put it away half-smoked:

Vauen_Almar_debacle--03.jpg
 
Mar 13, 2020
2,752
26,763
missouri
Doesn't seem to be a major debacle, but still:

Two 'major' cracks: one on the back of the stem close to the tenon:

View attachment 67002

And one on the back as well, close to the mouthpiece:

View attachment 67001

I'm keeping the stem in a ziploc bag with dessicant for the time being, maybe it'll absorb the extra water that made the wood expand.

In the meanwhile, I'm making a cap because the freehand shape of the bowl prevents the use of the windcap, and I don't want a mess when I need to put it away half-smoked:

View attachment 67003
That looks like it hurts....
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,459
My own sales psychology says ten or fifteen percent discount will trigger a pipe purchase if I have been on the verge of buying an item already. It doesn't prompt me to prowl the pages looking for a potential buy. Twenty percent on the whole site, with no minimum purchase might send me looking, and would definitely trip my wire if I were already interested. Any discount on tobacco is tempting, but I try not to hoard too much.
 

olkofri

Lifer
Sep 9, 2017
8,049
14,667
The Arm of Orion
That’s terrible! Thanks for letting us know. I won’t put water on my auenland stem now. I guess it’s because the beech stem is thin wood, just a sheath over the acrylic, so expanding and shrinking is damaging.

I hope it repairs well enough.
I just gave it a very careful touch with 3000 grit sandpaper to get rid of the roughness. Have to fold the paper to needle-like point to avoid sanding the area around. I just checked and it seems fine: can't tell there was any damage, unless you're looking for it. If you end up accidentally getting it wet, look to the grain: it cracks along the boundary.
 
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