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Pipe News
- 2011-03-31 11:58:31
Nebraska Tobacco Tax Increase Proposal Harmful
From: IPCPR - 2011-03-31 05:01:46
Oregon Considers Controversial Tobacco Tax Increases
From: IPCPR - 2011-03-30 14:25:29
1st Iberian-American Tobacco Trade Fair, FIT
From: Press Release - 2011-03-29 10:23:41
Hawaii Faces Fight Over Tobacco Tax Increase Proposal
From: IPCPR - 2011-03-29 06:51:29
Indiana Smoking Ban Will Only Hurt Lagging State Economy
From: IPCPR
- 2011-03-31 11:58:31
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In addition to my interest in pipes I’m an active woodworker. In fact, there’s a direct connection between these two interest as I do most of my smoking in my shop. Though most of my tools are power tools, I’ve always had a soft spot for hand tools. I guess there’s a macho element to it, as they require more skill and fineness to use than power tools. I think of hand tools much like starting and maintaining a good camp fire. Not everyone can do it, and the pride in accomplishment keeps you almost as warm as the fire.
That said, one frustration that I’ve encountered is how so many fine hand tools have been taken out of service and are collecting dust on mantles and book shelves. And when I stumble across a usable plane that’s for sale they are often sporting inflated price tags due to the decorative demand.
I get the same feeling when I see a fine pipe on display in the collection of a non-smoker. My mother-in-law has a wonderful meerschaum pipe that belonged to my deceased father-in-law. He passed away in 1984 and she has been remarried twice since, and I’m the only pipe smoker she knows, yet I haven’t been able to pry it away from her.
There’s an old saying that sums this up…”A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” -William Shedd
I finally decided that I was through waiting, so after some exhaustive research I decided to purchase my first new plane in 20 years; the New WoodRiver #4 plane from Woodcraft.com
There are a couple desirable plane brands that I’d been researching when I discovered the WoodRiver: Stanley Bed Rock planes, which were introduced in the early 1900’s, Lie-Nielsen planes, which are faithful reproductions of the Bed Rock planes using modern materials and methods, and Lee Valley Veritas planes, which are modern planes that take a 21st century approach to design and manufacturing.
As I researched these fine brands the new WoodRiver tools came to my attention. First off they are faithful reproductions of the Stanley Bed Rock planes, only instead of using cast iron for the body they are made with much more durable ductile iron. Additionally they feature blades made from A-2 steel. What the heck is A-2 steel you say? Good question. I had to Google it myself. What I learned is that it’s the steel that those in the know have been upgrading their old planes to for several years because it holds an edge much longer. Using a plane is fun; sharpening a plane is work. So anything that makes an edge last longer is a welcome improvement.
So here’s the rest of the story. Woodcraft is having the WoodRiver line made in China. Hold on, don’t go away so fast! This is one of those cases where they have paid for quality. There have been cheap (under $20) planes at Home Depot for years, but we’re talking about tools in the $120-150 range. So how does that compare to the other brand I mentioned?
I purchased a #4 WoodRiver plane for $119. A similar #4 plane from Lee Valley is $199, while the steel #4 from Lie-Nielsen is $300. Granted, those other planes are spectacular, but I plan on using the tool, not just looking at it.
So, I suspect this is just the start of a new phase in my woodworking hobby, and I’m sure in the end I won’t be happy until I have a few of the snob-worthy brands, but for now I’m going to play with my new VW Beetle plane.
We live in the center of tobacco country in the part of North Carolina known as the Piedmont Triad. The Triad is so named because of the close proximity of the three cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and our home, High Point. Despite the fact that our area is surrounded by small tobacco farms, I was surprised to learn when we moved here ten years ago that there’s not a single pipe shop in High Point.
Winston-Salem has a decent Tinder Box and a nice little shop called Pipe’s Etc. Both of these shops are really cigar shops, and seeing that it’s a 60 mile round trip from our place, they don’t get visited very often. Greensboro has an excellent shop called Pipe and Pint, and the good news is that’s in the process of relocating a few miles closer to our home. I’ll write more about Pipe and Pint later, but what prompts this post is a trip to what used to be a legitimate pipe shop in High Point called Parker”s News.
It may come as a surprise to learn that High Point is a ghost town 50 weeks of the year. Those other two weeks (20 days actually) the population of HP doubles and the businesses that are normally all but boarded-up the balance of the year are bustling with the activity of “Furniture Market”. High Point used to be a “real” city; with its very own downtown Sears store and a busy stop for Amtrak trains, but since the city sold its soul to the Furniture Market most of the downtown buildings have been purchased by furniture companies to be converted into showrooms. Because these showrooms are for the wholesale trade, most locals have never set foot into the 190 buildings that make-up downtown High Point.
Parker’s News is in the heart of down town High Point, and when we arrived here in 1999 I was excited to learn that they were the local go-to place for pipe tobacco. It was on my first trip to Parker’s that I learned a very valuable lesson: Don’t ask non-smokers where to buy good toba
Sure, they had a couple Dr Grabow pipes and a glass jar or two of some no name bulk tobacco; but for the most part their offering was no better than our local CVS pharmacy. But even so, this place had charm. Going to Parker’s is to step back in time. They had a long rack with every newspaper from every city of note in the USA that was pick-up daily in large bundles from the local train depot. Other walls were lined with magazines and comic books weekly tabloids. I suppose if I were a cigarette smoker that Parker’s might have become a regular stop, but I’m not, so the past ten years slipped by without another visit. That change this week.
For some reason I was drawn to visit Parker’s in hopes of finding a lost stash of corn cob pipes, or some other such treasure. When I entered the first thing I noticed was that the magazine racks that lined the left side of the store were now 1/3 filled with what looked like the bargain book titles from Barnes and Noble. In fact, upon closer examination of the sun bleached covers it was obvious that they were purchased from another retailer. As I continued on I noticed that the once prominent two-sided rack of newspapers that paralleled the counter was gone. Not empty. Gone.
There were a few new thing:. The check-out counter was cluttered with acrylic cubes that house scratch-off lottery tickets. NC has only allowed lottery sales for the past few years, so whenever I see this same display it always catches my eye. Oh, and thought I’m certain that the local news stand was always the place to go for Playboy magazine, apparently the current clients at Parker’s have a sweet tooth for all things porn related.
I left feeling sad that our city had lost yet another remnant of it’s heart. At least we still have Kepley’s BBQ.
2009 Aristocob ICCPM award
In one of my “Getting the Most Out of Your Corn Cob Pipe” videos on Youtube last November we deemed November to be National Corn Cob Pipe Month. It took about a day before a fan from the UK posted a comment asking if the event could be expanded to be international. Why not?
I think what was most fun about the “celebration” was a video contest, where other cob enthusiasts posted videos where they talked about their favorite cob smoking experiences.
Well, it’s November again, and I’ve just posted a video on the Aristocob Youtube Channel explaining this year’s contest.
Last year we awarded the winner a $50 shopping spree and a custom imprinted stein, and this year we’re doing the same plus a few more goodies to be named.
The most anticlimactic moment last year took place when the winner (from Ireland) closed his Youtube account a month or so after the contest, so his response is lost. We’re going to have to do something about that this year. Anyway, load your favorite cob, turn on your web cam and post your video. If that’s not your style, at least stop by and comment on the entries and cast your vote for the winner.
Every-other year the largest woodworking tradeshow in the USA takes place in Hotlanta GA. In my professional life I am a Corporate Trainer for a Furniture & Cabinet hardware company, and we are very busy when this show pops-up on the calendar every-other August. Speaking of that, who was the marketing genius who picked Atlanta in August? But I digress…
Despite the fact that I am never comfortable in the trade-show dress code; and despite the fact that after 4 days of walking to and from the Atlanta World Conference Center and standing for an eight hour long show until my feet (and other parts) feel like crap, I would rather be there than not.
Our industry is full of friendly, creative and business wise people who are a pleasure to know and to hang with. A couple of my “Broworkers” will be joining me pool side each evening to enjoy pipes and cigars and to laugh and reminisce.
Boy, I’m getting old. I feel like “Mr. Cunningham” heading off to the hardware convention!
I’ve been spending a lot of time in my shop this Summer, which is quite unusual. I rent a small building about a mile from my home, and because it’s not air conditioned, and because I usually have other things to keep me busy in the Summer I find that Shop Time is usually during the cooler months.
This Summer I’ve been part of a Beta test group of a neat woodworking tool, so I’ve had no choice be to literally sweat it out. The good news is the tool is cool and I’ve been enjoying myself immensely.
One of the best parts of being in the shop is that I have carte blanche to smoke my pipes and cigars until I turn green! Been enjoying my way through a huge bag of Lane 1Q in a Missouri Meerschaum Diplomat, a Gentleman and a General.
I’ll be in Hollywood FL for the week of March 22-26 and while I have a few dinner events planned, I’d love to find a nice tobacconist with a lounge where I can enjoy a leisurely bowl. Any suggestions? I’ll bring the cob. Scott
I need another blog like I need another router in my shop, but that never stopped me at Woodcraft. Mostly I wanted to join in what looks like a great community. More to come. Scott 
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