What is This Property of a Pipe Called?

[postoak]

I think "bit" = "mouthpiece", and am using bit in the question below just because it is a shorter word.

Some bits slope down toward the mouth at a sharp angle, others make this change more gradually. I find the former tend to want to squirt out of my mouth when I clamp down on them. OTOH, they are thicker and more durable. So, is this a "style" or a property? Do certain pipes always come with one type bit or the other, or is this up to the pipe designer?

[bigkev77]

Do you mean the taper of the stem to the lip? I use my teeth to clench the lip. I would guess if you were trying to hold the pipe with just your lips it would tend to want to squirt from you mouth.

[postoak]

Yes, on that diagram, the slope (rate of change) of the thickness from the stem to the lip. This could be a straight line or any of various continuous functions. It could be concave-up or concave-down (when speaking of the top) for example. I have 5 straight bulldogs, and on all of those there is a sharp concave-up section followed by a long straight line, and it is easy for me to clench down on without the pipe wanting to squirt out of my mouth.

[brianwalden]

Are you referring to the difference between a tapered bit, where stem just gradually goes into the bit and a saddle bit (where the stem kind of stops and a thinner bit comes straight out of it)?



The top two here are tapered, the bottom two are saddle.

[bigkev77]

SADDLE!! My memory is failing at 31. I was sitting here racking my brain trying to remember what it was called. WAY TO GO!!

[postoak]

Brian, the 2nd pipe from the top in your photo is the type I can't stand! The bit is thick, even at the lip, AND because of the way it is shaped (curved), it is very hard to hold on to (with the teeth). The bottom one is most easy to grip, and the one above it is the way my bulldogs are.

[brianwalden]

I think in the picture the stem on pipe 3 is pretty similar to pipe 4 - the shadow just makes it look different. I dunno I found that picture on G. L. Pease's site maybe we can ask him.

I don't know that there's any well-accepted classifcation that gets more detailed than tapered vs. saddle. But you're right there certainly are differences in the way a stem tapers to the lip. The type of stems you don't like are probably common on Canadians with the stem being so short and all.

[Mad Hatter]

There are several different types of stems (~ Pipe Makers Emporium ~). Maybe your problem is with the stem material. Vulcanite will give a little allowing you to get a grip on the stem. lucite is solid and can slip from your teeth if clenched in the wrong place.