Gotcha with the clenching, when the bit gets a bit soggy I can definitely see how that would feel like its ready to splinter. Shayde, while they report that they are producing a pipe "just for you" it is by no means a commission of a personal pipe, they just produce the same pipe for everyone except they don't build it until someone orders it. They don't carry inventory that way but it is the main reason they take so long. The pipe you order from a B&M from MacQueen will be identical to the pipe you receive from them direct. Even on a bulk order of around 15 pipes, Victory Cigars didn't receive their order for 6 months!