Storing Pipes Disassembled
- Thread starter Auxsender
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I wouldn’t recommend this. Maybe I over-worry, but I’d be concerned that the wood would shrink without having a tenon inserted all the time, leading to issues with the stems fitting properly when you need to put the pipe back together.
I store my system pipes over night without the stem in to help dry out the well. Always make sure to put them back in the morning though. Don’t want to lose or mix them up
If you thoroughly clean them after smoking, there's really nothing left to dry out.
I love the Missouri Meerschaum cheap plastic “one size fits almost all” stems. I clench the shit out of em then buy more when they give out. Mixing up stems isn’t an issue for me because all my stems fit almost all my cobs. I remember which stems go to which of my 5 briars because I only have 5 briars. I’m sure if I had a proper pipe collection, this would be impossible.
Anyway, thanks for the input and for satisfying my curiosity about how others do things.
Puff on!
Anyway, thanks for the input and for satisfying my curiosity about how others do things.
Puff on!
Aha! That’s a great point. I store mine, in pieces, in a cardboard box like an oaf.I find it difficult to fit them on the rack in 2 pieces.
Yup, this ^^^^
Here's the catch... individual pieces of briar vary enormously regarding dimensional stability. Sometimes storing a separated pipe is fine, other times you'll have a five star PITA waiting for you when it's time to put it back together.
(That DOESN'T mean storing pipes assembled will guarantee a good fit forever, but it will move things in that direction significantly.)
Removing a stem isn't major surgery, nonetheless doing it every time you smoke a pipe seems like unnecessary wear and tear. I clean my pipes after every smoke, but I only remove the stem after quite and few smokes, and with about ninety pipes in rotation, that isn't often.
Also, as someone else mentioned, I enjoy having the pipes visible on racks fully assembled. I want them cleaned up and ready to smoke.
Also, as someone else mentioned, I enjoy having the pipes visible on racks fully assembled. I want them cleaned up and ready to smoke.
I see several cons and no pros for doing this.
I do actually sometimes take the stems off to air out when I’m cleaning the mortise out, but only for a few days.
Also if the pipe built up some extra moisture smoking, or it smelled a bit after the smoke, I also remove the stems for some extra airing out.
Extreme lengths of time, in various ambient conditions might not be a good idea, later trying to get the stem back in. So if a tight fit afterwards, rub some bees wax on the tenons.
Also if the pipe built up some extra moisture smoking, or it smelled a bit after the smoke, I also remove the stems for some extra airing out.
Extreme lengths of time, in various ambient conditions might not be a good idea, later trying to get the stem back in. So if a tight fit afterwards, rub some bees wax on the tenons.
Well one pro might be if you store the stummels in one box, the stems in another and then pick one from each box to construct the pipe for your next smoke -- the possibilities are almost unlimited.
