Bamboo shank and rings on the ends

[Oleg.Koval]

Have question about rings (ebonite, acrylic, etc...) on the ends of bamboo shank:
this rings are necessary because they protects from expansion the ends of bamboo while smoking? or is it a purely aesthetic element?

Thank you.

[Alden]

Necessary. You could do it without a ring, but with a ring is much better.

[wdteipen]

Aesthetics.

[baweaverpipes]

I don't do rings, I like the smooth transition from bamboo to briar. The ring, in my opinion, disrupts the flow.

[caskwith]

Sometimes I use them, sometimes not. Up to you what you do really. If Bruce says not to use them though then you must use them, since Bruce is always wrong, or is it Bruce is always right? I dunno, anyway I hear he is handing out money now.

[Ocelot55]

IAWB!

[pipedreamer]

Depends on what the Briar tells me.

[yachtexplorer]

The ring does more than simple looks. It also stabilizes and contains the ends of the fibers of the the bamboo where it has been cut off as well as presenting a less easily compressed channel at the end for the tubing. It is a fussy detail but to my eye gives the pipe a more finished, buttoned down look.

[RadDavis]

No Ring on the briar end. Ring on the stem end.

Rad

[wisemanpipes]

No Ring on the briar end. Ring on the stem end.

Rad

this

[Oleg.Koval]

The ring does more than simple looks. It also stabilizes and contains the ends of the fibers of the the bamboo where it has been cut off as well as presenting a less easily compressed channel at the end for the tubing. It is a fussy detail but to my eye gives the pipe a more finished, buttoned down look.

No Ring on the briar end. Ring on the stem end.

Rad

this

Thank you guys, I expected this answers.


But this is the main argument =>

Sometimes I use them, sometimes not. Up to you what you do really. If Bruce says not to use them though then you must use them, since Bruce is always wrong, or is it Bruce is always right? I dunno, anyway I hear he is handing out money now.

[LatakiaLover]

I agree with Rad, except when Bruce disagrees with Huber... or Alden and Wayne both agree that Jeff Gracik is right 78% of the time about where Micah left his car keys.

Unless, of course, It is raining in both Seattle and Phoenix at the same time, AND Tyler had bacon and eggs for breakfast within 24 hours of considering the question.

Pipemaking... where Heisenberg would feel right at home.

[d.huber]

I agree with Rad, except when Bruce disagrees with Huber... or Alden and Wayne both agree that Jeff Gracik is right 78% of the time about where Micah left his car keys.

Unless, of course, It is raining in both Seattle and Phoenix at the same time, AND Tyler had bacon and eggs for breakfast within 24 hours of considering the question.

Pipemaking... where Heisenberg would feel right at home.

Finally he gets it!

[d.huber]

IAWB!

IAAWBBISWRICF

[irish_lord99]

ITTWAPMF?

[kamkiel]

I wish I had read this sooner. I just finished experimenting with bamboo.... ring between bamboo and briar, no ring on the stem end. Once I can get some better quality pictures I'll post it up. Thank you for this thread!

[Charl]

Uuh, no. The other way around.

[Growley]

I ring both ends. They're a pain to do, but I like the looks better.

[phmann]

If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.

[Tyler]

In reading this thread, I'm confused by the diversity of answers, so I'll contribute to the problem and add some more answers.

On the stummel side, the ring is mostly an aesthetic move. It does make it easier to keep stain off the bamboo (if you affix the bamboo before staining, which is what most do), but there is not structural reason for the ring.

On the stem side, the ring provides structural support if you make the bamboo side the mortise. It is typical to use stainless tubing for the tenon, glued into the stem. The mortise in that case is in the bamboo. With this method it is not really optional to not support the mortise in some way. Bamboo is VERY strong material, but it is easy to split along its length. A tight mortise and tenon joint is perfect for splitting bamboo. The ring, if done properly, protects against that.

I suspect the variety of answers in this thread are because there is more than one way to assemble all these components. For example, if you glue the tubing into the bamboo side and make the stem side the mortise, there is no real need for a ring.

In short, if the bamboo is the mortise, you better support the bamboo with something (a ring is perfect). All other uses of a ring, whether flush or proud, is aesthetic.