I wanted to try an olivewood pipe, but, being of necessity cheap, I didn't want to spend a lot. So I ordered a Turkish-made pipe, marketed on Ebay under the name "Dapper," but stamped on the shank as ""Seimus Pfeife" for $55.
I got what I paid for: the pipe arrived with a white chalky substance coating the inside of the bowl, which I swabbed out with some Irish Whiskey. The bowl has been either unevenly drilled or unevenly "pre-carbonized;" there is a noticeable ridge about halfway down the bowl. The shank on this pipe has extremely thin walls, requiring a lot of caution when removing the stem. And the tenon showed signs of having had beeswax applied, indicating a poor (loose) fitting.
The thing came with a misshapen piece of what I think is balsa wood, jammed in the tenon, to serve as a filter; I of course immediately removed it. I loaded it with what everyone recommends for breaking in a new pipe, Carter Hall (man, I hate this stuff - I call it "The Extinguished Pipe Tobacco" (the container says "A Distinguished Pipe Tobacco") because that's what I usually do after a couple of puffs, although I do occasionally use it for blending. The pipe drew well, dry smoke, no gurgling. I certainly can't say I discerned any olivewood taste or smell (are you supposed to be able to taste olivewood?)
So, basically, I got what I paid for - teach me not to be so cheap!
I got what I paid for: the pipe arrived with a white chalky substance coating the inside of the bowl, which I swabbed out with some Irish Whiskey. The bowl has been either unevenly drilled or unevenly "pre-carbonized;" there is a noticeable ridge about halfway down the bowl. The shank on this pipe has extremely thin walls, requiring a lot of caution when removing the stem. And the tenon showed signs of having had beeswax applied, indicating a poor (loose) fitting.
The thing came with a misshapen piece of what I think is balsa wood, jammed in the tenon, to serve as a filter; I of course immediately removed it. I loaded it with what everyone recommends for breaking in a new pipe, Carter Hall (man, I hate this stuff - I call it "The Extinguished Pipe Tobacco" (the container says "A Distinguished Pipe Tobacco") because that's what I usually do after a couple of puffs, although I do occasionally use it for blending. The pipe drew well, dry smoke, no gurgling. I certainly can't say I discerned any olivewood taste or smell (are you supposed to be able to taste olivewood?)
So, basically, I got what I paid for - teach me not to be so cheap!
