A Rumination on Thinning the Herd of your Pipes

[lawdawg]

Just sell most of them off since you undoubtedly won’t miss them. At the end of the day, they are just things. I’m no less happy with 20 pipes than I was with 50. I think collections become more of a burden than a blessing. They are fun to build but as time moves on it’s just a bunch of mostly unused crap in boxes that if sold off would free up space, pay down bills, fund the thrill of the hunt for new ones or feed the many starving children across the planet.

I've been trying to live into this for years. Every time I unburden myself of crap I don't use, I feel better for it. Most of us, myself included, are drowning in stuff. Perhaps that is a dramatic way of stating it, but it's true nonetheless.

I have maybe ten or fifteen pipes that I smoke, plus a bunch of cobs. With a basic collection that will serve the purpose of giving me enough pipes to rotate, my plan would be to only buy great pipes that I will really enjoy, and eventually just have a small collection of excellent pipes that all get smoked regularly.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

of crap I don't use,

What!!! I'm flabbergasted. Pipes aren't crap. Ha ha, I know what you meant.

I have 96 slots on my pipe rack, which are full, but I also have quite a few in drawers, other free standing racks, and some on my workbench. I like to rotate my pipes and have enough for all of the different varieties of blends I like to smoke throughout the day. I smoke 6-12 or more pipes a day, so the number makes sense to me. Also, I don't enjoy trading or selling pipes online. I have swapped a few with folks at pipe club meetings, but I totally understand that selling and trading is a part of the enjoyment of some.

Big pipes, little pipes, long pipes, short pipes, bamboo pipes, pipes pipes pipes... I love 'em, each and everyone. Some I don't even smoke, because occasionally I like top pull them out of the drawer and "ruminate" over the art and craftsmaship. So, I like to keep them around. YMMV

 

[lawdawg]

What!!! I'm flabbergasted. Pipes aren't crap. Ha ha, I know what you meant.

I have 96 slots on my pipe rack, which are full, but I also have quite a few in drawers, other free standing racks, and some on my workbench. I like to rotate my pipes and have enough for all of the different varieties of blends I like to smoke throughout the day. I smoke 6-12 or more pipes a day, so the number makes sense to me. Also, I don't enjoy trading or selling pipes online. I have swapped a few with folks at pipe club meetings, but I totally understand that selling and trading is a part of the enjoyment of some.

Big pipes, little pipes, long pipes, short pipes, bamboo pipes, pipes pipes pipes... I love 'em, each and everyone. Some I don't even smoke, because occasionally I like top pull them out of the drawer and "ruminate" over the art and craftsmaship. So, I like to keep them around. YMMV

Totally depends on your perspective here of course. In my case, a lot of stuff eventually ends up feeling like a burden, and getting rid of it feels like a weight off the shoulders. On the other hand, some people get enjoyment out of collecting things and don't feel burdened by having things they might not use.

On the practical side, of course if you like to rotate your pipes, and you smoke quite a few pipes per day, you're gonna need a lot of pipes.

 

[condorlover1]

I just send unwanted 'cutty' pipes down to @weezell and then he sends me other 'cutty' pipes. Problem solved as we have the worlds only 'Cutty' Lending Library!

 

[verporchting]

I just send unwanted 'cutty' pipes down to @weezell and then he sends me other 'cutty' pipes. Problem solved as we have the worlds only 'Cutty' Lending Library!

Yes, between the two of you guys, you’re on the cutty-ing edge of the burgeoning lending library trend. ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just send unwanted 'cutty' pipes down to @weezell and then he sends me other 'cutty' pipes. Problem solved as we have the worlds only 'Cutty' Lending Library!

Would you call my mountain lion a cutty?

 

[hauntedmyst]

Would you call my mountain lion a cutty?

View attachment 97402

It is a cutty that looks like it's being violated by the mountain lion.

 

[condorlover1]

It's a 'Cutty' pipe being dry humped by a Mountain Lion!

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's a 'Cutty' pipe being dry humped by a Mountain Lion!

It's got a heel spur but it's wide and flat.

 

[condorlover1]

It's certainly a 'Cutty' pipe, no doubt about that my friend, just a bit fancy for my tastes but then I am a man with no taste whatsoever! How big is that one?

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's certainly a 'Cutty' pipe, no doubt about that my friend, just a bit fancy for my tastes but then I am a man with no taste whatsoever! How big is that one?

My biggest pipe.

 

[condorlover1]

@chasingembers: Jeez that's huge as the Nun said to the Vicar!

 

[scloyd]

I've been trying to live into this for years. Every time I unburden myself of crap I don't use, I feel better for it. Most of us, myself included, are drowning in stuff. Perhaps that is a dramatic way of stating it, but it's true nonetheless.

I have maybe ten or fifteen pipes that I smoke, plus a bunch of cobs. With a basic collection that will serve the purpose of giving me enough pipes to rotate, my plan would be to only buy great pipes that I will really enjoy, and eventually just have a small collection of excellent pipes that all get smoked regularly.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

My collection of ~60 pipes is back to being considered "moderate" for today.

 

[didimauw]

That's the funniest truest and greatest video I've ever seen in my entire life. Thank you. If you have ever heard my wife talk about "MY stuff" you'd understand. Hahahahaha

 

[cigrmaster]

My biggest pipe.

View attachment 97418

Damn Chasing that is a big boy. I hope it smokes great for you. I bet people would be surprised how light that pipe actually is considering the size of it.

 

[Misanthrope]

As far as I'm concerned, the correct number of pipes to own is the number of pipes that speak to you, and the correct number of pipes to keep in active rotation is the number of pipes you're willing to actively smoke. I've got 40-something that speak to me, but only a couple are actually out on my shelf at any given time, and the rest are boxed up and out of the way. Keeps things visually tidy, and if I get bored, I rotate out a new set of pipes.

I don't really use big racks, so Empty Spot Syndrome doesn't affect me. I've got a 2-pipe leather rack with a place for lighters and tools for my active rotation, a 5-pipe leather rack, and a giant pile of single-pipe leather stands. They all match, but the only one that's actually out on display is the 2-pipe rack. If I ever get a display cabinet or something, I'll put it all out on display, but otherwise the out-of-rotation pipes do just fine hibernating in their storage tubs.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I bet people would be surprised how light that pipe actually is considering the size of it.

Yep, just 7.10 oz./201.28 g. Only a tiny bit heavier than my Kenan skull.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well that's now! Wait a few years of smoking and it will have gained quite a bit of weight (and color)

 

[Chasing Embers]

Well that's now! Wait a few years of smoking and it will have gained quite a bit of weight (and color)

The skull was bone white when purchased and I haven't noticed any discernable weight gain. Then again, without dentures, I can clench a 9 ounce Moretti.