[wharfrathoss]

i've had nothing but good results using them on stems of either type-b4 i use 'em, i either throw 'em in w/the dishes to be washed or wipe down w/isopropyl alcohol, don't notice any rubber taste-the texture takes a few smokes to get used to-after each smoke i wipe 'em off just like i would wipe the tip if they weren't there-when i do an alcohol cleaning every other wk on the pipes, i take 'em off to wash-since i really clench a pipe, they're the greatest thing since sliced bread to me, no more chewn thru stems-you can also use heat shrink tubing (for protecting wire splices)