I'd call it a stem, but apparently its called the "bit" while the stem is the part sticking out of the briar, but whatever ...
While cleaning my low-end Viking I looked away and rapped it against the desk with the pipe cleaner in it, crack, mouthpiece split in two.
Probably a good thing, I was never happy with the airflow, it seemed constricted, whistled, and a pipe cleaner could barely pass through it. And it was apparently a acrylic thingie, not vulcanite. That would explain why it never oxidized, or got a shine.
Now I have a replacement "standard" vulcanite bit/stem on order. The length is right (3 3/8") and the diameter is right (5/8") but the tenon is apparently "close" but a hair thicker. Cup-o-joes states the tenon has to be cut to size on a lathe, not having a lathe or a clue on how one works, I am hoping to be able to sand it down to fit. Hopefully also be able to work around the drilling errors with a longer tenon (draft hole too far from current tenon, causing massive gunk/moisture) and maybe even drill out the draft hole a bit. The briar and grain on the pipe are excellent, its a great smoker, albeit a small bowl, but worth trying to save.
And it comes "straight", dip in hot water to bend to desired shape - interesting, never thought about how they made these things. And it comes "unfinished" which means I have to figure out how to sand/wax it assuming I am able to make it fit/work.
Anyone done something like this before? The sanding/finishing lesson from this may help me get rid of the oxidization on my Jirsa - apparently that one was sitting in the B&M for 10 years (if the date on the tag was correct '9
and the top of the stem/bit is a sickly green, while the bottom is a shiny black. Toothpaste didn't do a darn thing for this level of O[SIZE=1]2[/SIZE] pollution. Its a great smoker as well, huge bowl for those 2 hour ruminations over the meaning of the universe.
RJ