CLENCHING, WHY & WHY NOT

[Thomas Tkach]

90% of the pipes I smoke most often are are bents that fit and rest properly on my chin to take away the weight of the pipe to make clenching quite easy. Don't really need to clench the pipe as those that have a large enough lip on the button that I like hook onto the back edge of my bottom teeth so there is no need to actually bite the stem at all. Most of my pipe smoking is done at my workbench where I work with both hands free and if I couldn't clench I probably would smoke alot less as there wouldn't be time for it.
As for the St. Bernard drool I guess I now consider myself lucky as I've never had a problem with it or thought about it before reading this post.

Not even the Oom Paul I have rests on my chin. Maybe I clench too far to the end of the stem, or maybe I just don't have the right pipes. Do you mind posting pics of a few of yours?

Clenchers, where do you bite on the stem--way towards the end or do you ever 'choke up' a bit on the bit?

 

[MisterE]

Maybe were not so much different from dogs, some dogs drool while others don't.
But, unlike humans, every dog gets his day.

Lol!

Humans get their 15 minutes of fame.... :lol!: 

 

[Northern Neil]

I am in the process of learning to clench my pipes. I prefer to hold them, but would like to learn how to clench comfortably. I do not have the drooling issue, but I do notice a large buildup of saliva when I am clenching. Usually just remove the pipe and swallow. ÑEver been a big fan of spitting.

Has anyone started as a holder and moved onto clenching, and visa versa? Or is it one of those things things you are either one or the other, and no switching?

 

[d4klutz]

I am fairly new to smoking a pipe, however, I will throw in my 2 cents for consideration. I prefer to hold my pipe, but do use the softies. I think they reduce the stress on the jaw. I also dont like chewing up my stems as I tend to chew on things like a bulldog would. I like full bents and a really light straight billiard for the clench-ability when I do it. I noticed yesterday, while driving, that I have one pipe that clenches easily, and the other not so well. Both are full bents. So, the pipe decides whether it is a clencher or not. I think I must have a waterfall in my mouth when im clenching. So, I tend not to unless I have to. However, flavored saliva from smoking aros is not my favorite, so I tend to spit when it is too much or too strongly flavored.

 

[PozzSka]

I clench...for the same reaosns others have mentioned...I'm usually doing something else with my hands when I'm smoking. Now, if we're in my brother's den, just watching a movie, I may remove the pipe from my mouth more frequently, but even then, I just sit and clench and hold my drink.

I'm not a chewer though, I clench gently. I leave teeth marks, but not gouges or anything severe.

 

[holymolar]

The only time that I clench is when fishing (or typing like right now). I hadn't noticed if I salivate and swallow often while clenching until now. I guess I do too.

 

[gravel]

It depends how high the roller coaster climbs and drops!

 

[Hawker]

90% of the pipes I smoke most often are are bents that fit and rest properly on my chin to take away the weight of the pipe to make clenching quite easy. Don't really need to clench the pipe as those that have a large enough lip on the button that I like hook onto the back edge of my bottom teeth so there is no need to actually bite the stem at all. Most of my pipe smoking is done at my workbench where I work with both hands free and if I couldn't clench I probably would smoke alot less as there wouldn't be time for it.
As for the St. Bernard drool I guess I now consider myself lucky as I've never had a problem with it or thought about it before reading this post.

Not even the Oom Paul I have rests on my chin. Maybe I clench too far to the end of the stem, or maybe I just don't have the right pipes. Do you mind posting pics of a few of yours?

Clenchers, where do you bite on the stem--way towards the end or do you ever 'choke up' a bit on the bit?

I don't bite the stem at all 11 of the below pipes just hang there even if my top lip is off the stem.It's the bottom of the lip on the pipe that holds them in place.

Here's a pic of my 14 day rotaion or my most smoked pipes. Of the 14 all have a big enough lip on the bottom button to hang on the edge of my teeth exept the Tinsky, Ropp & the P-Lip. They need slight pressure from from above to be held in place either with lip or teeth. This only works on my right side as I can't hold them as well while working if I try the left, just the way my teeth line up I guess. Usually if I don't like they way a pipe hangs I rebend them. Probably 1/2 the pipes in the photo have been tweeked to fit the way I like them to.
The Polinskis & the Old Pete just fit perfectly the way I got them. I find that most pipes have to long of shank for my liking for this to work.

My rotaion is probably going to see alot less use as we just finished watching my father in law suffocate to death on the 8th. Watching him go thru the final stages of COPD allready made me quit inhailing and since his passing I've not had the urge to smoke near as often.

 

[RDPipes]

It depends how high the roller coaster climbs and drops!

Gravel, we're talking about clenching with your teeth............Not your cheeks (_l_)

 

[rothnh]

As so much in our hobby, as to clenching, it depends. Depends mostly on what I am doing and where.

As for clamping down hard on the stem, I don't do that.

 

[Hawker]

Went for ride in my sons truck tonight and he had a couple of his pipes in there. Sent shivers up my spine when I seen how he's chewed the shit out of one of them. Told him if he ever treats my pipes like that when he gets them when I'm gone I'll come back from the grave to haunt him. :lol!: :lol!: Now I see where some of the previous posts are coming from.

 

[Smokey-smokey]

Full time clencher here.
Why?
It's more comfortable (to me)
Allows me to better enjoy the aroma of what I'm smoking (yes, I like the smoke on my face)
I do other things while I smoke
I don't clench hard enough to do any real damage.

LAst, and by no means least: When I die those pipes are, at some point, going to end up in someone's "estate collection," long after I'm gone. So the only thing that matters to me is the enjoyment I get from the pipes, whether a corn cob or a 400 dollar art piece. Yeah, selfish, but who do you smoke for?

 

[DrT999]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it. No reason to take it out, no need to relight very often. Your preferences may vary. I don't chew on the stem, and after nearly 25 years of constant use for some of the pipes, while many of the older ones have some marks, none are close to being bitten through.

 

[RDPipes]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it.  

What a concept! I'll have to try that........ :mrgreen: 
No wonder mine keep going out. :fpalm: 

 

[DrT999]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it.  

What a concept! I'll have to try that........ :mrgreen: 
No wonder mine keep going out. :fpalm: 

Some people light their pipe, take a puff, and then wave it around while talking for 5 minutes and then look amazed when the pipe isn't still lit when they take the next puff.

 

[monbla256]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it.  

What a concept! I'll have to try that........ :mrgreen: 
No wonder mine keep going out. :fpalm: 

Some people light their pipe, take a puff, and then wave it around while talking for 5 minutes and then look amazed when the pipe isn't still lit when they take the next puff.

OH MAN!!! So THAT'S what I'm doing wrong !! After all these years of trying to figure out why I had to re-light I now know what's wrong !!  :twisted: :twisted: :fpalm: :fpalm: 

 

[Thomas Tkach]

Maybe I need a new thread, but how do you clenchers clench?

Front of the mouth on the end of the stem with teeth perpendicular to stem?

End of the stem further back toward the molars with stem closer to parallel with molars?

Something in between?

I swear in some pictures I see, the saddle part of the bit is almost at the smokers' lips. That would give the jaw a rest and a lot more leverage, but I'd think you'd have teeth marks/chatter all over the stem.

 

[DrT999]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it.  

What a concept! I'll have to try that........ :mrgreen: 
No wonder mine keep going out. :fpalm: 

Some people light their pipe, take a puff, and then wave it around while talking for 5 minutes and then look amazed when the pipe isn't still lit when they take the next puff.

OH MAN!!! So THAT'S what I'm doing wrong !! After all these years of trying to figure out why I had to re-light I now know what's wrong !!  :twisted: :twisted: :fpalm: :fpalm: 

I surrender!

 

[RDPipes]

Maybe I need a new thread, but how do you clenchers clench?

Front of the mouth on the end of the stem with teeth perpendicular to stem?

End of the stem further back toward the molars with stem closer to parallel with molars?

Something in between?

I swear in some pictures I see, the saddle part of the bit is almost at the smokers' lips. That would give the jaw a rest and a lot more leverage, but I'd think you'd have teeth marks/chatter all over the stem.

Different strokes for different folks.
I've worked on many a stem and I've seen the wear right at the base of the button and I've even seen teeth wear in the middle of the stem (gag!) so it all depends I reckon what's comfortable for you and of course the weight of the pipe has a lot to do with it also.
Find your comfort zone and use it, it don't matter.

 

[RDPipes]

Yep, I 'clench' -- the tobacco goes in the pipe, the stem goes in my mouth, and I smoke it.  

What a concept! I'll have to try that........ :mrgreen: 
No wonder mine keep going out. :fpalm: 

Some people light their pipe, take a puff, and then wave it around while talking for 5 minutes and then look amazed when the pipe isn't still lit when they take the next puff.

OH MAN!!! So THAT'S what I'm doing wrong !! After all these years of trying to figure out why I had to re-light I now know what's wrong !!  :twisted: :twisted: :fpalm: :fpalm: 

I surrender!

Just fun'en with ya DR, remember laughter is the best medicine. :mrgreen: