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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 23:21:07 GMT -5
Do you have a strong preference regarding stem color?
Classic Black, other solid colors? Multi-Hues/Stripes?,White*
I use to think I didn't like white stems, but now have 2 white stemmed briars and like them a lot. They look 100% better in person and show no staining (so far). I don't think White photographs very well.
I have had Meers with White stems and they did color to an extent, but harmonized with the Meer's natural coloring.
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Post by just ol ed on Jul 9, 2019 23:29:49 GMT -5
no matter here, long as Lucite. Majority are black 'tho
Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
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Post by Legend Lover on Jul 10, 2019 3:08:18 GMT -5
I only have pipes with black stems and a few Amber mm cobs. I'm not a fan of the vibrant colours that I see in some forever stems, but I like the subtly in some of Cramptholomew's pipes. Like that recent saliors pipe he did had a stem that worked well with the pipe.  I guess I'm saying, if the colour works well with the pipe then I'm happy to venture into different colours. If not, then I'll stick with black. |
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BrunoT
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Post by BrunoT on Jul 10, 2019 3:10:30 GMT -5
I have a couple of natural finish Savinellis with various stem colors. I think if the pipe is somewhat "flashy", for the lack of a better word, a stem which also catches the eye completes the character of the pipe.
On the other hand, if it's a classic, understated shape with a nice grain, I don't want to detract from it. I believe you can never go wrong with black, but the milky white of horn complements the lighter shades of briar just as well.
So I guess, like most things, it comes down to what looks good to you. My favorite pipes are those which make me appreciate the quality of their workmanship everytime I pick them up: I see the stem as a part of that overall presentation.
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chasingembers
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Post by chasingembers on Jul 10, 2019 5:22:56 GMT -5
I like red bakelite and amber, but any color of ebonite is favored. Can't stand acrylic.
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Post by mgtarheel on Jul 10, 2019 7:46:46 GMT -5
Black is fine , but I do like a bit of color that will draw me to the pipe. JMO
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Post by Cramptholomew on Jul 10, 2019 7:52:07 GMT -5
I heard Tom Eltang say "a stem is supposed to be black", or something like that. It was probably 55th hand information. I tend to like a black stem, solid color, or subtle swirles. I'm not a huge fan of acrylic - it's a bear to work with, and can look tacky sometimes. My go-to is Ebonite (black and swirled Cumberland), and Juma. Both are easy on the teeth, and aren't aesthetically offensive. Some of the acrylic stuff I see can be so garish, as to take away from the design of the pipe. Makes it look like Disney threw up on it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 8:23:36 GMT -5
I like Black or a well defined Cumberland and would rather work with Vulcanite but, many customers prefer acrylic because of the lack of maintenance. I do use some colors but, like to stick to traditional ones. On occasion I have used some out of the ordinary but, only because a customer requested it. And I do tend to try and talk them out of it.  Striped stems to me make a pipe look like a guy that bought a pinstriped suit and forgot the jacket. Swirls of different colors just looks cheap to me and should be left for inexpensive Meers and bubble pipes (that's not saying there a few that aren't too bad but, very few). That's just my opinion and is not to be misconstrued in anyway, manner or form. |
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Post by puffy on Jul 10, 2019 9:43:44 GMT -5
I seem to be the odd man out here,but If I have a choice I like the color of the stem to match the color of the bowl..Maybe it's the other way around.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 10:31:41 GMT -5
I seem to be the odd man out here,but If I have a choice I like the color of the stem to match the color of the bowl..Maybe it's the other way around. That is fine also with me but, I also like a contrasting stem color depending on the color of the pipe. |
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on Jul 10, 2019 10:38:30 GMT -5
Pretty much anything will do, though I'm not partial to traditional Cumberland vulcanite. When you own a pipe with a stem like this one:  no rules apply. |
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Post by mgtarheel on Jul 10, 2019 11:51:16 GMT -5
Sablebrush, those flames look great.
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Post by sperrytops on Jul 10, 2019 12:30:38 GMT -5
It really ends up being a question of how well the aesthetic of the stem works with the aesthetic of the bowl. Traditional bowls seem to call for ebonite. But adding flair to the bowl seems to allow for a bit of flair to the stem as well. I have stems of many colors, including black ebonite and cumberlands, as well as colored acrylics. Stem and pipe just have to work well together.
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Post by Cramptholomew on Jul 10, 2019 12:34:43 GMT -5
It really ends up being a question of how well the aesthetic of the stem works with the aesthetic of the bowl. Traditional bowls seem to call for ebonite. But adding flair to the bowl seems to allow for a bit of flair to the stem as well. I have stems of many colors, including black ebonite and cumberlands, as well as colored acrylics. Stem and pipe just have to work well together. Like the pipe I made for you is almost turquoise among sandstone, which (I think) is a fitting combination. |
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Post by monbla256 on Jul 10, 2019 22:09:06 GMT -5
I heard Tom Eltang say "a stem is supposed to be black", or something like that. It was probably 55th hand information. I tend to like a black stem, solid color, or subtle swirles. I'm not a huge fan of acrylic - it's a bear to work with, and can look tacky sometimes. My go-to is Ebonite (black and swirled Cumberland), and Juma. Both are easy on the teeth, and aren't aesthetically offensive. Some of the acrylic stuff I see can be so garish, as to take away from the design of the pipe. Makes it look like Disney threw up on it.  |
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Post by sperrytops on Jul 11, 2019 12:06:33 GMT -5
It really ends up being a question of how well the aesthetic of the stem works with the aesthetic of the bowl. Traditional bowls seem to call for ebonite. But adding flair to the bowl seems to allow for a bit of flair to the stem as well. I have stems of many colors, including black ebonite and cumberlands, as well as colored acrylics. Stem and pipe just have to work well together. Like the pipe I made for you is almost turquoise among sandstone, which (I think) is a fitting combination. Yes indeed. Those two colors go very well together and that pipe's bright stem really works. i.imgur.com/gcCt8U9.jpg |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jul 11, 2019 14:44:19 GMT -5
Like the pipe I made for you is almost turquoise among sandstone, which (I think) is a fitting combination. Yes indeed. Those two colors go very well together and that pipe's bright stem really works. i.imgur.com/gcCt8U9.jpgThat works brilliantly. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 22:33:05 GMT -5
Blue
Butterscotch
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 22:39:25 GMT -5
I really like that shade of blue shown on the Cramp pipe ferrule in this thread. A stem that color with a white collar or maybe a double color ferrule, red and white, with a blue stem.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 2:12:59 GMT -5
Most of my pipes have black stems, however, what really matters to me is that the stem color works well with the pipe. Over this past year, I purchased two pipes with solid green stems, as well as pipes with yellow, butterscotch, and blue swirl stems. They all look great to my eyes. I also much prefer an acrylic stem. Acrylic feels much better to me. Full disclosure - I don't clench.
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Post by daveinlax on Jul 13, 2019 13:33:22 GMT -5
I collect Castello’s with colored stems. I was slow to warm up to them but now I’ll pay a premium to get them. Every time I think I have all the colors another unique one shows up.  |
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Post by roberted5 on Jul 21, 2019 22:03:10 GMT -5
If stem looks good on pipe then I like it.
I do like comfort of soft black stems and I prefer black stems mostly but I have pipes with yellow and swirls that looks great on pipe.
I have a Ardor with a white stem and I don’t think it works well and it came with a black one also but it doesn’t complement the pipe either.
On cobs I prefer yellow stems but the Charles Townsend looks great with red stem and the Emerald looks great with Green stem.
I have noticed briar pipes with colored stems are usually a bit nicer or higher graded than others of the same brand.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jul 21, 2019 22:56:48 GMT -5
no matter here, long as Lucite. Majority are black 'tho Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY This, but the opposite.
Anything, so long as it is Vulcanite/Ebonite
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Post by Cramptholomew on Jul 22, 2019 9:03:32 GMT -5
The German company SEM is making some spectacular colored ebonite. It's nowhere near as loud as some acrylic, and can be very tasteful. It's almost all swirled, and can be a nice accent. It's also as soft as black ebonite, so that's a major plus. A lot of carvers got some at the Chicago show, and have been putting it through its paces lately. It is DARN expensive, though.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 22, 2019 9:48:27 GMT -5
Prefer black vulcanite, next would be amber (the real thing) meers in particular. Cumberland looks good too.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jul 22, 2019 12:28:28 GMT -5
Prefer black vulcanite, next would be amber (the real thing) meers in particular. Cumberland looks good too. Does anybody still cut new amber stems? I've always wondered what an amber stem was like when it was new and fresh, and hadn't spent eighty years getting brittle. |
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