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Post by cigrmaster on Feb 18, 2018 21:12:36 GMT -5
After 20 years of pipe collecting I have come up with my own set of criteria for buying a pipe. If the pipe is going to smoke my flakes(98 percent of my smokes) I have a set of rules I follow. I want the pipe to be anywhere from 5.25-6.25" long, a bowl height of 1.85-2.25, a bowl depth of 1.5-1.85, and an inside bowl width of .75-.82. I want the weight of the pipe to be from 45-60 grams. I look at the thickness of the walls as that makes a big difference to me. I have owned thin walled pipes and I have to smoke so carefully to keep them cool and that is not my normal cadence. When I smoke, I don't want to have to think about it. Now these measurements are all approximately give or take a little. I clench most of the time while smoking so I need a comfortable stem made of vulcanite in almost every instance. Now the shapes of the pipes I buy are also part of my criteria with Dublins, Rhodesians, Apples and Billiards representing the vast majority of my pipes. I would be considered a lover of classic shapes for my flake pipes. It took me a long time before I came up with this as I used to just buy pipes based on their looks and never considered how they would smoke the types of tobacco I liked. I had to learn through trial and error(lots of errors) what I really enjoyed about a pipe I was smoking my flakes in. At one time I had pipes that weighed 90 plus grams, had huge bowls and were really not good for smoking flakes. I finally realized that if I wanted to enjoy my flakes to their fullest potential, I had to think about the why. I have been enjoying my pipe tobacco so much better since I began thinking about the pipes I was buying. Now when I look at pipes, I can whip though tons of them as many don't come close to any of my criteria. So are there any other anal, obsessive, compulsive, pipe smokers like me?  |
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Post by herbinedave on Feb 18, 2018 21:36:30 GMT -5
One that smokes well.
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 18, 2018 21:49:51 GMT -5
...since I can't smoke it before I buy it, it comes down to shape and reputation of the maker...
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orley
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Post by orley on Feb 18, 2018 21:53:41 GMT -5
For me, I have to like the looks of it, and I have to be able to afford it. Seeing as I have so many pipes now, I seem to be quite picky about this criteria.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2018 22:24:47 GMT -5
I do not have a single criterion, though I do have several criteria.  |
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 18, 2018 22:56:35 GMT -5
I do not have a single criterion, though I do have several criteria. lol |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2018 23:17:29 GMT -5
I do not have a single criterion, though I do have several criteria. Dude, don't ever get caught saying "None of these are" if you're going down that road. No one gets that correctly anymore. My coauthor schooled me to death on that one. Phil: You idiot, that's "None of these is". It's singular! Me: Screw you, none is nothing! Phil: Hey Genius, you just said, "none is" Then we got into an hour long discussion before the days of unlimited long distance. That beauty cost me a couple fins. My proffer was that if I say "none of them are" I was referring to the "them" part. Such language I heard out of a former altar boy! Oy! This is where we are going if we go down that aisle. |
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sablebrush52
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Favorite Tobacco: whatever is in it
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Post by sablebrush52 on Feb 19, 2018 1:11:26 GMT -5
I do not have a single criterion, though I do have several criteria. I have 20 to 30 Criterion. I really like the quality of their releases. As for pipes, it varies. When I'm looking at a Barling it's about the condition. This is a maker I know quite well, so I have a good idea regarding what I'm looking at. With other makers it's more of a question of do I like the looks, is it a maker with whom I'm familiar, that sort of thing. I smoke a wide range of blends, flakes, ribbon cut, shag, etc. So I'm reasonably confident that I will find a blend or three that will work with the pipe. My motley collection is composed of pipes of many shapes and sizes. Sometimes I want a short smoke. Other times I want a three hour smoke. I don't like nose warmers, so the shortest I'll consider is a five inch length. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2018 2:17:36 GMT -5
I do not have a single criterion, though I do have several criteria. Dude, don't ever get caught saying "None of these are" if you're going down that road. No one gets that correctly anymore. My coauthor schooled me to death on that one. Phil: You idiot, that's "None of these is". It's singular! Me: Screw you, none is nothing! Phil: Hey Genius, you just said, "none is" Then we got into an hour long discussion before the days of unlimited long distance. That beauty cost me a couple fins. My proffer was that if I say "none of them are" I was referring to the "them" part. Such language I heard out of a former altar boy! Oy! This is where we are going if we go down that aisle. Yeah, I know what you mean and my grammar isn't always perfect. I just find things like that amusing, so all said in jest. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 19, 2018 2:39:10 GMT -5
For me, they have to be made of corn.
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steveinny
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Post by steveinny on Feb 19, 2018 8:31:38 GMT -5
I must like the way it looks or I won't want to smoke it. Here is an example of what I would not like:  ![]() |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 19, 2018 9:27:06 GMT -5
I must like the way it looks or I won't want to smoke it. Here is an example of what I would not like: ![]() WOW - someone really 'screwed' up that pipe! |
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sablebrush52
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Post by sablebrush52 on Feb 19, 2018 10:38:37 GMT -5
I must like the way it looks or I won't want to smoke it. Here is an example of what I would not like: ![]() WOW - someone really 'screwed' up that pipe! It's missing the pickle. |
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Post by JimInks on Feb 19, 2018 12:15:59 GMT -5
For me, they have to be made of corn. That would make John Lawitzke an endangered species.  |
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Post by johnlawitzke on Feb 19, 2018 20:24:56 GMT -5
For me, they have to be made of corn. That would make John Lawitzke an endangered species. Eggsactly.  |
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Post by simnettpratt on Feb 20, 2018 21:20:14 GMT -5
It has to grab me for some unknown reason.
I have to be able to afford it.
I prefer to know the maker, so Savinelli, Butz Choquin, Missouri Meershaum, Brigham, some manufacturer like that, not like a Michael Parks for $2,000.
I'll risk a basket pipe, if the shape grabs me and I'm only out $30 if it won't smoke, but hard to go wrong with a $90-100 Savinelli.
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Post by trailboss on Feb 21, 2018 0:06:16 GMT -5
I mostly gravitate towards old English pipes for the reason that cigarmaster laid out his criteria for smoking flakes, which I find myself mostly smoking along with plugs and ropes.... big bowls really don’t work well for me with them tobacco’s.
Cobs are really great for Burley’s and loose cut Va-pers, Va-bits and such.
Larger bowls reall rock when I want an English blend though.
My meers are the same way... my 100 to 150 year old meers typically have small bowls and rock with the small bowled blends mentioned, my more contemporary meers tend to run a bit larger and do really well with lat blends.
I really like some pipes that are in the 35 gram range for on the go, and while driving.
Now that I have said all that, I guess I don’t have any strict criteria.😉
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2018 1:21:29 GMT -5
Briar Shape - Bulldog, Rhodesian, Author, Lumberman, Canadian in no particular order. All are good flake pipes.
Meer - push tenon, not screw. Baki, Altinok or IMP are all top shelf and can be had unsmoked for less than a used Dunhill and smoke Lats better.
Cobs and burley are perfection, no reason to question. Any cob will do.
I’m selling briars, not buying.
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 21, 2018 2:42:49 GMT -5
Briar Shape - Bulldog, Rhodesian, Author, Lumberman, Canadian in no particular order. All are good flake pipes. Meer - push tenon, not screw. Baki, Altinok or IMP are all top shelf and can be had unsmoked for less than a used Dunhill and smoke Lats better. Cobs and burley are perfection, no reason to question. Any cob will do. I’m selling briars, not buying. ...in remarkable agreement with my own experience... |
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custodian613
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Post by custodian613 on Feb 24, 2018 12:11:21 GMT -5
I'm a plain old man and so my preferences run in the direction of the plainer straight pipes rather than the more severely bent ones but there are exceptions. I just like the shape and feel of the more "common" pipe personally.
Someone mentioned flake tobacco and that generally takes a more hefty pipe and I sure need to (when financially able) to get a large bowl pipe for that kind of smoke. Flakes are in a class all their own, IMHO !
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 20:32:46 GMT -5
Looks
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jackdiamond
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First Name: Montgomery
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Favorite Tobacco: Davidhoff Flake Medallions. No wait, Semois. No wait, Squadron Leader. Ugh. I dunno.
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Post by jackdiamond on Mar 4, 2019 21:14:32 GMT -5
Budget and looks are the top two. I love Dublins and Bulldogs, so that's another.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 4, 2019 21:26:02 GMT -5
Got all the pipes I need...had a desire for a Ron-made pipe..Ron graced me with one of his...now I have all I want. Love cobs cause I can smoke anything in them...and now that I can stain my cobs, they have become a jewel in my collection. All shapes and sizes, I enjoy them all.
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Post by papipeguy on Mar 4, 2019 21:29:53 GMT -5
Interesting post, Harris, and I find your thoughts to be veryinsightful. I like "traditional" shapes and especially pots fpr the blends I smoke; especially plugs. Maker and appearance surely play a role but functionality for the blends I smoke are first.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Mar 4, 2019 21:36:06 GMT -5
Not only do they have to catch my eye, they have to draw me back for a 2nd look a day or 2 later. I missed out on 2 estates from SP that I really liked. When I went back 2 days later, they were gone. It's ok though, I have enough pipes that I can smoke regularly and still give rest time. I dont NEED another pipe, so it would really have to grab me in order for me to buy it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 22:17:53 GMT -5
It has to feel really good just holding it.
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Post by puffy on Mar 4, 2019 22:26:22 GMT -5
It has to feel really good just holding it. Same Here |
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Post by LSUTigersFan on Mar 4, 2019 23:09:12 GMT -5
While there are many things I love for, it generally comes down to age. I love smoking pipes that are 50, 75 or even 100 years old (1 Sasieni and 1 Dunhill in my collection). While I recognize the the briar was better, it is knowing that the pipe had seen so many things and been enjoyed by so many people that the history comes alive for me.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Mar 4, 2019 23:17:25 GMT -5
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Mar 5, 2019 10:12:04 GMT -5
Looks, feel, size of chamber, weight.
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