stinger

[jship079]

what is there purpose

 

[wallbright]

Their original purpose was to help reduce moisture in the pipe and help from getting tongue bite in some cases. Now they just serve as a nuisance.

 

[excav8tor]

It appears their only purpose is to annoy pipe smokers when they get a PAD attack

 

[cortezattic]

The steam in the smoke stream condenses on the relatively cool metal surface, and the smoke becomes drier, cooler, and presumably therefore, tastier. The downside is that the condensate accumulates in the shank and bowl of the pipe, which results in gurgle, and a wet, unsmokeable tobacco heel. It's a problem that you can't solve with a quick dip of a pipe cleaner because most stingers block its passage.
Savinelli's balsa insert system, and Brigham's rock maple tube inserts, to name but a couple, are fairly effective at capturing much of the moisture from tobacco smoke, without aggressively filtering any of the compounds that contribute to the taste of the tobacco.
It would seem that research in this area has been going on for a very long time. Depicted here, one of my favorites, is
marketing pioneer Daniel Boone Savinelli with an early focus group.

 

[hilojohnny]

Hey Cortezattic.....that is so cool....I had no idea that old Dan'l was so active in the development of pipesmoking innovations!

 

[seakayak]

When one comes with the pipe, I use it (at least until it inevitably breaks). Truth told, I notice no significant change in the smoking experience either way.

 

[cortezattic]

I get a lot of mileage outta that cartoon.

 

[excav8tor]

I have just found out that if you take the innerds out of a BIC Biro and then place said stinger in its place, it can be used to deter cats from fouling on your lawn with one quick blow.

 

[igloo]

Thank the Gods a use for a stinger , other than a spot in the kitchen junk drawer .