Survey on Stem Preferences

[plateauguy]

I've always wondered, why do we choose the stem style that we do? With the exception of my Falcons, I am a semi-bent, to full bent kind of guy. They have always just "fit" my hand better.
So, I thought it might be interesting to find out whether you're a bent or straight (no pun intended) kind of person, and why.

 

[andypandy]

Although I'm not that experienced, I prefer straight stems. My first pipe was an estate Willmer with a straight saddle bit. When I use bent stemmed pipes I fear that saliva will pour down into the pipe and I've got a little trouble with getting my pipe cleaners into the chameber on my bent pipes.

 

[werdna]

I prefer half, or quarter bent. A full bent pipe hits my chest when I'm reading or working at the table saw. I like straights too, but prefer a little bend in the stem.

 

[pitchfork]

whether you're a bent or straight (no pun intended)

I definitely swing both ways. :mrgreen:
There are functional advantages to each. Properly made straights can have continuous, uninterrupted airflow, which is good. Meanwhile 3/4 to full bents are much better in terms of leverage on the jaw (and they can be made to function almost as well as straights or partial bents).
Also, I'm always drawn to how a pipe looks. I love Lovats, for example, but there's no such thing as a bent Lovat. I also like the look of many bent pipes, so aesthetics is probably the main reason I own both straights and bents, with no discernible preference for one or the other

 

[cortezattic]

Anything less than a ¾ bent is fine. More than that and I start to have pipe cleaner issues.

Most of my bent pipes are actually hawkbills, which I guess can be taken to be reverse-bent.

For me, the hawkbill shape only has an aesthetic role, as it has poor leverage at best, and

doesn't bring the bowl closer to the nose either.

 

[mso489]

As with shapes, my joy is variety. I don't have an Oom Paul, but I have about a third of my collection of

about 40 pipes full bent. No, the pipe cleaners don't go through those, except for one compact pipe.

Another third of my pipes are 1/8 to 3/4 bent, and the other third are straight. My one churchwarden

is fully curved, which I was told is the classic design for churchwardens. (Sav 601.) I like full bent and

churchwarden for contemplative smoking, where I fold in over the pipe, or full-bent for walking, to

minimize the possibility of having a pipe jammed in the roof of my mouth if I trip. But sometimes I just

need the alert, forthright aspect of a straight stem, when nothing else will do. The simplicity and

visual rightness sharpens my senses.

 

[pitchfork]

Anything less than a ¾ bent is fine. More than that and I start to have pipe cleaner issues.

I didn't even consider that. Maybe that's because I hate using pipe cleaners during a smoke. If a pipe doesn't smoke dry or if I don't think I can fix it with a little filing or by chamfering the tenon, I get rid of it. But the pipe cleaner issue is definitely worth considering for those who use them.

 

[irwinmetro]

So far I'm indifferent between bent or not, though aesthetically I prefer an slight bend. What I really prefer, more than anything else, is an oval stem with a wide bit.

 

[pitchfork]

What I really prefer, more than anything else, is an oval stem with a wide bit.

I only have a couple of these, but I really like them, too. Very Danish and modern looking to my eyes.

 

[cigrmaster]

I like straight, 1/4 bent and 1/8 bent pipes. I have an equal number of bent and straights in my collection and enjoy them all.

 

[erichbaumer]

After hating them for quite a while, I've become a huge fan of straight stems, particularly on billiards and their derivatives. They now make up the majority of my collection/rotation, and it's been a long time since I've bought a bent stem. However, my second choice is full bent, so I guess my preference is one extreme or the other.

 

[brdavidson]

I'm more of a straight, classically shaped pipe kinda guy. In particular I like straight Dublins or Billiards. Although I have several 1/4 bent pipes that are very comfortable to smoke. If the pipe is straight it has to be rather light to be comfortable.

 

[uberam3rica]

I prefer straight stems. I like bent stems too, but I tend to buy straight.

 

[petergunn]

1/8 and 1/4 no straight or full bent

 

[flyguy]

I prefer a little bend in the stem of my briars (1/4 bent or less). Straight stems work also.

 

[sparrowhawk]

For some reason I tend to get the straight, preferring these for my billiards and so forth. Yet, the few bent Petersons I own feel strangely more natural, more ergonomic. In fact, when my budget allows, I plan on getting a few more of these. I also like the acrylic fishtail stem better than vulcanite, and I can't begin to understand how I can sense the difference. But the bent apple Dracula fishtale and the straight "pot" just seem more comfortable. Go figure.

 

[murf]

used to like only bent pipes, maybe 3/4 ? decided to get a couple straight pipes to even out the collection. Now, I'm finding that I like the bend of a prince. I have a bjarne viking semi-bent apple that I really enjoy. Just fits right. Reminds me of a prince, but deeper bowl

 

[gwtwdbss]

Mostly Straight or slightly bent for me. Saddle bits are my favorite. I have a few full bents that I enjoy though.

 

[wilson]

Aesthetically, I like 3/4 bent or fulll. In practice my favorites are straight to 1/4 bent. Maybe because my first few cheap pipes were straight that I somehow equated bent pipes with "better" pipes. Intellectually I know better but those early impressions die hard. I wonder how many have a preference because it is what they remember from their grandfather or uncle or ...

 

[batdemon]

Mine are pretty evenly divided between straight and bent.