Forever stems; to buy or not to buy?

[Pugsley]

I'm on the fence about buying these. I do love my cobs, but spending nearly $30 (with shipping) for a stem for an $8 pipe, well, there's got to be a reason other than just dressing it up. I mean, I can put an expensive necklace on a pig and he may look more stylish, but it's not going to make the bacon taste any better. What do you think of these?

http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html/-forever-_stems.html

[tmoran]

I love mine. You can use the stem for much longer than your average MM will last, and you can use it on more than 1 pipe. It makes the math a little more favorable if you look at it that way. Worth every penny, IMO.

[Emperor Zurg]

Buy. Definitely. A forever stem will last thru oodles of cobs and they don't crack if you chew them a little too hard. Plus they're a great attachment point for a metal or ceramic sleeve to eliminate the filter cavity. (That is if you have any machining skillz at all) It's not so much like putting a necklace on a pig, it's more like icing on a cake.

[Tobias Lutz]

I have 6 or 7. One on each of my cobs in rotation.

[BryGuySC]

I just ordered my first one last week!

[LandonColby]

Buy.
As already said, they will outlive loads of cobs. They're also more comfortable than a chewed up plastic stem, but the main selling point for me, is that if you get the non-filter style it will fix the loose open draw on a cob. It will feel just like puffing on a briar.

[Emperor Zurg]

...if you get the non-filter style it will fix the loose open draw on a cob. It will feel just like puffing on a briar.

Unless he's changed things up recently, all of his stems eliminate the filter. The 'filter style' stems simply fit the mortise of all filter model pipes (i.e. Country Gentleman) and the 'non-filter style' fit the mortise of all non-filter pipes (i.e. pony express). However, none of the pipes will accept a filter once you put the Forever stem in.

[mooster]

This necklace will actually make the bacon taste better. Go for it!

[LandonColby]

Unless he's changed things up recently, all of his stems eliminate the filter. The 'filter style' stems simply fit the mortise of all filter model pipes (i.e. Country Gentleman) and the 'non-filter style' fit the mortise of all non-filter pipes (i.e. pony express). However, none of the pipes will accept a filter once you put the Forever stem in.

I was under the impression that the stem would accept a filter. Thanks for the correction.

[Pugsley]

Unless he's changed things up recently, all of his stems eliminate the filter. The 'filter style' stems simply fit the mortise of all filter model pipes (i.e. Country Gentleman) and the 'non-filter style' fit the mortise of all non-filter pipes (i.e. pony express). However, none of the pipes will accept a filter once you put the Forever stem in.

I toss the filter, if it has one, as soon as I get them, so that's fine with me.

[quo155]

I've been considering one of these myself, for years.

I'm glad you posted the question to try and get a few other perspectives!

[JustTroItIn]

I have two and love them. I'm pretty rough on the stock MM stems. The Forever stem brings the mouth feel on par to a quality briar pipe.

The green stem I have had for over a year and the black I purchased the week of IPSD.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd62/jclarke7/IMG_1845_zps768282e4.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/jclarke7/media/IMG_1845_zps768282e4.jpg.html)

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd62/jclarke7/IMG_1885_zpsvzzunrhq.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/jclarke7/media/IMG_1885_zpsvzzunrhq.jpg.html)

[Branzig]

I want one that mimics a cumberland stem myself.

[LandonColby]

Tobias Lutz, didn't you link to some "off brand" acrylic stems on the Bay awhile ago? Or was that someone else?
I remember them being cheaper, but don't know how they work.

[Tobias Lutz]

Tobias Lutz, didn't you link to some "off brand" acrylic stems on the Bay awhile ago? Or was that someone else?
I remember them being cheaper, but don't know how they work.

I did, and they work fantastically well, unfortunately, I'm not seeing them listed on his site right now:

http://www.customcorncobs.com/index.html

[LandonColby]

I did, and they work fantastically well, unfortunately, I'm not seeing them listed on his site right now:

http://www.customcorncobs.com/index.html

Bummer.
Do they tighten the draw like the Forever Stems do?

[Branzig]

Bummer.
Do they tighten the draw like the Forever Stems do?
If the forever stems tighten the draw, I'm out. One of the reasons I love cobs is how open their draw is without a filter.

[LandonColby]

If the forever stems tighten the draw, I'm out. One of the reasons I love cobs is how open their draw is without a filter.

Really? That always bugged me. I like the draw on a briar better, and that's what the stems do to the cobs.

[Branzig]

Really? That always bugged me. I like the draw on a briar better, and that's what the stems do to the cobs.
Well at least I'll be saving some money now! Wide open draw is what makes a cob so boss IMO.

Thanks for the feedback.

[MrMotoyoshi]

I have forever stems and Customcorn cob stems. The finishing on the Forever stems is what you're paying for really. There's a little brass inlay and the acrylic seems to be more intricate. I wouldn't say that the CCC are that much inferior though.

They both restrict the draw more than the MM plastic stems. You might be able to contact the custom corncobs and see if they'll make one up for you though.

[Tobias Lutz]

Bummer.
Do they tighten the draw like the Forever Stems do?

I find no discernible difference between them and the Forever stems except that they lack the trademark "button" from the latter.

[Pugsley]

Well, I ordered one to try out. If the draw is too restrictive I'll just open it a bit with a drill. It's a straight stem so that should be no problem.

[OnePyroTec]

Well, I ordered one to try out. If the draw is too restrictive I'll just open it a bit with a drill. It's a straight stem so that should be no problem.

If you do open it up, go slow at it. You can get the acrylic hot and make the drill bit stick. To un-stick it, you run the risk of breaking the stem. I've opened up several of the "ebay" stems to my likings. Besides opening up the drought hole, I use a slot tool at the bit to widen the slot, and put a chamfer on the end of the tenon. Good inexpensive slot tools can be had from Vermont Freehand/ Steve Norse.

[Pugsley]

If you do open it up, go slow at it. You can get the acrylic hot and make the drill bit stick. To un-stick it, you run the risk of breaking the stem. I've opened up several of the "ebay" stems to my likings. Besides opening up the drought hole, I use a slot tool at the bit to widen the slot, and put a chamfer on the end of the tenon. Good inexpensive slot tools can be had from Vermont Freehand/ Steve Norse.


About a hundred years ago, when I was a young man, I worked in the machine shop of a small industrial plastics manufacturer, so I've had some experience with that type of thing. But believe me, I ruined my share of product learning. I've opened a lot of stems, both vulcanite and acrylic, and haven't ruined one yet. (Knock on wood.)

[Desertlifter]

Do it!

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w413/desertlifter/Cigars%20and%20stuff/IMAG0221_zps640dcf74.jpg (http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/desertlifter/media/Cigars%20and%20stuff/IMAG0221_zps640dcf74.jpg.html)

[Pugsley]

Received my new Forever stem yesterday, put it on a Diplomat, and smoked a bowl. Do I like it? Before the bowl was half done I ordered another one,
so I'll have a 3 inch and a 2 inch.

[Emperor Zurg]

To anyone reading this thread, Forever stems are now sold by Old Log Cabin Pipe Works.

Old Log Cabin Pipe Works (http://oldlogcabinpipeworks.com/)

[Desertlifter]

To anyone reading this thread, Forever stems are now sold by Old Log Cabin Pipe Works.

Old Log Cabin Pipe Works (http://oldlogcabinpipeworks.com/)

Yes, and thank you - I've been thinking about picking up a couple more.

[JustTroItIn]

Great to see they finally got the new operation up and running.

[Haebar]

I was hoping they'd have the #120A in amber color, but they don't. That's the 2.75 inch ones that are about the same size as the stock MM stems. Walker Briar Works couldn't get them in for the last few months that he was selling them either.

[Shemp Jizzle]

Damn, that Green Swirl nosewarmer is calling my name hard!!