Somewhat Gross Pipe Question

[mso489]

How much pipe moisture is saliva drooled in the process of clenching or condensed from the mouth as you puff? I doubt there is any authoritative study on this, so the floor is open for hypothesis and speculation. Usually when we speak of moisture, we think of ambient humidity or moisture from the tobacco and/or the burning process. We don't often think of ourselves as a source. Of course, we're talking about other pipe smokers; I don't have any moisture problems and always smoke dry as a bone. Ahem.

 

[jojoc]

I've always wondered how a small amount of tobacco can leave a 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the pipe. :lol:

 

[voorhees]

When I first started smoking the pipe, I seemed to have an abundance of saliva. I do not recall drooling down the stem. And now any moisture I get, may be a slight gurgle near the bowl, which I attribute to tobacco moisture, not saliva.

 

[acidpox]

I know that I do sometimes drool down my stem. If I am clenching for awhile say doing yard work or some other task that requires both my hands. That's why when doing those activities I use my filterd cobs to soak up that extra moisture.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Pipes that touch saliva shall not touch my lips. Or vice-versa. (?!?)
I just do not see HOW you can inject saliva down the stem without trying pretty hard. And, yes, smoking causes more saliva for me, but it doesn't mean it goes down the stem.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Ah, yes, now I see how. Acid's post reminded me that bending over while clenching and picking up something might cause that. But a simple movement of the tongue to block entry into the bit is all that's needed.

 

[pianopuffer]

I don’t find much saliva in my bowls but I DO find that certain blends make my mouth water like crazy. Haven’t figured that one out yet.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Think about the amount of moisture that condensates when you breath on a car window. Now imagine that same quantity inside of a pipe stem, over and over again. Not hard to imagine how it would accumulate quickly for some smokers.
I had issues with it when I first started smoking, but the breath method seems to have eliminated that for me.
No matter what though, it won't accumulate as fast as it does for our friends in the smokeless community. Blech!

 

[tabakpfeife]

I think it's mostly condensation and the results of combustion. It is gross though. I'll tell you something grosser. I had a roommate at the University of Texas that dipped (occasionally he would chew my pipe tobacco or unravel Swisher Sweets cigars). He would spit into an empty bottle of Jack Daniels, screw the top on, and place it on a shelf in our shared bookcase. Spit and repeat, until he filled up the bottle. One year he left the capped bottle during Christmas break, and when we came back it had fermented, I guess, and it exploded all over our books. I got a new roommate.

 

[gatorlope]

That’s what I’ve got a mud jug for. Smoking makes me salivate, I expectorate the excess, none of it has any business in my pipes!

 

[gatorlope]

That’s what I’ve got a mud jug for. Smoking makes me salivate, I expectorate the excess, none of it has any business in my pipes!

 

[alaskanpiper]

I think it's mostly condensation and the results of combustion. It is gross though. I'll tell you something grosser. I had a roommate at the University of Texas that dipped (occasionally he would chew my pipe tobacco or unravel Swisher Sweets cigars). He would spit into an empty bottle of Jack Daniels, screw the top on, and place it on a shelf in our shared bookcase. Spit and repeat, until he filled up the bottle. One year he left the capped bottle during Christmas break, and when we came back it had fermented, I guess, and it exploded all over our books. I got a new roommate.

That is horrifying. I would have thrown that shit away after the first use, and repeatedly after.

 

[voorhees]

That is horrifying. I would have thrown that shit away after the first use, and repeatedly after.

While I don't mind someone using smokeless tobacco, I do mind all those damn bottles of spit. Disgusting.

 

[alaskanpiper]

While I don't mind someone using smokeless tobacco, I do mind all those damn bottles of spit. Disgusting

This. I use smokeless from time to time myself (In fact I have some general snus in my lip at work as we speak), so I get it, but good lord man, keep that spitter out of sight. If I ever accidentally grabbed one of those while drinking beer I would puke for the rest of my life.

 

[rigmedic1]

Have you ever clenched a pipe while loading it? Then fished round in your pocket for matches? That glob of moisture you suck back is not condensation.

 

[gatorlope]

Nope, never did.