Perhaps last year, Rob Cooper mentioned in an interview of the PipesMagazineRadio podcast about how many smokes are required on a particular pipe to bring it into it's own. (100 or so from memory?) I've pondered about that theory and wondered about my collection, which is just under 80 pipes. Some get more heavy use than others and some are only smoked a handful of times annually.
I bought a Ferndown Bark in 2011 and I don't know why, but it became my "Sunday Only" pipe. It's my Sunday morning, paper and coffee pipe (always with MM965). I miss a few Sundays, due to vacation. On the past two Sundays, it struck me as to just how wonderful this pipe smokes. One match to light and minimal tamping (most with my finger). Down to a fine ash. A quick calculation shows that I've smoked this pipe now just over 300 times and its gone from very good to magical.
The 3 star sized pipe is a tad larger than is my preference (perhaps why it was deemed a Sunday only piece). The draw is typically a little "British-Tight" but passes a thin cleaner. Early on, I struggled learning exactly how to pack it and frequently, I'd get it too tight, requiring some digging with my taper tool. At some point, it just clicked and now it's automatic.
You probably noticed that I've been selling some pipes in the past six months. I have some wonderful pieces, but for some reason or another, they get used less often.
Has anyone else had this experience?
I bought a Ferndown Bark in 2011 and I don't know why, but it became my "Sunday Only" pipe. It's my Sunday morning, paper and coffee pipe (always with MM965). I miss a few Sundays, due to vacation. On the past two Sundays, it struck me as to just how wonderful this pipe smokes. One match to light and minimal tamping (most with my finger). Down to a fine ash. A quick calculation shows that I've smoked this pipe now just over 300 times and its gone from very good to magical.
The 3 star sized pipe is a tad larger than is my preference (perhaps why it was deemed a Sunday only piece). The draw is typically a little "British-Tight" but passes a thin cleaner. Early on, I struggled learning exactly how to pack it and frequently, I'd get it too tight, requiring some digging with my taper tool. At some point, it just clicked and now it's automatic.
You probably noticed that I've been selling some pipes in the past six months. I have some wonderful pieces, but for some reason or another, they get used less often.
Has anyone else had this experience?
