Stingers

[plateauguy]

After owning only 1 pipe for 40 years, I'm still at the bottom of the learning curve. A friend gave me a Dr. Grabow Scuptura and when I pulled it apart there was this metal that I wasn't eaxpecting to see. I have since learned that it is a "stinger".
What exactly is a stinger, and what is the purpose?

 

[eaglerico]

From my understanding, it was thought that the metal would help cool the smoke. It seems the general consensus is that it just gets in the way of the draft and makes it difficult to clean the pipe. Also gets in the way of the mid-smoke pipe cleaner. I usually remove them. The only issue on removing them is if there are threads for the tenon on the stinger then it becomes precarious. I have seen where people cut them off just past the threads.
I think if you are going to resell it. Leave it be. If you are going to always keep it, remove it and enjoy.

 

[mso489]

These days, Dr. Grabows come with a filter but without the stinger mostly. The Kaywoodies still have a stinger, and they

are integral to the pipe by fastening the stem to the shank, so you can't take them off. I intentionally avoid stingers,

and only have the one on my Kaywoodie. I went to lengths to get a Parker without a stinger, since some of them still

have them. Some pipes promise you can easily remove them, like Yello Boles. As best I can tell, stingers were added

as a plus when pipe smoking was widely popular in the early 20th Century and on along, as a patented and/or advertised

feature, to make a pipe more competitive and to try to cement customer loyalty. I don't think they boast much appeal

anymore. Filters are somewhat in the same category, and are in the balance for popularity, apparently still standard among

some European pipe smokers. Another innovation that hangs on are "Systems" pipes, such as Petersons. Some pipe smokers

find these more trouble than they're worth in terms of keeping them clean. The best bet seems to be an unfiltered pipe without

a stinger, for most purposes, among most pipe smokers in the U.S.

 

[ejames]

The stinger in your Sculptura will pull out. If it's stuck,heat it for a few seconds with a match or lighter and grasp with padded pliers, twist and pull.FYI,the Sculptura was an RJ Reynolds coupon pipe made by Grabow. They are somewhat rare. Grabow only made one other sandblasted pipe, the Commodore.

 

[plateauguy]

ejames,

Thanks for the step-by-step instructions. I'm not telling my friend that the Sculptura is kind of rare, I spent too much time cleaning it up to give it back!

 

[cortezattic]

The stinger in your Sculptura will pull out

If it pulls out, how will the pipe go back together? It looks like the stinger screws into the shank.
BTW, that's a great looking pipe!

 

[jbbaldwin]

I have two pipes with stingers that are not removable because they have threads to screw into the mortise. I hate the stingers. Can I use a hacksaw to cut them back? (I don't care about the resale value of the pipes - one is an old Kaywoodie Standard and the other is amusingly called a Golden Sunset).

 

[igloo]

Examine threaded stinger ,take hack saw to it .Grasp said stinger remnant between thumb and index finger and thump It hard into the back yard .This can also be done with filters .Double and triple check before you cut cause some you can and some you cant . LHS Sterncrest is another brand with a stinger . http://thumbs4.picclick.com/d/w500/pict/321151671471_/1942-Friends-Tobacco-Run-Cured-

 

[pstlpkr]

What exactly is a stinger, and what is the purpose?

My daffy-nition of a stinger is: Like the business end of a hornet, it is something to avoided. And, it's best use is to hold the bottom of your trash bags down so as to facilitate ease of garbage disposal. :D

Can I use a hacksaw to cut them back?

Yes, you can use a hacksaw to remove them.

Just be careful... and go slow...

::