After years of buying pipes with not much thought put into it, I finally established a set of criteria that I follow before I pull the trigger on a new or estate pipe. I smoke flake tobacco exclusively so I buy my pipes based upon how well I think a particular pipe will smoke my flakes. I have finally stopped buying pipes that are too big and too heavy for my smoking style and for the tobacco I smoke.
I am a clencher so trying to clench an 80 gram pipe is just too uncomfortable. Smoking flakes in large group 6's and larger just does not work for me as it can take 3 plus hours to get through one bowl and by the time I am done the tobacco becomes bitter. So I finally figured out what I should be looking for when I buy a pipe.
First thing is the shape of the pipe. I have found that I really enjoy the following shapes for my flakes. Dublins, Apples,Billiards,Rhodesians,Brandy's,Cherrywoods and Lovats.
I then set up a weight limit for my pipes, no more than 55 grams for a straight and no more than 60 for a bent. My sweet spot is right around 45-50. I then figured out that I only like to have vulcanite stems on my pipes, no more acrylic as it is just too hard on my teeth. I also only want a hand cut stem made of the highest quality German vulcanite as it is more comfortable, it makes the pipe smoke better, it is easier to keep clean and it does not stink like the lower quality vulcanite can.
I also like the button to be of a certain shape and style. I am not sure what shape style it is called but I know it when I see it.
Next up are the dimensions of my pipes. I only buy pipes that are either group 4 or 5, 3 is too small, 6 is too big. I want the inside bowl depth to be no greater than 1.75 inches, inside diameter to be no greater than 13/16 and bowl height to be no more than 2”. I then figured out that I like my pipes to have a shank dimension of 4.0 to 4.3 mm. I find they smoke nice and dry and they practically smoke themselves. Next is the length of my pipes, if it is a straight pipe nothing more than 6.5 inches as anything more seems awkward.
Next up is the finish of the pipe, I really like the look and feel of a sandblasted pipe that has a reaally nice blast on it. I had my years of chasing perfect straight grain but learned I cannot smoke grain, so I do not chase that anymore.
This criteria I have set up has only been in effect for the last 2.5 years, basically since I bought my first Rad Davis pipe on August 5th 2012, that pipe changed how I viewed pipes from that point on. I wanted all my pipes to smoke like that first Rad so I had to figure out what it was about that pipe that made it smoke so good. Some if it was because of the quality of the briar he uses, but most of it was because of the size, shape, construction, dimensions of the pipe. I now own 30 artisan made pipes and love them all. Yes there were a couple of misses even with my criteria, but that is way better that what I was doing before. I was smoking some really nice pipes before I set up my criteria with some of them being even more expensive than what I buy now, but not a one smokes as good or is as comfortable as the pipes I smoke today.
So have any of you established a set of criteria when it comes to buying your pipes. I have been at this 15 years and been through tons of different pipes but I have never been happier with my collection than I am right now. I finally put some real thought into how I buy a pipe and how that pipe will smoke my favorite blends.
I am a clencher so trying to clench an 80 gram pipe is just too uncomfortable. Smoking flakes in large group 6's and larger just does not work for me as it can take 3 plus hours to get through one bowl and by the time I am done the tobacco becomes bitter. So I finally figured out what I should be looking for when I buy a pipe.
First thing is the shape of the pipe. I have found that I really enjoy the following shapes for my flakes. Dublins, Apples,Billiards,Rhodesians,Brandy's,Cherrywoods and Lovats.
I then set up a weight limit for my pipes, no more than 55 grams for a straight and no more than 60 for a bent. My sweet spot is right around 45-50. I then figured out that I only like to have vulcanite stems on my pipes, no more acrylic as it is just too hard on my teeth. I also only want a hand cut stem made of the highest quality German vulcanite as it is more comfortable, it makes the pipe smoke better, it is easier to keep clean and it does not stink like the lower quality vulcanite can.
I also like the button to be of a certain shape and style. I am not sure what shape style it is called but I know it when I see it.
Next up are the dimensions of my pipes. I only buy pipes that are either group 4 or 5, 3 is too small, 6 is too big. I want the inside bowl depth to be no greater than 1.75 inches, inside diameter to be no greater than 13/16 and bowl height to be no more than 2”. I then figured out that I like my pipes to have a shank dimension of 4.0 to 4.3 mm. I find they smoke nice and dry and they practically smoke themselves. Next is the length of my pipes, if it is a straight pipe nothing more than 6.5 inches as anything more seems awkward.
Next up is the finish of the pipe, I really like the look and feel of a sandblasted pipe that has a reaally nice blast on it. I had my years of chasing perfect straight grain but learned I cannot smoke grain, so I do not chase that anymore.
This criteria I have set up has only been in effect for the last 2.5 years, basically since I bought my first Rad Davis pipe on August 5th 2012, that pipe changed how I viewed pipes from that point on. I wanted all my pipes to smoke like that first Rad so I had to figure out what it was about that pipe that made it smoke so good. Some if it was because of the quality of the briar he uses, but most of it was because of the size, shape, construction, dimensions of the pipe. I now own 30 artisan made pipes and love them all. Yes there were a couple of misses even with my criteria, but that is way better that what I was doing before. I was smoking some really nice pipes before I set up my criteria with some of them being even more expensive than what I buy now, but not a one smokes as good or is as comfortable as the pipes I smoke today.
So have any of you established a set of criteria when it comes to buying your pipes. I have been at this 15 years and been through tons of different pipes but I have never been happier with my collection than I am right now. I finally put some real thought into how I buy a pipe and how that pipe will smoke my favorite blends.
