Forever stems; to buy or not to buy?

[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!

[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

[Desertlifter]

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

Old Log Cabin Pipe Works

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.