CLENCHING, WHY & WHY NOT

[Hawker]

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.

What works for others might not work for you, It's your facial features, pipe shape and tastes if clenching is something that you want to do you'll have to find out what works for you. Find the shape stlye and fit and when you do you'll know it.

 

[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!

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

I know, just thought I should quit before falling further behind.

Off to light some flake with one spark in a windy snowstorm  

 

[RDPipes]

]

I know, just thought I should quit before falling further behind.

Off to light some flake with one spark in a windy snowstorm  

 :lol!: :lol!: 

 

[monbla256]

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

I know, just thought I should quit before falling further behind.

Off to light some flake with one spark in a windy snowstorm  [/quote]
Speaking of snow storms, ya'll getting much ? All the weather folks down here say ya'll are gonna get buried with record snow!  :affraid: :affraid: 

 

[DrT999]

Off to light some flake with one spark in a windy snowstorm  

Speaking of snow storms, ya'll getting much ? All the weather folks down here say ya'll are gonna get buried with record snow!  :affraid: :affraid: 

It started snowing beyond light flurries about 4 hours ago, and it's somewhere between 1 1/2 - 2 inches. If it really continues like this another 18-20 hours, it will be big for this part of the country! Hopefully, since there's no ice/sleet (at least so far), we won't lose power

 

[RDPipes]

Had ice on everything yesterday but, this morning it started melting off so quick it looked like it was raining. I got to enjoy a bowl this afternoon with the sun shining and the temp at about 50 degrees.   
Hope you guys make it through it and see the sun soon.

 

[Thomas Tkach]

We're supposed to get 6-10 inches or something overnight starting around midnight.

 

[RDPipes]

We're supposed to get 6-10 inches or something overnight starting around midnight.

Well, you better find out, I'd hate to step out and find manure falling from the sky.

 

[fsu92john]

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.

About like you in your avatar--I clench the end of the stem near the button. With a couple of heavier pipes, I clench farther along the stem and let the roof of my mouth help hold the pipe in place.

 

[gravel]

We're supposed to get 6-10 inches or something overnight starting around midnight.

Well, you better find out, I'd hate to step out and find manure falling from the sky.

If that's the case, turn off your fans!

 

[RDPipes]

:mrgreen: 

 

[Thomas Tkach]

You guys...I said or something (supposed to be higher now) not OF something. No fans are running. I might have to shovel a path to my car to enjoy a smoke...

 

[RDPipes]

You guys...I said or something (supposed to be higher now) not OF something. No fans are running. I might have to shovel a path to my car to enjoy a smoke...

Well, It sounds like you'll be shoveling in either event. :mrgreen: 

 

[KevinM]

A medical professional in the family assures me that the digestive system is all of a piece, from beginning to end. It sounds like, in this thread, "clenchers" can be a misnomer; chewers or gnawers might be a better description. If you accept this thought, it sounds like the salivary glands simply begin to do what normal salivary glands do when chewing (or gnawing) begins, and produce needed lubrication. An experiment -- just begin to move your jaw in a chewing sort of motion. See?, the saliva begins to flow.

One of the posts above referred to pipe smoking in old movies. The piper could puff a little, then wave the pipe around to punctuate talking points, then go back to puffing and the pipe stayed lit. I used to think this was a demo of how an expert piper did it and aspired to do the same. It was years of persistent effort before I realized the role of the director and film editor in expediting this smoking technique. Jeez!

 

[pdzine]

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.

Depending on the pipe and weight, I will fall into the above category. I clench.

I have clenching pipes and I have sitting, dress pipes. My clenchers are the ones I find myself reaching for because it's rare that all I am doing is smoking. Usually I smoke while mowing the grass, driving, or doing something else that requires my arms.

Here is my break down of how I clench. (I don't clench non-saddle bit straights - requires too much pressure = wrecked stem and tired jaw)

Saddle Bits Straight: Button is usually on my molars and the stem is 3/4 " into my mouth.
Partial Bent: Typically the button is just behind my side teeth or between my teeth about 1/2 " into my mouth
Full Bent: Button is right behind my teeth 1/8 -1/4 " into my mouth most of the pipe weight hanging off my jaw

I don't so much clench as I do keep my teeth close enough together to keep the pipe from falling out. I used to "clench" which led to a very abused first couple of cheap pipes. My cobs all have a mighty fine indent where my canine finds it's home. It's like a butt print on your favorite couch.  :lol: Just slide it in until it clicks and there it stays until I decide to talk. (sometimes if I'm driving I'll talk with the pipe in my mouth anyway - advanced pipe skills I don't recommend it if you care about spillage on your pants)