To All You Clenchers Out There

[Verdant]

So I've predominantly "lipped" my pipes for years to avoid chatter and dents on the stem. I'm getting a little tired of holding the bowl much of the time though so how do you clenchers protect your stems? Or do you not? Do you all get rubber bits? Do you just mark up your stems and deal with it? Do you clench on multiple teeth to distribute the pressure?

 

[anotherbob]

Why would I worry about that? It's just part of smoking a pipe.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's my pipe, all my pipe. I do with it what I want. I don't care if I chatter it up; however, funny enough, I don't get chatter on my pipes. They all look great.
I will never sale one of my pipes, nor pass them on to someone else.

Who are you saving yours for?

 

[JimInks]

It's my pipe, all my pipe. I do with it what I want. I don't care if I chatter it up; however, funny enough, I don't get chatter on my pipes. They all look great.
I will never sale one of my pipes, nor pass them on to someone else.

Who are you saving yours for?

I handle it the same way for the same reasons.

 

[geopiper]

I use softie bits on all my pipes. I find them more comfortable to clench with.

 

[Verdant]

It's my pipe, all my pipe. I do with it what I want. I don't care if I chatter it up; however, funny enough, I don't get chatter on my pipes. They all look great.
I will never sale one of my pipes, nor pass them on to someone else.

Who are you saving yours for?

Not anyone else. I just like the look and feel of the smooth surface of an un-beat up pipe. Plus, when I first tried pipe smoking, I borrowed a buddy's pipe that was all chattered up and I wanted to avoid that and have been lipping ever since ha!

 

[Verdant]

Plus I like the idea of having the original stems for my handmades. I don't care as much about my bulk-produced Savs.

 

[madox07]

Some are work horse pipes for me, and I don't care if they get chewed at, others I prize more, and I do tend to protect them. I have a Dunhill bulldog half bent, for example, which is so light that no matter how much I clench it won't get damaged. Of course, I don't treat the stem as chewing gum, but with a gentle hold it will be just fine. I have some heavier, that simply have a good leverage that the pipe clenched rests on my chin. I don't worry about those much either. Those that I don't want dings on I just don't clench. By the way, I don't like the rubber bits.. I only use them on a Peterson system, that I can't get used to clench otherwise.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Some of these guys like those pipe condom things, stem cozies, or "softies." I don't like them because I buy pipes for their razor thin bits with nice buttons. Putting a condom on that first negates the whole reason I bought them.

But, i am willing to bet that if you have the patience to "lip" your pipes, you also are not the nervous, stressful smokers that the guy who had the chewed up bits is.
Start slowly, try clenching one of the Savs, and after a few weeks, do a check on your stem. If no problems branch out to an artisan.
I think that most of us artisan pipe guys like them because of the extra attention to detail to the bit and button. You might find a whole new passion for smoking them if you actually give them a try...

Or, if you find that you're a stressful guy, try the condoms.

 

[Verdant]

Some of these guys like those pipe condom things, stem cozies, or "softies." I don't like them because I buy pipes for their razor thin bits with nice buttons. Putting a condom on that first negates the whole reason I bought them.

But, i am willing to bet that if you have the patience to "lip" your pipes, you also are not the nervous, stressful smokers that the guy who had the chewed up bits is.
Start slowly, try clenching one of the Savs, and after a few weeks, do a check on your stem. If no problems branch out to an artisan.
I think that most of us artisan pipe guys like them because of the extra attention to detail to the bit and button. You might find a whole new passion for smoking them if you actually give them a try...

Or, if you find that you're a stressful guy, try the condoms.

Gave me a good laugh and those are good thoughts. Will give it a shot on my workhouse Sav. Nope not the stressed out piper puffing away at Mach 4. I do look forward to doing a little more clenching because it would make book-reading while smoking much more enjoyable and manageable.

 

[bullet08]

Rubber bit on my stem? I don't even like using condom. I just park the button on upper teeth and support that with lower lip. It doesn't mark as much as using both upper and lower teeth. And if I have to move fast, can bring in the lower teeth.

 

[anotherbob]

then You already know your answer. Which is to take steps to avoid chatter. Softee bits will work. Also not grabbing the pipe with the teeth more using them to rest the pipe and keep it falling out of your mouth. Which works better for you? One way to find out, try both.

Not anyone else. I just like the look and feel of the smooth surface of an un-beat up pipe. Plus, when I first tried pipe smoking, I borrowed a buddy's pipe that was all chattered up and I wanted to avoid that and have been lipping ever since ha!

 

[kcghost]

Do these measures work when you're out walking??

 

[STP]

I seldom clench. If I’m moving around maybe a little, but when sitting the stem rests on my lower lip. I tried the rubber tips, but don’t care for them

 

[Casual]

I ruminate while I smoke. In both senses.

 

[warren]

Clenching seems to imply pressure on the bit. I simply rest the pipe between my top and bottom molars with my jaw at rest. Luckily, it works for me. Nor, do I worry appearance of my smoking tools that much. Bits are easy to buff out.

 

[LotusEater]

I clench all the time and I never use a softie
I’m not worried about a bit of tooth chatter because I buy pipes to smoke not to display.

And - a little chatter can usually be sanded and polished away or a new stem can be fitted.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I use a black friction tape I buy on Amazon. I hate the thickness and texture of the softie bits. The tape had worked will for me.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Just, if you start clenching, and you do get chatter, control yourself with the buffing. You can easily buff the button to shit and back or make the stem non/flush to the stummel, which is worse than just a little chatter.

 

[Waning Embers]

When I had teeth I would hang the button over my bottom teeth and hold it in place with the top ones without biting down. No chatter, even on cob stems. Without teeth, I can clench much heavier pipes.