Things Fall Apart And Pipes

Ok, so I have been doing some custom jewelry designs for the owner for The Briary, and I wanted to swap work for a pipe that had just come in. It was a Mark Tinsky tan blast bent bulldog. A lovely little thing with some other unidentified wood added to the stummel. The colors are gorgeous, so I made the swap.


Ahhh, isn't she gorgeous? As soon as I got in my truck, I packed her half full of some Sterling Balkan, set fire to leaf, and drove off into a wonderful smoking experience. The pipe hangs just right, and I had already forgotten that she was in my clench by the time I got to the grocers to get what needed getting. I sat in the truck finishing my smoke and drifting off into some CCR thumps and grinds. And, so I just sat it down in the rack I keep all of my resting driving pipes in, and I headed off to fill my girlfriend's list of food stuffs.
When I get back to the truck, I am already salivating and wanting that Tinsky girl back in my clench, but as I went to pick it up, it just fell apart. This rush of sadness came over me, like watching a child get hit by a truck right before your eyes came over me. And, this unknown liquid stuff was filling my eyes, making everything blurry. What is this feeling? I just sat and looked at it.

I called Skip, The Briary guy, and he calmed me down and told me that he would make things right. Apparently the heat made the briar expand and crack, which cracked the unknown wood, making it all fall apart. Skip went into great detail about his apprehensions of using these "other" woods in pipes. He assured me that Mark would make this all right, and if it wasn't to my satisfaction, he would let me pick another pipe.
Before you judge me for leaving my pipe in the truck, I've been doing this for years with no ill effects; however, this is my first pipe to have this layered extra wood thing on it. However, it seems that briar cracked first is our summation. Crap happens. Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and cracked briars. It doesn't make me feel better about it, but what can you do?
Anyways, that's the gist of it. :::sigh::: Now, to just wait to see how it pans out. It is wonderful to have a pipe shop that cares and pipe makers who understand. Now, it's my turn to understand. I just hope that if it has to be replaced, Mark can make me one very similar.
OK, carry on... ::

Ranger, I have boxes of antlers, but I'd hate to get too demanding on Mr Tinsky.

I'm not sure what wood this is. I'm not much of a wood expert.
It just amazes me that it must have rode in an non-air-conditioned truck all the way to The Briary, and waited till I had thoroughly fell in love with it before... It's just unthinkable.

Thanks guys, I just dropped off the injured pipe, and Mark has already responded to Skip, and I hope to have a new pipe soon. Hopefully it will be as beautiful as this one. I listened to a long list of possible scenerios that it could have been from the delron tenon to the glue, to the briar, to the spalted maple. I learn so much every time I set foot in The Briary. Good folks!

Thanks!

I've been anxious to try a Tinsky, so far my one smoke was awesome. I'm pretty confident that it will be just as awesome in the replacement.

Word from Tinsky, he isn't sure how this happened... Um, I told him how it happened. Your customer service sucks, buddy.

He can only offer me a smooth bulldog to replace this one, because he doesn't do his own blasting. Umm, I took a look at his smooths, no thanks. I have boxes of 100 year old smooth bulldogs of every shape and size, and they all smoke wonderful. Just send me back the broken pipe, and I will fix it myself. :::sigh::: I should have just fixed it to begin with. Live, learn.
Skip is feeling like he is in the middle on this, but I will say that The Briary has gone above and beyond, even offering me store credit. But, I don't want just any ol' pipe. I have racks and racks of the damn things, so I am getting picky about what I add to the collection. Besides, I trust my own fixes on things these days. I don't trust other people to tinker for me.
I just really loved the look of this pipe, and the first and only bowl smoked great. I could care less who the mark on it belongs too. Just cause it says Tinsky mean beans to me.
edit - I even offered to pay for all of the shipping charges both ways, just to get the thing back and the whole debacle over with.

I will enjoy tinkering with it :wink: In the last message, he has offered me a discount on another Tinsky pipe. I'm sure he's a great guy. I don't mean to sound like I'm bashing him. I respect all artisans of all mediums. They work hard for barely a living wage. I will keep an open mind on any other pipes that I see by him, but I'm picky. Like I said, I'm not going for volume of pipes, I'm looking for beauty :D