Custom Pipe Expectations

[pineapples4pipes]

Hey guys, I recently received a custom pipe and was wondering what kind of expectations your would have for a $160 custom pipe.

I won't reveal the name of the maker, but i expected a higher quality pipe. The shape of the pipe wasn't exactly what I wanted, a part of the stem actually had stain on it, and there were two or three semi deep scratches on the stem.

What would you expect from an up and coming pipe maker that is becoming pretty recognizable?

Maybe a few mistakes or near perfect?

 

[drwatson]

Stem should be perfect, however wood is wood and there may be some natural flaws. I have several "custom handmade pipes" they are my favorites. But again i would expect the stem and drilling to be spot on.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I wouldn't expect what you describe and think you should tell him so. You will be helping him by telling him, because a pipe maker lives and dies by his reputation, and if he is putting out pipes like that his reputation will inevitably suffer. If I was him I would want to know.

 

[ssjones]

$160 isn't a lot for a commissioned pipe, but I don't think I would expect scratches in the stem either. My recent Bill Feurbach made Kaywoodie was in that range and the stem is nearly as nice as the one on my Castello.

 

[delkhouri]

$160 for a custom pipe is on the cheap side but if it was an estate then pretty much anything is possible. It comes down to the sellers description.
However If i received it directly from the artist I would expect it to be drilled properly and for there to be no scratches on the stem or stain where it shouldn't be. Even if it is a new/inexperienced maker I would expect it to be cosmetically without error.

 

[zack24]

At $160, most custom pipemakers are compromising materials, quality, or design...and working for about $10 an hour. There are a lot of guys making pipes with very different goals and skillsets. He might have produced a pipe at the top limit of his skills...or he might have shaved every corner to make a $160 pipe...
I think the best approach is communication- if you weren't happy with the results, talk to him. His reaction to that will tell you how he views his work and whether he hopes to build a business with happy customers...

 

[puffy]

Yes $160 is on the low end for a custom made pipe,but you should get the quality that you expect.If pipe smokers are to buy pipes unseen we must expect to get quality related to the price.If we don't we may decide to only buy pipes that we can hold in our hands and inspect before we part with our money.

 

[smokershaven]

The problem with some "up & coming" pipe makers is that they are still learning the craft and business practices. Communication is always good, and if you contact them directly if there is a problem, usually they will make it right.

 

[cigrmaster]

I would contact the maker and send it back. No excuse for deep scratches on the stem, no matter what the price.

 

[flmason]

I hope your pipe can be fixed or at least you can return it for a full refund. Hopefully the maker has a guarantee for his work.

 

[wayneteipen]

I would expect a $160 artisan made pipe to be at least as good as a $160 factory pipe which it sounds like it is not. I would contact the maker and discuss the issues. He may or may not take it well but you will be doing him a service either way.

 

[kcghost]

You get what you pay for and $160 for a commissioned hand made pipe is really cheap. I guess it can't hurt to talk to the carver but I wouldn't expect a lot. Somehow "up and coming" doesn't jive with $160.

 

[shaintiques]

I'll chime in. I am an "up and coming" if you want to call it that and I wouldn't send out a stem that is scratched, that is just laziness. And stem work is hard, it is demanding, it requires many hours of shaping and sanding, at least for me. But you can easily see any areas that are just not right. This isn't a hobby for the impatient or lazy, it requires much time, patience, and detail. And though I am new on the scene as far as custom pipes and making my own stems, I wouldn't send out anything that has the problems you are describing. That is the point, if you want to get your name out there, everything needs to be as good as it can be.
As far as the shape you wanted, since we don't know your process with him we can't judge. I draw up my shapes on the block and send pics to my buyers, they tell me what they like, what they don't. They pick color, finish, stem color, stem length, and shape. It is custom and you should be satisfied. I send pics of the pipe in process as I progress to get feedback from the buyer. $160 seems low to me as well, for the time involved, but depending on the quality of briar, size of the block, and difficulty of the shape, and alignment of the drilling, all of these would affect my costs. I'm still new at this, but say I drilled the hole a little too high some how, I wouldn't sell it, I'de give it away and start over, my quality is my future.
Let's see a pic of the pipe so we can rightly judge it.