To All You Clenchers Out There

[telescopes]

As someone who cares almost nothing for the appearance of the outside of my pipes, I’m not concerned with teeth marks or how ugly softy bits may be, but I do like the comfort of a softy bit or friction tape on some of my pipes. I do always cut the button off of them. Some pipes are fine without anything, so I can’t really give advice. It’s all subjective anyway, so just experiment and find what works best for you. If anyone objects to your use of a softy bit, politely note the objection and hope they find more satisfaction in their own goddamned business.

I use softy bits on my comfort stems found on my Charatans. However, are you seriously comfortable circumcising stems that are more 8 days old? Ouch!

 

[telescopes]

On a more serious note, I have some pipes that I feel have either historical value to collectors or have value as being representative of a historic pipe maker. For those pipes I use softies - I know that some day they may be sold off to collectors and I feel it it is unfair to mangle them in any way. I feel the same when it comes to stingers. Collectors help protect our access to quality estate pipes by providing value to them and saving them from the trash heap. These pipes help common folk such as us by allowing us to engage with a piece of history enjoyed by our ancestors. When they are wasted, that ability to touch the past is diminished. Yes, the pipe is ours. But responsible pipe ownership is a stewardship we can all embrace- hopefully.

 

[DAR]

I like those rubber stem bits. When smoking I keep the pipe in my mouth and while I don't chew or bite down hard, I do keep a firm hold on it with my teeth. I use them on all my pipes. They just feel better on my teeth than a naked stem. They also keep my pipe from slipping out of my mouth at the most inappropriate times (yes, that's happened and I am man enough to admit it ?).

 

[cigrmaster]

I may have mentioned this before somewhere, but I have Bell's Palsy and so it makes it difficult to form a seal with my lips on the right side (I lost my ability to whistle when I got it as well). I can only clench by holding the stem between my teen on the left side now. I try to be as careful as possible and can normally avoid chatter - I prefer acrylic stems so this is less of an issue. With vulcanite I do find some scratching from time to time but not a big deal.

I also have had Bells Palsy and had it 3 times. Each time I had it my right side of my face was affected. After 30 days of Prednisone my face went back to normal and I have not had any lingering affects. I am lucky as can be having my have face go back to normal. I can clench my pipes with no problems and my pipes that are 55 grams and lower are still easy to clench.

 

[eljimmy]

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.

Good idea.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I hear ya. I keep waiting for the next fade in pipe smoking to storm the forum...I imagine it will be something like gourmet Civet cat tobacco that has been passed through the beasts digest track, pressed into flakes and aged. Coffee nuts have moved on from Civet Cat poop coffee to Elephant poop coffee.

Mmmmm pachyderm poo… ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Mmmmm pachyderm poo… ?

You can actually anonymously gift that to someone.??

Poop Senders - The ULTIMATE Gag Gift - SWEET Revenge at its FINEST

Anonymously send a package of poop to your friends or enemies. The ultimate gag gift. Sweet revenge at its finest.

poopsenders.com

 

[Country Bladesmith]

You can actually anonymously gift that to someone.??

Poop Senders - The ULTIMATE Gag Gift - SWEET Revenge at its FINEST

Anonymously send a package of poop to your friends or enemies. The ultimate gag gift. Sweet revenge at its finest.

poopsenders.com

Welp, I’m done Christmas shopping for my mother in law.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I may have mentioned this before somewhere, but I have Bell's Palsy and so it makes it difficult to form a seal with my lips on the right side (I lost my ability to whistle when I got it as well). I can only clench by holding the stem between my teen on the left side now. I try to be as careful as possible and can normally avoid chatter - I prefer acrylic stems so this is less of an issue. With vulcanite I do find some scratching from time to time but not a big deal.

I had Bell's Palsy too, back in high school. Fortunately, I'm 99% recovered.

However, I still can't have air blowing on my face. A fan on at night? Forget about it. And I haven't been able to be a car passenger with the windows down ever since.

I'm sorry you still are experiencing the symptoms.

 

[Spinkle]

I also have had Bells Palsy and had it 3 times. Each time I had it my right side of my face was affected. After 30 days of Prednisone my face went back to normal and I have not had any lingering affects. I am lucky as can be having my have face go back to normal. I can clench my pipes with no problems and my pipes that are 55 grams and lower are still easy to clench.

I had Bell's Palsy too, back in high school. Fortunately, I'm 99% recovered.

However, I still can't have air blowing on my face. A fan on at night? Forget about it. And I haven't been able to be a car passenger with the windows down ever since.

I'm sorry you still are experiencing the symptoms.

It’s okay it’s been about 7 years now so it’s as healed as it’s going to get. Everyone says it’s not noticeable. The only real issue is the clenching of my pipes these days and the fact that I have to “manually” blink my right eye.

 

[AroEnglish]

I only go for acrylic stems because I like clenching but don’t want the stems to discolor or wear out quickly. I don’t think I’ve tried vulcanite and I might like it better than acrylic if I tried it but I’ve been happy with the acrylic so far.

 

[mparker762]

Softy bits are more comfortable because you don't have to bite down very hard, the weight of the pipe itself seems to let my canine sink into the rubber deep enough to keep a good grip on the pipe.

 

[mso489]

I don't have any ambition to sell my pipes, though I have traded off a few for store credit. Any wear shown is on me. I smoke the pipes. That's the idea. Softy bits make me flex against them and make my jaw ache, so no to those.

 

[lawdawg]

I've just never found clenching very comfortable, plus I do not like the idea of chattering up my stems. I do clench occasionally when I need a free hand for something, but almost all of my pipes are smoked relaxing in my living room, my porch, or my patio, so I generally have no need to clench. I'll sometimes even do the breath-smoking thing while holding my pipe up to my mouth and resting my elbow on the arm of the chair.

 

[didimauw]

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.

That's how I do it most days. Unless I'm stressed, then that's when the holes and divots appear on my stems lol sometimes it just feels good to really chew down on something.

 

[Chasing Embers]

just feels good to really chew down on something.

Licorice root or sugar cane.?

 

[Grangerous]

I’d rather direct the stream of smoke. I clench if I need the use of my hand. I don’t seem to get as much flavor while clenching.