Mouth Piece Question

[Boulder]

I noticed in some of the posted photographs of pipes, the use of some sort of bands on the mouth piece, Is this something I should be practicing?

 

[NeroWolfe]

Boulder...If you mean the silver or nickel bands on some pipes, then they are generally placed there on pipes for a number of reasons:

1 - Decorative on a new pipe by the maker.
2 - Decorative and functional on a new pipe by the maker, for pipes with thin stems (such as a Canadian, Lovat or any pencil-shank stem pipe), to minimize future potential of breakage.
3 - Functional on a repaired pipe that may have a cracked stem, to minimize future breakage potential.
4 - Decorative on an already smoked pipe.
5 - Decorative and functional on an already smoked pipe with a thin stem to help minimize future breakage potential.

Whew !! I think I covered all the combinations!!

If you are careful with your pipes, and the pipe does not have a band on the stem, then don't be concerned. If you have a pipe that you feel would look good with a band, then a repair-man can put one on for you. If you buy a pipe with a very thin stem and it does not have a band, and you are concerned that you may break the stem when removing the bit at some point (never when the pipe is still hot / warm!), then you may also consider having a band applied.

Hope this helps, my friend!

 

[Mikem]

I think you are talking about the slip on rubber tips. http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/dept?dpt=D&srch=DD&tier2=148 If you are a clincher or your teeth are subject to pain (not really the word I'm looking for) or sensitive to hard surfaces than I would say yes. Otherwise in my opinion you are okay without them.

 

[NeroWolfe]

Ooops! Well, at least I put some words on bands together for "posterity" !!

Rubber tips !!!! Yuck !!!!!!!!!! Major yuck !!!! If you are a clencher, go with lucite. I am a clencher myself, but love vulcanite, as I find lucite too hard on the bite, and replace the vulcanite bits as needed.

 

[Boulder]

I think you are talking about the slip on rubber tips. If you are a clincher or your teeth are subject to pain (not really the word I'm looking for) or sensitive to hard surfaces than I would say yes. Otherwise in my opinion you are okay without them.

Is this something that would help protect the tip from bite marks for Estate resale value?,

or would it detract from the smoking experience.

Thank you all for your input, John.

 

[Mikem]

Personally I think it detracts from the smoking experience. As far as resale value goes, it all depends on how much of a clincher you are. I have a friend who favors high grade pipes ($600+) and clinches hard enough that he is lucky if he doesn't put a hole in the stem in a year or two. For him I would recommend the rubber tips. They are not my cup of tea.

 

[MisterE]

Me's not a softee fan either. Wanna like 'em to save my stems but feels like I've got a rubber hose instead of a pipe... :lol!:

 

[LIPIPE]

Pipe smoking is like horse racing. I love rubber bits and have them on all of my 30+ pipes. Wouldn't be able to clench without them. As a matter of fact I would appreciate a heads up if anybody knows where they might be available in bulk. I've already contacted Long's and they will not sell to a consumer pipe smoker. They only sell to their retail clients.

 

[Milan]

I've never tried pipe condoms and doubt I ever will. I clench my nice pipes with some reservation and clench my yard pipes until my jaw hurts sometimes. I've traded and sold pipes without too much depreciation due to teeth marks. A person who gives a fair trade or price for a pipe may take off $10 to $20 for teeth marks, but it's mostly because of the 30 minutes they may have to spend pulling them from the pipe. I think most pipes retain their value even with teeth marks as long as you don't chew on them? This has been my experience. I recently traded a pipe with an acrylic stem that had a fair amount of faint teeth marks. Of course the marks were more faint because of the material, but that's aside the point. The guy I traded it with just shrugged at the fact it had teeth marks and offered me about $10 less than what I actually wanted for it. He remarked that the teeth marks and rim darkening were common place and an easy fix for someone who knows about pipe restoration. In my opinion, don't trade or sell your pipes to someone who doesn't restore pipes themselves. They will take more off the value of the pipe because they will have to pay someone to restore it for them. I've typed way too much about this and am going to shut up now.
Milan

 

[Natch]

Boulder,

I'd suggest trying them to see where you fall in the debate. Their pretty cheap and you might find you like them, or not, but either way you're out perhaps a buck and a half or less.

I like them on some pipes and not on others.

Natch

 

[riff raff]

I love to clench, so I tried them. I learned that for me, it does detract from the experience. SoI pulled the softies and clench my cheaper pipes, where I know it won't hurt to have another bit made some day. But, on a few of my more pricey pipes, I smoke them with care and avoid putting teeth marks on the stem. That is one reason I like lucite bits.

 

[NeroWolfe]

LIPIPE: Do an EBAY search for "pipe tip". Lots of Chinese sellers for various quantities, many with free shipping. Not a high dollar purchase, so may be worth a chance going with a Chinese supplier. May / may not be as good as Long's, or may in fact be the same; might be only one manufacturer in the world, and it is in China!?!?! Who knows?!?! Might be worth a try, as long as the Chinese rubber does not have some rare poisonous chemical in it ?!?!?

 

[PipeLeisure]

Softey bits...ah yes...I like them if they fit...most of my pipes have "wide" mouth pieces not allowing for a fit with a softy bit

 

[Josjor]

Is this something that would help protect the tip from bite marks for Estate resale value?,

Who cares? "Estate" means you're dead. Let your ancestors take a hit because of a few bite marks. I'm a semi-clencher, but I can't imagine that the rubber tip would feel good and I don't care if my pipes have some bite marks. I want to enjoy them today.

 

[LIPIPE]

Good idea Nero. Thanks for the "tip" bud. Pun intended!

 

[cigarstorejay]

I have tried the softee bits in the past. I can't stand them. I am a clencher and a wet smoker (read lots o excess spit). I felt that the bits combined with the smoke and spit made the pipe taste bad. Very bitter.

As far as resale, I agree with the who cares comment. I buy my pipes to smoke and enjoy. If they get tooth marks on the bit, so be it.

Buy a couple from your local brick and mortar store and give it the old Harvard go. You'll know within a couple bowls if they are for you.

Jay

 

[Boulder]

Thank you Brothers,

I got one from a store (guy was nice enough to give me few for free) and tried it for a few days,

I am now one of the "What was I thinking" group. :no:

Even if I wanted to hide the fact to others, I chew on pipes like a horse on a bit, I just can't do it.

Thanks again, John.