CLENCHING, WHY & WHY NOT

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RDPipes

RDPipes

Mental Illness is a Terrible thing to Waste!
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I've never been a clencher for two reasons, the first being I'm way too anal and don't want to damage my stems even with a softy in use. Secondly I drool like a Rottweiler, oh yeah!
To the point it's running down my chin and onto my boot. I have to constantly swallow or spit and wipe the button off. On numerous occasions when working at the buffer or lathe I've tried to clench lightly and it just starts flowing even if my mouth is shut tight. Anyone else have this problem or dare admit it. LOL!
 
Ron, I'm a clencher from the word go but don't seem to have the issues with drool and such. My issues have more to do with chewing the stem button and the resultant damage.

I can't get on with the softy bits so am currently focusing on not clenching. But it's an on going learning curve!

 ;) 


Cheers,

RR
 
Brewdude":ekai589v said:
Ron, I'm a clencher from the word go but don't seem to have the issues with drool and such. My issues have more to do with chewing the stem button and the resultant damage.

I can't get on with the softy bits so am currently focusing on not clenching. But it's an on going learning curve!

 ;) 


Cheers,

RR
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A customer of mine has got the very same problem. He'll chew a bit till there's nothing left and just eats up softies. And he'll do it to $400 + Dunhill's. Drives me nuts but, keeps me busy. Maybe I should invent a chew proof bit.  ;) 
 
Yeah, I like to think I'm a clencher.  Not too hard, just enough to be able to keep the hands free.  But...I can't do it for long without the drool coming, too.  Working and clenching, yeah, can't really do that.  But sit for a while and only hold in my hand occasionally, I can do.  As soon as I have to dip my head and look down, the river stars aflowing....
 
Hard to do for any long periods of time with full dentures so I don't often. Put the pipe down, goes out and I relight !  :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: 
 
I clench all the time. It just feels right. I develop a rhythm with my breathing and it seems that the smokes are much more enjoyable. My taste in pipes has evolved to accommodate that, usually light pipes under 1.5 oz and no longer than about 5.5". I've been using the same softies for years and haven't noticed a whole lot of wear on the pipes I don't use softies on.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
 
I clench a lot because I'm usually doing other things while I smoke. Tapered stems seem a little easier than saddle stems most of the time. Also, bent pipes are a little better because of the weight distribution.

For the record: I hate those softy rubber bit things.
 
Cartaphilus":c1pi91hy said:
I've never been a clencher for two reasons, the first being I'm way too anal and don't want to damage my stems even with a softy in use. Secondly I drool like a Rottweiler, oh yeah!
To the point it's running down my chin and onto my boot. I have to constantly swallow or spit and wipe the button off. On numerous occasions when working at the buffer or lathe I've tried to clench lightly and it just starts flowing even if my mouth is shut tight. Anyone else have this problem or dare admit it. LOL!
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Like you, I do not clench for those two reasons. With me any clench other than what is necessary to free up both hands while driving would result in saliva running back down my stem, into the shank and further. Yuck.
 
Well, it's good to know I'm not the only drooler. I heard numerous times of guys having dry mouth from smoking a pipe and could never understand why. Oh, there been certain blends that affect me a little but, never to the point of cotton mouth. I read years ago in a publication by Weber if memory serves me right, that the excess saliva that one experiences when smoking a pipe would stop after a while. Well years later it's still flowing, I reckon some of us are just destine to drool. But, I've heard that the saliva in your mouth can stave off tooth decay and help with acid reflux if swallowed, so there's points for us. ;)
 
I can't bring myself to clench most of my stems. They're almost all vulcanite-stemmed estates I cleaned up. I do have a few acrylic stemmed pipes that I use for work travel, I'll clench them.
 
I clench gently because I like having my hands free. I have a couple of heavy, large pipes that are not clench-friendly, but otherwise I clench. My stems show tooth marks as a result, but I just think it gives them character. In twenty-plus years, I haven't chewed through one yet.
 
FWIW--probably not much, since it's a personal thing--I absolutely detested the softy bit protectors when I first used them.  They not only felt weird in my mouth, they seemed to have an odd half-rubber, half-nicotine taste that was disgusting.  But I learned to like them for outdoor use, meaning driving or hiking or wherever clenching is useful.  I find them almost indispensable now, and the idea of clenching a pipe without one now seems odd.  (I position them ahead of the button, as this makes them sit better, though the button can still get a bit roughed uo if you're a chewer and not careful.)

Anyhow, I suspect that if I got used to them, anyone can.  And if I couldn't, and had to clench, I would simply resort to the awesome meerschaum of Missouri.  What are new bits? A buck or something?

As for drooling with a pipe, not so much now. Not like when first starting, when the shank could start gurgling before the pipe was even lit. Lighting a cigar can still make me drool a bit. Everyone is different.
 
I clench for short periods only, as I somewhat drool but not like you. Another reason why I don't clench more is because a lot of my pipes simply aren't comfortable to do it or weigh too much. I'm looking into a nose warmer to see if that'll do.
 
I clench my pipes except the calabashes and churchwardens. I use the softie bits and enjoy them. No stem damage. Clenching keeps both hands free and has helped me form a gentle cadence. Not too much drooling, unless I lose my concentration. :) 
 
I'm a clencher almost all the time. I like the softies bits, and I will drool. I keep a cup around to spit in if I'm in the car, and only hold the pipe long enough to spit, then it's clenched again. I don't think I'm tearing up any bits, but I rotate through a few dozen pipes and smoke somewhat infrequently.
 
LOL! Yup I salivate like a rabid dog. I smoke outside so it's no issue for me puff, puff, puff, spit, repeat. Meh. I clench as I'm able but not really all that often as I have dental issues.

Jim
 
huffelpuff":65i7j9b5 said:
LOL! Yup I salivate like a rabid dog. I smoke outside so it's no issue for me puff, puff, puff, spit, repeat. Meh. I clench as I'm able but not really all that often as I have dental issues.

Jim
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Yep but, mines puff, puff, puff, swallow and then a sip of coffee.
Maybe I should start swallowing the coffee too.
 
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.
 
Hawker":t4lao0y4 said:
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.
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Maybe were not so much different from dogs, some dogs drool while others don't.
But, unlike humans, every dog gets his day.
 
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