Stem, Stems & Stemms

[northernpiper]

Question for the makers and connoisseurs.

What stem materials do you prefer and why?

Common Material:

• Plastic
• Acrylic
• Fordite
• Bakelite
• Ebonite

I'm venturing into making pipes and want to gather information since there are a plethora of options available for stems.

 

[Carlos]

Ebonite. Softer tooth feel. But they do wear. They also show that ugly buildup.

 

[Gaius Marius]

I only have experience with acrylic and ebonite stems.
Acrylic stems don't rub me the right way. I think that they sometimes look and feel cheap. I also don't like the idea of hot air coming through a plastic stem into my mouth. Plastic leeches chemicals over time, even at room temp.
I like the ebonite stems just fine. I haven't owned one long enough to experience stem oxidization.
I always use softy pipe bits(pic related) when I smoke. It's just more comfortable than the harder stem and it saves the stem from tooth marks.

 

[Blackhorse]

I prefer acrylic. Very durable, easy to work on, often strikingly beautiful.

 

[Singed]

I have both Ebonite (Vulcanite) and Acrylic. Both have their merits, Vulcanite is softer and kinder to a clencher like myself, Acrylic has many cosmetic or stylistic possibilities. For the record, Cumberland stems, Vulcanite with a colour additive, is also a very attractive style option but the versatility of acrylic is much higher. Plastic stems I have only encountered on my Legend cobs, they are, like the cobs themselves, a disposable option for an enjoyable while utilitarian pipe.