Latest Pipe Purchase 2019

[Fr_Tom]

I think they are the kind of acrylic that you wouldn't like. No give, not thin.

That was my sneaking suspicion...

Another area where we are on the same page. I'm not a fan of acrylic stems at all.

Some people prefer them. I totally get the different tastes thing. It is what keeps the market varied.

[Kevin Keith]

That was my sneaking suspicion...

Another area where we are on the same page. I'm not a fan of acrylic stems at all.

Some people prefer them. I totally get the different tastes thing. It is what keeps the market varied.

Ah luvs 'em.

[Fr_Tom]

Another area where we are on the same page. I'm not a fan of acrylic stems at all.

Some people prefer them. I totally get the different tastes thing. It is what keeps the market varied.

Ah luvs 'em.

It seems that twins separated at birth can be separated by stem preference too.

[Houtenziel]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

[Fr_Tom]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

FWIW, acrylic does cover some territory. I do have a GBD with a perspex stem that is very nice. It does not feel hard or "glassy" to me.

[Mr Beardsley]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

You forgot ebonite. Or are you classifying that under Cumberland? Now the whole flow chart is off

[Houtenziel]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

FWIW, acrylic does cover some territory. I do have a GBD with a perspex stem that is very nice. It does not feel hard or "glassy" to me.

So far, I've had a Vauen, Rattray, Morgan Bones, and a Lucite Pete that were all pretty much like biting down on glass. I haven't had a Perspex, so that could be one to try for me.
I have read also that there have been attempts at creating treated acrylics that are softer, to get the best of both worlds. "Ashtonite" being one that often has the lore of being a vulcanite/acrylic composite, despite that being a chemical impossibility.

[Houtenziel]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

You forgot ebonite. Or are you classifying that under Cumberland? Now the whole flow chart is off

Ebonite is just a trade name for Vulcanite.

[avid]

hard or "glassy"

this would be my description of my two Sav acrylic stems

[Mr Beardsley]

I present to you, houtenziel's non-authoritatve hierarchy of stem materials.
Vulcanite > Cumberland(Brindled Vulcanite) > Nylon > Propionate(cob stems) > Reed > Clay > Acrylic
I haven't had a pipe with an Amber or Horn stem..

I don't know what it is about acrylic, but it just makes my teeth hurt. I'd rather clench on a clay cutty stem and risk "pipe divots", and that is saying something.

FWIW, acrylic does cover some territory. I do have a GBD with a perspex stem that is very nice. It does not feel hard or "glassy" to me.

So far, I've had a Vauen, Rattray, Morgan Bones, and a Lucite Pete that were all pretty much like biting down on glass. I haven't had a Perspex, so that could be one to try for me.
I have read also that there have been attempts at creating treated acrylics that are softer, to get the best of both worlds. "Ashtonite" being one that often has the lore of being a vulcanite/acrylic composite, despite that being a chemical impossibility.

More makers need to use Juma for stems. I have one pipe with a juma stem and it's actually my favorite material. Somewhere between vulcanite and ebonite (and yes even though they are technically the same they don't feel the same)