Sunday STUFFandTHINGS | 12/17/2023 | PIPE HOBBY D*CK MEASURING CONTESTS 

Those soft rubber bits are great! All my pipes have them, and they will always have them. Cheers to whatever you like, and you just said that lol

I was using custom made granite stems on my pipes but kept biting through them because I’m such a bad*ss. I’ve had to resort to tungsten carbide stems. Thankfully, my softy bits have kept me from biting through those! 😂

I consider myself a serial hobbyist. I am into many things from Pipes and tobacco, cigars, fishkeeping, gaming, vehicles etc. I just want to say that what you explained about d*ck measuring is so on point and these guys are prevalent in all hobbies. Like you, it's annoying, non-inclusive and just douche baggery. It's definitely not just the pipe hobby lol. Great video man, I enjoy them.

I’m coming back to pipe smoking after 24 years of first trying it and putting it down. Your videos are very informative and you are a great communicator. Keep it up. Thanks.

Glad you raised the issue about that video. I read through the comments and was puzzled by these ridiculous comments that attempt to ‘one up’ everyone else. I enjoyed reading the comments to find out which blends to avoid as I’m super sensitive to N and a beginner. I enjoy your videos and appreciate you telling that story (made me feel better about my own bad experience).

Bradley just keep making the videos. Ive been smoking pipes since the 70's an era that did not have acrylic stems. Peterson only used ebonite in those day and I hated seeing my teeth marks on them. Im a heavy clencher and have actually chewed through those bits. Acrylic stems eventually brought less teeth and wear marks but doesn't completely solve that issue. I then Found Rubber Softee bits and I love them. They have saved my teeth and my pipe stems.

When people call themselves pipers I envision someone with a flute skipping down a cobblestone road trying to call out the cats. 🐈

I've been smoking pipes for 30+ years. Rubber bits are the best. They not only protect your teeth, but also your stems from your teeth. Cheers!

Coming from MTG and the professional poker communities, male dominated pursuits are filled with these overbearing types and they often rise to the top because other men are too weak to call them out. Good video.

I’m always going to use a rubber tip on my bit, and will possibly never use matches. This was very funny

Haha, we germans use mostly filter in our pipes. Now, how "softy" is this!!!! OmG!!!

I used to be in a pipe club. The one guy was a huge “one upper.” Didn’t matter what you talked about he had something better or more expensive. “You don’t want to smoke that stuff, smoke this instead.” Blah blah. But most of the members were totally cool. I had to stop smoking because of health reasons. I have SO much pipe tobacco. Not sure how to liquidate it. Lots of Sam Gawith, some McClelland, etc.

The problem with giving people a public forum is that they get to prove they are idiots…ignore them. Loved your honesty about that tobacco kicking your butt.

I think it’s called a nic’ measuring contest. 😂

There will never be a shortage of opinions. Thank god we live in a country where they can be shared whether they are good bad or indifferent.

Perfectly put for the measuring statements...I only smoke from meerschaum for the most part and have a good collection going. I am not snob on smoking, had just started on those and enjoy not having to let my pipes rest. Makes no sense why individuals want to be ding-knobs in this hobby.

“That never happens to me.” I’ve said that a few times also, Bradley. 😂

Preach it! 🙌🏻 Smoke what you like and like what you smoke

This really was a great episode. I completely agree with you on this and with others who said this is everywhere. It reminds me of someone describing other people's gaming scores. Everyone below me is a noob and everyone above me is a shut-in. I appreciate your comments on how the vitamin-N affects you. I am pretty sensitive to vitamin N (I think way more so than you). I'm also pretty close to immune to alcohol. Neither makes me more or less of a man or a dedicated hobbiest. Things just affect different people differently.

Like you, I’m pretty much immune to nicotine, but on occasion something will hit me. It’s rare, but it happens. I’ve tried to figure it out. What’s really odd is when smoking that same blend later, I don’t get hit. I wonder if it’s something going on in our bodies… change in pH, or whatever. I’m not a scientist, and I don’t play one on TV, so I have no idea. But it happens. And, yes, I’ve been smoking a pipe for over thirty years and yet I always use softy bits or rubber hose cuttings. They’re great. Keeps the stems from getting chatter. You keep on doing your thing, sir. You’re awesome and your channels are invaluable. Thank you for producing such solid content. Your contribution to the pipe smoking community is inspiring. Thank you.

Sometimes a blend bothers you, somethings it doesnt. Sometimes I use a rubber bit, sometimes I dont. Sometimes people dont grow up, sometimes they do. You do you, keep up the enjoyable videos.

My wife walked in at 10:30 and laughed at your comment, but it led to a great conversation about the personality disorder that is hobby gatekeeping peepee measurers. It’s true… there is always some miserable person who questions your commitment or “manliness”. Usually these types can only make themselves feel better about who they pretend to be by insulting others. It’s really a shame that people cannot just enjoy what they do and let others do the same. Another great vid, my friend. Take care… all of you!

As William Holden said to Faye Dunnaway in "Network," "I quit comparing genitals back in the schoolyard." Polaroid cameras can surprise you. I took a picture of my grandfather with one of the old black and white paper print cameras, and though the flash didn't go off, the light behind him produced an amazingly sharp and deep image. Great show today!

Laughed so hard when you said you may have sprained your eyes I had to stop the video.😂 Thanks for that! Always enjoy your take on this world. (Sporadic eye twitches are sometimes caused by a drop in vitamin B, sometimes due to stress, lack of sleep, overindulgence, etc. ... according to Dr. Winky.)

I guess you have to go back to Capt Black Grape as your everyday rotation now... LOL

The rubber bit comments and tobbaco strength is just normal human behavior...from high school...some mature out of it and some still try to fit in their letterman jacket. Don't let it bother you. The pipe community, as a whole, is very accepting...so as I pack a Castello with some lowly RLP6...don't let the outliers bother you. They can smoke their manly roadkill and I'll smoke mine. YMMV.

Hadn’t noticed the soft rubber bits in your videos and I’m new to the hobby - look like a good idea if it works for you, and I’m going to pick some up tomorrow to try em out! 😊

Hey Bradley, I wouldn’t worry about it. It seems that whatever the venue, here on RU-vid, on FB, or the assorted piping forums there are always a few jerks out there that really have nothing constructive to add. Then of course we see all of these self-proclaimed experts who are more impressed with themselves than the rest of us actually are. Truthfully the psychology of it speaks more about their own unhappiness than anything that you or I might be doing “incorrectly”. The passion of pipe smoking is very personal in nature, enough said. Just keep doing what you are doing. It is well appreciated by the positive people that really count. And yes, I also use softies especially on heavier pipes.

I like to use softy bits because I want to protect my pipes as much as possible. Hopefully after I'm gone, someone else will get to enjoy my pipes without alot of work to restore the stems.

I use softy bits so I don't ruin my stem with toothmarks

Totally agree with you, and in regards to the softy bits, I have a large collection of pipes, some were my great grandfather's, and my grandfather's pipes. Some are rare limited editions, or just rare due to their age and characteristics. Therefore every last bloody one of my pipes even my newest pipe has a softy bit on the stem. One to protect the stem from my teeth creating marks that can ruin the stem especially antique amber. Also to protect my teeth, I am a Pipe smoker for life, have been since 1986, but I am not bloody interested in getting dentures any time soon. So I tip my hat to you Bradley for putting a needed comment on the un needed childishness that is totally not necessary and totally undesirable in the Pipe Smoking community.

As a piper (bag and tobacco), I use softy bits on both!

Great video Bradley! Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

glad you read the second comment-- I spent a good time trying to figure out what an 'esser' was supposed to be... For me, gatekeeping is a part of every hobby... but maybe I am coping because I am so lame that Haddo's Delight has nearly killed me on multiple occasions.

😄 that Sean Connery impression gets me every time man😂. Well said brother, there will always be know it alls in every aspect of life and in every single case, that know it all has no true friends because of their crappy attitudes and know it all remarks. Keep doing your thing Bradley i love the channel, you're always very informative and a pleasure to watch.

That's the problem with social media, everyone gets to talk to the world, but it hasn't turned out to be that great of an idea. LOL. Have a Great Christmas.

I like using softy bits too. Pipe on!

lol your reading of those comments were good. As far as Nicotine, this has happened to me a few times. I am a former cigarette smoker, and can tolerate quite a lot of nicotine. Every so often I have noticed that a normally milder blend will put me on my a**. From my research, it apparently has to do with blood sugar levels. The reason you feel sick from nicotine is because it has a rapid lowering effect on your blood sugar. You likely already had a lowered blood sugar level that day, for whatever reason, and the nicotine put you over the edge. small amount of sugar under the tongue helps in seconds. As far as softy bits, I couldn't, it's just too thick. I also don't like the bit on it's own. I have found heat shrink tubing works well, as well as non adhesive electric tape. (it sticks to itself) The nicotine thing is stupid, I have a very high tolerance, but if I stop smoking completely for a couple months, I may feel queasy from orlik golden. It's merely a matter of regular exposure, that's all.

Well I’m a piper and personally enjoy all the rats that follow me around. Merry Christmas Bradley

I remember the polaroids with the disposable flash cubes

A granite mouthpiece 😂

i only discover those amazing bits from this chanel!

Harry Callahan (Dead Pool-Dirty Harry): "Well, opinions are like a**holes. Everybody has one." Let the BSD's swing away. Love your vids and opinions. Keep at our good friend, Bradley!

People have weird pride and gatekeep over certain things. Ignore them, they aren’t happy people. I’m a light weight when it comes to nic and I could not care less.

100% on the D/(k measuring…. Just ridiculous. I cannot even smell chewing tobacco or dip without getting dizzy but can enjoy pipe tobacco. Everyone is different.

Another great video. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄.

Howdy - are you from Bellingham? That Bagelry shirt is bringing back some serious memories 🌱🦾

I wouldn't pay attention to the idiots! I use softy bits on some of my pipes so I don't damage the stems

Lol, haven't watched yet but had to click immediately for the title.

100% in agreement with you, Bradley. Since when did tolerance of Vitamin N become some marker of 'manliness?' Perhaps a better indicator of 'manliness' is a person's tolerance to the differences of others, and you have that in abundance. Keep doing what you're doing and the real men (and I'm betting women, too) will continue to find your content instructive and enjoyable.

Many macho men out there. Hahahahahahhaha

I love the competition thing where it's not needed. I find it funny. Makes me laugh. Especially when it comes to drinking. The ladies are just as bad with this, so it's not just a man thing. Then there is the my ammo is bigger than your crowd. The only time where size matters, and you can brag, is when you're a smith and your anvil is over 500lbs. I find nobody actually brags about it, but they should. Wish my anvil was big. 🙁 😆

It may not have been nicotine that you reacted to in that tin of Fillmore. Every once in a long while I get an uncomfortable feeling in my muscles and sweats about half way through a bowl. Always it's with a blend that I'm familiar with and more often than not, it seems to be a blend with latakia, though not always. I'm only guessing but I think it might be a reaction related to fungus or other contaminant encountered by the leaf at some point in its curing or processing. This has never happened when I smoke cigars, which I do quite often. In fact, I only have experienced this with tobaccos I smoke that are made by Cornell and Diehl, which I do often since they produce most of my favorite blends.

Nothing to discuss just wishing you a very merry Christmas!

Not sure if someone's already mentioned it, but there's a documentary called Time Zero (from 2012?! Can't believe it's that old!). As someone like you who remembers the old-school Polaroid cameras in their youth, it was a fun trip down memory lane, but they also touch on the Impossible Project in that documentary and the resurgence of instant camera popularity. I recommend it!

I don't understand how people manage to clinch pipes in their teeth without a softy bit, without chewing the stems all to hell. Even if I try to do that, my teeth for some reason have a hard time finding a good place where the stem will rest, and it's often not an an angle that I want to use (and my teeth are quite straight). I simply get better smokes from some of my pipes with a softy bit. Oh, and nicotine and I don't get along very well....

Haha! I love the voice for the a-hole commenters. You seriously crack me up! Smoking a pipe is for personal enjoyment and relaxation. I’m with you, who cares what others think about your preferences for tobacco types/flavors.

There are people who are down and oppressed, so they need to feel better by bringing others beneath them to feel alive. Doesn't even have to be true, it's just a defence mechanism of the poor diseased souls. Don't take it personally, and don't call people out for it and shame them further for being sick. Yes I agree their voice is not constructive, I would just delete them and move on or reach out to them personally if you want to help them. Thank you for all your content. Love your videos!

It must say something that I'm not a pipe smoker, yet I enjoy knitting whilst watching your blends and pipe paraphernalia reviews so much! It is such an interesting hobby to hear about. The bit at 10:30 had me laugh out loud. There's problably no better to do than to just laugh at the whole thing. I do wonder tho; is there a valid reason as to why you wouldn't want to use a tip if you could avoid it, or they're just trying to find something to feel superior about?

Hey, Hey, Hey....keep Orlik Golden Sliced out of this. My favorite blend catching a stray. I'm kidding Bradley, you do you. That's what makes this hobby so fun. People like different things, have different experiences and generally enjoy themselves in this hobby. The ultimate d*ck measuring hobby that I've been a part of is fly fishing. Not even worth getting involved in those forums. Take care and keep having fun. BTW, I also hate the words piping, baccy and people who call out other people for not smoking the right blends out of the right pipes in the right way.

Thanks for your video! Alwzys interesting. Ironically, when you were ralking about the "D*ck measurers RU-vid stuck an ad for an all natural ED remedy .... it is sad that people feel the need to do that. On another note, I want to wish you and your viewers a wonderful holiday season !!! Jeff

Every once in awhile I get hit with N either with cigars or pipe T. And I use softy bits because I have still sharp teeth and it makes pipe smoking so much more enjoyable. F off to the hater’s. You do you to enjoy life!

Not to flex, but i can smoke an ENTIRE bowl of early morning pipe! Impressed eh? I bet you are 😂😂😂

I had to write another response. I worked for kinko's in the late 90s in New Jersey. The kinkos was down the street from many go go bars. The dancers would come in with many shots of themself and wanted them reproduced for to send out. 100s of them over a years time. And they would reject some of them and of course we would keep them for ourself. Lol I was laughing so hard when you said that. We also had a White 🏰 in the parking lot! Just to let you know what type of area I worked in, Not live.

Comparing Teddy Bears. 😊🌱 Mr. Teddy Bear sounds like an anime character. 😂🌱 Mac. Nebraska, Omaha

W O W...not haven't seen the video I have missed those comments. Somehow both sad and hilarious :D

Rest assured that dude from that foreign country is a trouble maker. Stay clear. I remember when he ripped our Veterans apart when a great YTPC presenter did a Veterans Day video! He is a jerk! Stay clear Sir! (Dave)

I catch a lot of grief because I only smoke Sutliff Black Vanilla. I can’t explain why, but it’s all I need. I like it, it’s pleasantly scented so my wife doesn’t mind it, and I don’t really care to try anything else. If it’s not broke, why fix it?

Pro photographers used Polaroid film packs to take test shots to test exposures back in the day

Luckily, people that show up with comments like that are rare and always good for a laugh. You may have another channel idea on your hands there. Lessons in man hood from broke tooth piper. 🤔

Come on now Bradley... don't you know your not a *_REAL PIPER MAN_* unless you can grind *Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake* into fine powder and snort it 🤣

As a pipe smoker one shouldn't judge another pipe smoker as there are so few of us left in the world as it is. the point of the YTPC is to keep the manufacturers producing so we can all continue to enjoy smoking our pipes. really though who gives a shit what another man's nicotine tolerance is or for that matter how big his rifle is. Badasses don't judge....they just "badass" regardless of what other people do.

Bradley, could your eye twitching be from your neck, especially since your speaking was impacted in this video as well? It's been a while, but I've had bouts of this in the past. The last time, I wasn't sleeping enough, stressed, and drinking lots of coffee. I don't think it was the coffee. Rather, the other two, along with my neck issues (injury & birth defect). I found out about my neck issues after ending up in chiropractic care, because of my stomach. Yes, my back is so messed up, it gives me trouble with my front. 😁I have some trouble pronouncing words like "literally." As a child, it took me forever to learn how to drink from a water bottle (not a baby bottle). I can't whistle with two fingers. I just can't do it. I'm pretty sure that's related to my birth defect, around the C2/C3 vertebras, which are associated with the face and neck. Imagine your nerves are water hoses, and something's messing with them, kinking and unkinking them, and so on. On to the topic of the video. I pretty sure I had Fillmore sneak up on me once. It was quite surprising. I've had similar experiences, though related to flavor, not vitamin N. Dunhill's Standard Mixture and a highly hydrated Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia, just messed with my stomach like nothing else. I take Pure Virginia beyond the Samuel Gawith level of hydration for building up cake, but the Standard Mixture was untouched. For some reason, I had one experience with each of those blends that rocked me. It seemed to be one particular flavor that was just too much for me at that one point, but never again since then.

That's the way the world goes around. Alexander the Great would have something to say about this

In the wet shaving hobby there are always posts about guys having beards that are so tough that they require the most aggressive of razors.

My grandma used softy bits.

The problem has nothing to do with smoking pipes. Those gate keepers and dick measuring types are like that in every facet of their lives. It's a deep seeded insecurity. I know a guy exactly like this- if you both have a thing, his is better. If you both do a thing, he does it better. And if you do have something demonstrably better then those metrics become irrelevant and are dismissed. It's not enough that HE thinks he is better, YOU must agree as well. It becomes an obsession in virtually every conversation. Just accept that those people are like that anyway. It's just a symptom of a larger issue and they very likely act the same way in several other online 'communities' they use to substitute real human interaction.

you be you Bradley.....everyone has haters

It's not just this hobby, for sure. Pretty much any forum one gets on will have "those people" who want to seem tougher, badder, and everything else and while behind the keyboard, they are 10 feet tall and bulletproof...... Ha.

My mouthpieces are made of diamonds 😂

Super wierd flex on his part. Oh well... to each their on. Have a great one!

We know you love Elizabethan but can you give us your top 5 of all time, or your top 5 rotation.

I too abhor the term "piper." I used to be an avid fisherman, and once in a while I would stumble across the term "fisher" which annoyed me as thoroughly as "piper" does. As for softy bits: they rock. I have a slightly misaligned bite and the rubber bit helps immeasurably. Hey, if you don't like em, don't use em. But I've never understood why people feel the need to give other people grief about such trivial things.

I've been watching this channel since 2016, and every famously strong blend you review, you always mention how it doesn't affect you. So you might not whip it out directly, but you don't exactly hide the bulge hahaha

The gatekeeping attitude is especially detrimental to this hobby as it is in decline. The last thing we need is people having such a toxic attitude towards others which may potentially push new smokers away. I've seen this on other forums much worse and I walked away from those areas, though I continue enjoying this hobby.

Wish people would just smoke how they smoke. It's ALL subjective.....there is no "best blend" or "correct way." It's all about what you like as an individual.

i love my softy bits.

Rubber bits save your teeth. Don’t listen to the insecure haters

This video inspired me to get out my tape measure. Very disappointing.

I guess he would really frown upon my use of filters.

There's always THAT GUY in any hobby. "Clearly your tips are for BEGINNERS. I knew all these from reading basic bookbinding books." That was a comment on my friend's "Top 5 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Making Books." And yeah, he was a dude. I could not be any more eye-rolly!

SmolPPpiper here! ME BETTER DEN U, pecause of things!!!! (I peaked in high skool) *Edited because my mom saw a typo*

Bradley, I have recently discovered your channel and have enjoyed binging your content for several days now. Without a doubt, my favourite moment thus far has been your imitation of the unnecessarily-competitive-douchebag-male-voice beginning at about 10:28 of this video. I am not new to pipe smoking but I am new to the RU-vid pipesmoking community and I was disappointed to learn (from the title of this video) that such douchebags walk among us. Please keep up your good work detering them from ever talking to me. Regards. Dave

Tired eyes my friend

I saw a feller say he inhales the other day and one of the comments said he could never be a real piper because he inhales. Why is everyone so pissy and weird?

10:47 No matter what you do There's always one person who's some sort of Alfa. Usually a troll, sometimes just a dick 😅. Never thought Nightcap was a strong blend. But some people get buzzy from smoking it. Everyone's tolerance is different.

I say smoke what you like how you like.

I use a pillow to sleep on ...I am obviously a weak person...if we follow the logical conclusion of the manly gatekeepers..perhaps I should move to cold showers and 50mile runs in the morning..

Uhh...oh, I get it, because they're both wood.

The desire to make attempt to make other men feel like lesser men because of petty things comes from a deep insecurity within. I see people do this all the time and it’s annoying. They are usually the type that are the loudest in the room. Juvenile and insecure.