I hate to say it….no I don’t…..I’m opinionated😬 That MM does not appeal to me at all, weird shape bowl, weird shape stem, weird colored stem. I’m so glad I dislike it, I do not need another pipe……or do I🤔
For some reason beyond me, I like that pipe. Sidenote: At the pipe show last month, MM was there and their staff told me that the owner's daughter has taken over a lot of the business. They all seemed excited about it and told me she is very innovative and they expect great things to come from her/MM...
And really, there is only so many ways you can carve a cob without rendering it useless as a smoking instrument. I like the fact that they are changing it up, a d I’m sure there will be some that are pretty cool. Problem is, spiffing up a cob takes time and some of their appeal (inexpensiveness/value for the money) is lost.
I have been living the new acrylic stems that they have been putting out on the newer cobs. With the exception of only a few, I think they have been making some nice new looks.
@Balisong What's it coming from? I don't recall ever getting a plastic taste from an MM (even the plastic stems don't really give off a taste like that), is it coming from the finish on the bowl?
@vtgrad2003 It's coming from the acrylic "forever" stem used on the $30 plus pipes offered as C&D collaborations and MM Artisan releases. The cobs with the regular plastic stems break in after one or two fills, the acrylic stems on the other hand continue to taste of acrylic/plastic. I'd like to customize some of the acrylic stems from vermontfreehand.com but fear I'll be throwing away money!
@Balisong I have several of the acrylic MM stems and have never got a “plastic” taste from them. Perchance, are you drinking some higher proof alcohol….not that I think you are tipsy, but that higher proof alcohol will not be kind to the acrylic, stinger stuff will even haze it?
@RockyMountainBriar Interesting! I don't drink anything stronger than wine but I do run an alcohol dipped pipe cleaner through the stem when I'm done. I stop that and see what happens! Thanks!
@Balisong Just an FYI, if you decide to use some other type of stem cleaner/pipe sweetener, I would steer clear of the Decatur Pipe Shield Briar-Fresh. To me, I would swear it’s toilet bowl cleaner. The directions actually say to leave it dry for at least a half hour before smoking. And Not for internal use. Do not use on wood.
I actually poured the two bottles in my toilet. Your mileage may vary, just my opinion, and I have not had anyone say one way or the other what they think about it after I asked about it here.
@RockyMountainBriar I use isopropyl on my regular plastic cob stems and shanks with no problem. The acrylic stems may be more porous or chemically reactive with the additive in the isopropyl. I'm going to try soaking and cleaning a couple of the acrylics in dish detergent then not cleaning at all for a few smokes and see if that helps. We use Dawn, if it's safe enough for ducks it shouldn't hurt a stem!
For your-all's information, back when I smoked pot out of bongs (decades ago of course), I primarily used bongs called "TokeMaster" (s); these were clear acrylic bongs and the instructions for cleaning them clearly stated (and I'm paraphrasing here) 'do not use anything containing alcohol because not only will it damage the acrylic but it will create a chemical reaction that could be dangerous for the user even if well-rinsed afterward'. So, I'm assuming that even if the stem looks fine, alcohol changes the chemical makeup of the acrylic so it could give off a gas maybe? I don't know, but one thing is for sure, it would 'haze-out' the clear acrylic and no one would smoke from one after that because of the warning label. We used a product called "Grunge Off" and that worked fine because it was made for acrylic bongs.
It's interesting that the other pipes I have with acrylic stems, Peterson, Savinelli, etc. don't have the same problem. I wonder if those stems are a different composition or treated with some type of sealant.
Comments
That MM does not appeal to me at all, weird shape bowl, weird shape stem, weird colored stem. I’m so glad I dislike it, I do not need another pipe……or do I🤔
Like I said…….
Sidenote:
At the pipe show last month, MM was there and their staff told me that the owner's daughter has taken over a lot of the business.
They all seemed excited about it and told me she is very innovative and they expect great things to come from her/MM...
What's it coming from? I don't recall ever getting a plastic taste from an MM (even the plastic stems don't really give off a taste like that), is it coming from the finish on the bowl?
It's coming from the acrylic "forever" stem used on the $30 plus pipes offered as C&D collaborations and MM Artisan releases. The cobs with the regular plastic stems break in after one or two fills, the acrylic stems on the other hand continue to taste of acrylic/plastic. I'd like to customize some of the acrylic stems from vermontfreehand.com but fear I'll be throwing away money!
I have several of the acrylic MM stems and have never got a “plastic” taste from them. Perchance, are you drinking some higher proof alcohol….not that I think you are tipsy, but that higher proof alcohol will not be kind to the acrylic, stinger stuff will even haze it?
Interesting! I don't drink anything stronger than wine but I do run an alcohol dipped pipe cleaner through the stem when I'm done. I stop that and see what happens! Thanks!
If it’s like 50% (100 proof if potable) or less, it should be ok?
Just an FYI, if you decide to use some other type of stem cleaner/pipe sweetener, I would steer clear of the Decatur Pipe Shield Briar-Fresh. To me, I would swear it’s toilet bowl cleaner. The directions actually say to leave it dry for at least a half hour before smoking. And Not for internal use. Do not use on wood.
Your mileage may vary, just my opinion, and I have not had anyone say one way or the other what they think about it after I asked about it here.
I use isopropyl on my regular plastic cob stems and shanks with no problem. The acrylic stems may be more porous or chemically reactive with the additive in the isopropyl. I'm going to try soaking and cleaning a couple of the acrylics in dish detergent then not cleaning at all for a few smokes and see if that helps. We use Dawn, if it's safe enough for ducks it shouldn't hurt a stem!
For your-all's information, back when I smoked pot out of bongs (decades ago of course), I primarily used bongs called "TokeMaster" (s); these were clear acrylic bongs and the instructions for cleaning them clearly stated (and I'm paraphrasing here) 'do not use anything containing alcohol because not only will it damage the acrylic but it will create a chemical reaction that could be dangerous for the user even if well-rinsed afterward'. So, I'm assuming that even if the stem looks fine, alcohol changes the chemical makeup of the acrylic so it could give off a gas maybe? I don't know, but one thing is for sure, it would 'haze-out' the clear acrylic and no one would smoke from one after that because of the warning label. We used a product called "Grunge Off" and that worked fine because it was made for acrylic bongs.