Cob stems

[ghe]

I'm curious about this because I haven't seen it mentioned. I really don't like smoking cobs because of the cheap plastic stems. The mouth-feel makes smoking them less than enjoyable. Does anyone else have this experience? (And, yes, I know that you can buy good stems to fit cobs and that would probably do the job but I've never gotten around to ordering one.)

[BryGuySC]

Old Log Cabin Pipe Works

[ghe]

Old Log Cabin Pipe Works

Thanks. As I wrote, I'm aware of that. I'm curious about whether others find that the cob stems interfere with their smoking enjoyment.

[OnePyroTec]

Thanks. As I wrote, I'm aware of that. I'm curious about whether others find that the cob stems interfere with their smoking enjoyment.

I don't find the OEM cob stems to be a problem. I have 3 or 4 cobs that retain their OEM stems. I do have a dozen or two aftermarket stems just for the looks. They are the same styles as the high dollar brand, just without the dot inlay and a lot cheaper.

[Lostmason]

I can't say that the mouth feel was a problem,for me it was/is the breaking in period.I have to be selective of
which blend I use to get that char or I can get predjudiced against that pipe.The taste is more important to me
than the feel.

[Haebar]

The stock stems on MMs feel unfinished; sometimes you can feel the flashing from the mold marks on your lips and tongue. Not to say that I don't use them. I have about 3 or 4 in my rotation that have stock stems.

[Tobias Lutz]

I don't smoke cobs with the original stem for the reason you cited. I have ten cobs but only two Forever Stems in rotation, so the remaining eight bowls just sit in a drawer for use down the road.

[Nature]

I don't prefer the cheap plastic stems that come with cobs, but It does not affect my enjoyment. I don't mind the acrylics. My issue with the softer plastic stems is that tend to become loose where they insert into the shank.

[Tgs679]

I use Forever Stems in my cobs never use stock.

[Aguineapig]

The Danish bits are the best cheap, soft, stock bits of the ones MM uses. That said, I usually fit them with aftermarket stems, either vulcanite or Lucite from vermont freehand.