When it comes to tobacco pipes, the stem serves a dual purpose. Its first job is to facilitate a smooth, enjoyable smoke, and its second job is to bolster the overall aesthetics of the pipe. In this guide, the team at Paykoc Pipes takes a break from their normal duties to look at pipe stems from various angles.

Anatomy of a Pipe

Before we get into detail on the different types of pipe stems, it's valuable to know all the components that make up typical tobacco pipes. This will help provide both practical and aesthetic context.

Tobacco Pipe Components

Bowl

The bowl includes the chamber where the tobacco is placed. Bowl and chamber sizes and shapes vary depending on the pipe's style.

Draft hole

The draft hole extends from the bottom of the chamber to the end of the mouthpiece and carries the smoke from the chamber to the pipe smoker's mouth. Other names for the draft hole include the airway, the bore, and the smoke channel.

Shank

The shank is the part of the pipe that extends horizontally from the bowl to the stem, where the two pieces join. The bowl and the shank are almost always carved from a single piece of briar or meerschaum.

Tenon

The tenon extends from the stem and forms the male portion of the connection between the shank and stem. The female counterpart in the shank is called the mortise.

Stem

The stem is the second of two main parts of the pipe. The other is the bowl. The stem extends from where it connects to the shank to the bit.

Bit

The bit is at the very end of a pipe's stem. This is the part of the pipe the smoker places in their mouth, typically between their teeth, to ensure a nice, tight hold on the pipe. The bit is sometimes called the button or the tip.

Tobacco Pipe Stem Materials

The vast majority of stems in both briar and meerschaum pipes are either vulcanite, acrylic or plastic. Let's look at the difference between these materials.

Vulcanite

Also called ebonite, vulcanite is a type of vulcanized rubber. Vulcanite is typically softer than acrylic and is, therefore, easier on the teeth, which appeals to many pipe smokers. If vulcanite has a downside, which prevents it from becoming the runaway dominant material for pipe stems, it tends to oxidize due to its high sulfur content.

Oxidation can cause the vulcanite to become dull in appearance and take on a greenish hue around the bit that is pretty unappealing. The good news is that low-sulfur vulcanite has recently become available that oxidizes much slower, with the greenish color being almost imperceptible. This may be the development that will put vulcanite over the top as the go-to stem material. Only time will tell.

Acrylic (or "Lucite")

Unlike vulcanite stems, acryllic stems do not oxidize and require very little maintenance. The downside of acrylic (also referred to as lucite) is that it's a hard material, making clenching the bit between your teeth somewhat uncomfortable.

In many cases, whether someone chooses an vulcanite or lucite stem will depend on whether they're willing to spend time dealing with oxidation.

How to Tell if a Stem is Vulcanite or Acrylic

To the untrained eye, it can be virtually impossible to tell a vulcanite stem from an acrylic one. But there are things you can look for that will help you determine the stem material.

For instance, acrylic stems tend to be shinier to the point that you may be able to see reflections on the surface. Also, the hardness of the material is often a dead giveaway. If you tap your fingernail against an acrylic stem, it will make a sharp, clicking sound. Tapping a vulcanite stem will create a dull sound because the soft vulcanite absorbs the shock rather than reflecting it outward.

Finally, if you're unsure whether a stem is a vulcanite or acrylic, rub it back and forth a few times with one of your fingers and then hold it to your nose. If you detect a rubbery smell, it means it's vulcanite.

Plastic

You may have heard that many pipes use plastic stems to decrease production costs. In truth, the only pipe maker that uses plastic stems is Missouri Meerschaum, the world's largest maker of corn cob pipes. That's not to say plastic doesn't have its upside. It does. It's typically easier on the teeth than acrylic, and a plastic stem can last for years. Nonetheless, plastic stems are rarely found on quality tobacco pipes.

Pipe Stem Materials Compared

Review the following comparison of acryllic, plastic, and vulcanite tobacco stems to determine the best choice for your needs.

Feature	Plastic Stems	Acrylic Stems	Vulcanite Stems
Durability	Less durable, prone to cracking	Highly durable, resistant to impact	Moderately durable, can oxidize over time
Maintenance	Easy to clean, but may scratch easily	Easy to clean and maintain	Requires regular polishing to prevent oxidation
Comfort	Less comfortable, can feel cheap	Comfortable, smooth texture	Very comfortable, softer feel
Aesthetics	Less visually appealing, basic appearance	High gloss, available in various colors	Classic look, can polish to a high shine
Cost	Generally the most affordable	Moderately priced	Often more expensive due to quality

Bent Stems Vs. Straight Stems

Tobacco pipes may have straight stems, stems with a partial bend, or full bend stems. There are pros and cons associated with each stem type, which we've outlined in the following table.

Straight Stem Meerschaum Pipe

1/4 Bend Meerschaum Pipe

1/2 Bend Meerschaum Pipe

Full Bend Meerschaum Pipe

Type of Pipe	Pros	Cons
Straight Stem	Easier to clean	Less comfortable for clenching between teeth
	No need to separate stem for cleaning	Simpler design, which may be less stylish
	Traditional, classic look
	More durable when warm
Partial Bend	Balanced weight distribution for clenching	Slightly harder to clean compared to straight
	Offers a mix of style and practicality	May require some disassembly for thorough cleaning
	More comfortable than straight for long usage	Less stable on flat surfaces when not in use
Full Bend	Best for clenching due to lower center of gravity	Hardest to clean among the three types
	Distinctive and stylish look	Requires disassembly for thorough cleaning
	Comfortable for extended smoking sessions	More fragile due to the curved design

Fishtail vs. P-lip

At first glance, you may not notice much difference between a fishtail bit and a P-Lip bit. It's easy to understand why. Both feature a raised ridge at the end of the stem that's there mostly to facilitate clenching; when it comes to fishtail bits, pipe smokers sometimes need to try several before they find one that's in their comfort zone.

P-Lips bits are proprietary bits produced exclusively for Peterson Pipes. They're cosmetically similar to standard fishtail bits, but the slot of the P-Lip bit directs smoke upward toward the roof of the mouth in order to reduce tongue bite. While that's a noble idea that appeals to a lot of people, some are less than thrilled by the fact that P-Lip bits can make a pipe a little harder to clean.

Saddle Stem Pipes vs. Tapered Stem Pipes

These terms describe the way the stem tapers from where it joins the shank to the bit. A tapered stem will do just that: taper gradually from the shank to the bit. A saddle stem will extend just a short way from the point where the shank and stem meet and then abruptly narrow and stay narrow all the way to the bit. Both designs have their upside and downside, and choosing one is strictly a matter of personal preference.

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The stem is one of the most important parts of any tobacco pipe playing a significant role in both the functionality of the pipe and its aesthetics. Most pipe stems today are fashioned from either vulcanite or acrylic with vulcanite being softer and acrylic harder, but requiring less maintenance.

If you're looking for the highest quality retail or wholesale tobacco pipes, look no further than the Paykoc Pipes online store. We carry an impressive array of briar and meerschaum pipes that employ acrylic and vulcanite stems in a variety of styles, including tapered and saddle stems, fishtail, and P-Lip bits.