Softy Pipe Bits, Do You Use Them?

[carolinachurchwarden]

I have a couple of pipes that have stems slicker that owl snot and they just won't stay between my teeth when I try to clench them unless I hold them juuuuuust right. I grabbed some of the softy bits at my tobacconist and put some on a few pipes that like to slip around too much. Mostly, I don't want a chomped up bit, but keeping them from scooting around in my teeth helps to keep that from happening.
I once had a pipe I was clenching dump half my tobacco when it slipped sideways between my teeth due to the acrylic stem being so damn slippery. I put a softy on that baby and it stopped it from happening. That's the good part.
The bad part is getting over the rubber taste you get for the first few smokes. I do need to get some smaller ones, as I have a Charatan's Make that I refurbed a while back and I don't want it to get all chattered up again. The problem is, the ones I get from my tobacconist are too big and I know P&C has the small and the large, but I can't tell if what I have is the small or large already. Anyone else use these? I just want some smaller options for my smaller bit pipes.

 

[ashdigger]

I tried them. I hate them. If I have a pipe that "requires" them, that pipe goes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have an Ardor bulldog that had a stem like you speak of. I just took a file and roughed up the part just behind the button, just enough to give me some bite to hold the pipe steady in my clench. Not enough to mess up the stem. If I wanted, I could easily sand and polish it back to owl shit.
But, I just can't do the softy bits, they feel like I have a ball gag strapped to my face. They are too much, IMO.

 

[spartacus]

I have and use the smaller ones. You need to wet them down a bit to get them on. The acrylic stems doesn't feel comfortable in my teeth. I find myself chewing on the rubber though and need to replace it every once in a while. I do not care for them on my P-Lip stems though.

 

[irishearl]

Tried it and nope-don't like the rubber feel and taste.

 

[crashthegrey]

I use them or something like that to castrate my goats. They don't go near my pipes. I do tend to prefer vulcanite or ebonite stems, but if it is acrylic I use a similar method to Cosmic.

 

[timt]

There's an old thread from several years ago where a member talked about using latex tubing that you can find in hardware stores in like 10ft lengths. I like it better than the bits because it's a little more firm, thinner and definitely cheaper over the long term.
I only use it on my meer which is 2oz, straight and with an acrylic stem. It's not a big deal after I got use to it and like you mentioned, it makes it much easier to chomp onto the pipe and keep it in place without wearing on my teeth.

 

[scloyd]

Tried a softy bit once...hated it. Never again.

 

[saltedplug]

As you may remember I had two-dozen used softies available in my last sale at a great price. I don't know why this was not taken seriously.

 

[blackadderlxx]

Man...some of the imagery in these responses...
I'm not a big fan. I Use them on estate pipes if they have chatter marks though.

 

[scloyd]

Wasn't there a thread recently about using bondage tape instead?

 

[prairiedruid]

I use them. I have a damaged tooth so a softy works well with the pipe notch in my teeth.

 

[milehighpiper]

I also use them on all my pipes. I wash them before putting them on and have not had a rubber taste to them ever. When in doubt, get the smaller tips since they stretch a bit.

 

[ray47]

I always smoke my pipes after I take out my dentures and softie bits help my gums. All my pipes have them.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I use them on all my clenchers.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not a fan.
If it's slippery, take a kitchen scrubbing sponge, add a drop of detergent and scrub the bastard. May have too much wax and too slick a surface without the wax. This should help for both.

 

[3rdguy]

Did not like them, got used to them and now I like the feel of them. Saves a little wear and tear I figure. Cheap in bulk on eBay.

 

[npod]

An oldie but goodie classic http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/parafilm-stem-wraps

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I never ever even tried them until I picked up a Silver Gray hawkbill. It was a step up in my collection, so I got the whole, "Oh I need to protect this stem from tooth marks.", thing going on and actually bought some softie bits. It was really weird to get used and I never really did. After a few times using them I thought about it and came to the conclusion that stem work is almost ALWAYS declared the most difficult pain in the rear aspect of pipe carving. Carvers take so much time to make the bit as comfortable as possible, so if I'm putting a softie bit over it I'm essentially taking all of their efforts and throwing them out the window. I settled on enjoying the pipe exactly how the maker made it. I'm definitely more in the collect to smoke camp than the collect to stare at the beauty of the pipe camp.
I understand if people have dentures or caps or missing teeth that then it makes sense to use them.

 

[craiginthecorn]

I don't generally use softie bits because they feel too big to me. On a few of my pipes, I have used non-adhesive heat shrink tubing. It makes clenching easier and more comfortable and seems to do a decent job of protecting the bit.