Acrylic vs Vulcanite

Subtilis87

What differences do you guys notice between different plastics in pipe stems? I know there are some differences in their resistance to oxidation, but are there any other advantages?

drac2485

Vulcanite is suppose to be softer on the teeth to clench.

Woodsman

I have pipes with both, Acrylic stays shiny but dents easier. Vulcanite doesn't stay shiny without a lot of attention. I don't prefer one over the other. Estate pipes most often come with dulled finish that require cleaning with a buffer and 2 grades of compound.

idbowman

I'm a clencher.  Vulcanite is more comfortable, but acrylic doesn't seem to be as prone to bite-through, and requires a lot less maintenance.  Pipe material is usually pretty low on my priority list when choosing a pipe, but all other things equal I usually lean towards acrylic (I don't use softie bits, but if the comfort was THAT much of a factor, I could always try to improve the feel by going that route).

mhajec

I've noticed that acrylic doesn't discolor as much from exposure to sun light.

IndyJG

I much prefer acrylic to vulcanite due to the less maintenance. I do use softie bits on all my pipes.

jfreedy

I love the feel of vulcanite and the maintenance-free aspect of acrylic. Pros & cons to both. 

ghostsofpompeii

I tend to agree with @jfreedy there are positives and negatives to both. The major negative is the discoloration aspect. A lot more maintenance to keep the from yellowing. And a whole lot more work if it's an Estate pipe. I don't have a proper buffing wheel and do everything by hand so I never get the proper sheen in a vulcanite Estate pipe no matter how much I hand buff it.  

motie2

As is freakin' usual, I'm in lock step with the ghost.....

jfreedy

@ghostsofpompeii & @motie2 -- totally agree with both of you. If I had to choose I'd choose acrylic because they make my life easier. That said, there is something pretty satisfying about restoring a stem to its original glory... especially with older estate pipes. 

motie2

Also, the manufacturers seem to charge more for pipes with perspex stems. They're fancier, I guess.

Woodsman

Plexiglas/Perspex is very difficult to cut on a lathe, you have to file/sand/polish/form it. drilling is easy but polishing the airway isn't.

motie2

Sometime back, I read that one company was experimenting with lasers as a way to polish a perspex airway.