Midday pipe. I like cobs but don't care for the standard stems. The Forever stems are better but overpriced. I ordered 5 bayonet stems from Pipe Maker's Emporium for about $20 and sanded down the tenon a bit to fit the cobs. Here they are after sanding along with my Forever stem. I'll have to try one later to see what I think.
Thanks, it is a nice pipe, but took a while to break in. Now it's a superb performer. It's funny how some pipes need breaking in, while others, like the Novak required none at all. The white stem really doesn't take much maintenance. You can see some faint staining when looking at it from the top but it isn't bad. I'll try to remember to take a picture from the top sometime. I would right now, but I've got security duty shortly at church for a BBQ dinner and evening Memorial Day service. I should probably use a bristle cleaner on it sometimes. Although the staining isn't bad, that may help a little.
OGS in a Mark Twain with a new stem. I actually like this stem better than the Forever stem, it's wider and has a nicer mouth feel in my opinion. The next step will be trying to bend a couple of the stems.
It wasn't my idea, someone mentioned it on the Pipe Smoker's forum, but I was happy to give it a try.
I like my Dagner cob, but after seeing this, I don't think any more Dagner pipes are in my future. Warning - pretty foul language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=dfegjiZSi9s&app=desktop
I'm not their target audience. When I started pipe smoking just 15 months ago, I was watching a lot of videos (similar to when I started wet shaving). And their early stuff went from instructional type videos to what they do now, self promoting, condescending blow hards IMO. Don't have any of their pipes and no plan to ever give them any money. Many on the pipe forums say they are nice down to earth folks, and others say not so much. Either way, not my cup of tea. If I'm going to buy a factory pipe at their prices, (All but 2 of my pipes are factory made), I can get a great Savinelli or Rossi. Sorry for rant....
That's a pretty neat idea. I may do the same. In addition to my cobs, I've got an old straight briar pipe that the stem broke on. It was an inexpensive counter pipe at a long defunct store in Birmingham, the Puff and Browse, purveyor of pipes, pipe tobacco, and newspapers and magazines. Bending vulcanite stems is very easy, just apply heat, gently bend, and dunk in cold water. How will you go about bending an acrylic stem? Did you just hand sand the stems to fit?
I am a smoker who has some pipes. I am not simply a pipe collector who smokes. The part of pipes I find most appealing is the egalitarian nature of the time spent with the leaf. When it becomes simply a fashion show, it no longer enhances the experience. Much of pipe smoking is technique based. As with razors, techniques can trump tools. As long as the smoke is cool, dry and satisfyingly flavorful... The pipe is a good pipe. It's evidenced in our exchanges here. We talk more about smoking the pipes, or altering the pipes, or drying the flakes than we talk about the piece of wood in our hand. That's the bond to be shared.
On that note: Bought this earlier this evening. H.I.S. - briar, only one little tiny fill, lightweight, basically a no frills, light stain, wax finished everyday Billiard.
Found this interesting thread on bending stems, both vulcanite and acrylic: http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/lucite-stem-bending-the-easy-way
I just hand sanded with 150 grit wet sandpaper, and finished with 600 grit. I think the acrylic stems are similar, but it should be interesting. I'm not sure how to insure the airway isn't pinched off.
Yeah, but there are some aesthetics involved. A smoke with a pipe you like is better than one with a less attractive pipe.
Granted, and I am assuming we all buy to suit our own aesthetic ideas. The main difference between between price levels is that the chance of getting a bad pipe generally decreases as price increases.
I've used super super fine steel wool in that manner as a finisher. Boiling water might be the way. Bend it with a cleaner or two in the bore.
Perfect example of this, I won The Briary's slow pipe smoking contest with one of their store brand counter pipes. Skip, the owner, commented to me afterwards, "just goes to show technique trumps the tool."
