Beyond the sum of all factors...

[LEP7cv]

Beyond the sum of all factors that are present in a pipe, which is the one or two factors that tend to weigh more on you when you decide to buy a pipe? Shape? Brand/maker? Finishing?
I, for example, am a sucker for straight billards.. but that's a phase that will probably pass a bit and change

the only way to know if a pipe is a good smoker is to try it out... or can you say that if you buy that brand "I know it's a good smoker for me"?

 

[gervais]

visually appealing.
Proper drilling.

Those are the most important to me

 

[bullet08]

Peterson.

 

[RookieGuy80]

Something smooth, bent, and with a saddle stem will get my attention. If it's 5.5"+ I start looking at prices.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

Small narrow bowl
Short stem/bit
Light weight

 

[LEP7cv]

so interesting to see what people look for

 

[proteus]

Shape, stem material, bowl diameter and depth with color being last. I only prefer lucite or acrylic bent stems. Drilling is never right for me so I always have to alter to my taste. All my petes have come 9/64 draw hole which I ream to 11/64. And the stem is 7/64 from factory which i enlarge to the bend to 9/64. Easier to maintain the ember for me with those dimensions. Trial and error for me based on the Bernoulli principle, increasing pipe diameters and effects of pressure and velocity. I started increasing diameters to gain better airflow with 1/64 increments.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

If I'm browsing through pipes, for instance, on SPC - I'm scrolling until I see a pipe that strikes me as aesthetically pleasing (shape/finish). The first specific I check is the weight. If it's over 30g my interest wanes significantly.
If the weight is acceptable I then check the OAL. If it's no longer than A HAIR over 5", we're on the right track.

So if the length and weight fall in to my desired range I'll begin dissecting the details.

 

[LEP7cv]

If I'm browsing through pipes, for instance, on SPC - I'm scrolling until I see a pipe that strikes me as aesthetically pleasing (shape/finish). The first specific I check is the weight. If it's over 30g my interest wanes significantly.
If the weight is acceptable I then check the OAL. If it's no longer than A HAIR over 5", we're on the right track.

So if the length and weight fall in to my desired range I'll begin dissecting the details.

so, you're a clencher?

 

[tobakenist]

I'm a wet smoker so have always gone for Peterson's System Standards, a full bent rustic is my preferred, I do have a collection of freehands that I occasionally smoke.

 

[Milverton1868]

I like an open draw and something that appeals to me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Clean open airway, a chamber with at minimum a 2 inch depth, and sandblasted.

 

[kcghost]

In a pipe I look at the shape, the width of the chamber, a reasonable depth to the chamber, where it is made, and a sandblast around the entire bowl.

 

[LEP7cv]

"The revealing personalities of a pipe smoker;
from the perspective of their preferences."
an ongoing thesis.​

 

[warren99]

Shape and maker, primarily.

 

[dog_park_piper]

For me, there is a question of balance when in the mouth and holding it.

Also, the button is the most important part that mentioned the least.

 

[anotherbob]

it just feels right. Like a lot of pipes but feel that pipe is for some other person to enjoy. Then I see one and it just sings to me like a siren and my bank account goes a little shallow.

 

[bobpnm]

I gravitate towards rusticated finishes. I like straight or just slightly bent. I want a comfortable stem and button for clinching. I top out at around 50 grams weight. I like the p-lip stems on older Peterson Pipes. I like smoking vulcanite stems but hate them otherwise. I usually buy pipes with acrylic stems because I’m lazy.

 

[Peter Turbo]

weight/balance is most important to me, followed by shape and stem material.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

so, you're a clencher?

Primarily, yes.