Don't Let Me touch Your Pipes!

[Beowoulf]

I managed to break TWO pipes this morning. They were both made of Apple wood by the same pipe maker. The first one, I broke the stem off the stem extension while twisting it. (it was cool.) Here's what the headless body looks like:


And here is second one with a cracked stem extension: (I thought I heard something go "crack" while I was smoking it.)

 

[crashthegrey]

I don't want to be that guy, but it sounds like a quality issue and not a you issue.

 

[verporchting]

I don't want to be that guy, but it sounds like a quality issue and not a you issue.

This ^^^

Pipes made of briar are amazingly tough but even so they sometimes break through misadventures but I’ve always thought that cherrywood and apple, etc., might be more prone to such breakages.

Sorry for your loss brother. From the photos it appears that maybe repairs could be made to the shanks? Is that true? Might be worth pursuing if the pipes have sentimental value….

 

[dunnyboy]

The pipe maker should be able to do the repair. Worth it even if he wants to charge you.

 

[crashthegrey]

The pipe maker should be able to do the repair. Worth it even if he wants to charge you.

Two failures from the same maker, probably repaired with the same materials, prone to failure again? Honestly, I'd recommend some quality briar pipes and learning a lesson here.

 

[tklee]

The pipes look beautiful. How do they smoke like? But apple wood..... Bought from Etsy?

 

[solideogloria86]

I'm with the fellas on this one. If there's no sentimental attachment, I'd cut my losses and move on. I'd also steer clear of fruit wood pipes. They're serviceable in a pinch, but when quality briar can be had for less than $50 and quality corn cobs can be had for less than $10, just doesn't seem worth it.

 

[simong]

Oh dear, it appears that if it wasn’t for bad luck, then you’d have no luck at all. Never mind, just remember ‘briar’ for your pipes & ‘patience’ when ordering tobacco & you’ll find every day in every way will get better & better!

 

[mso489]

It seems like the wood was fragile, maybe not properly seasoned, for both of them to crack/break around the same time. I'd stick with briar, cobs, meerschaum, and clay. They break, but not very often, and usually not at more-or-less the same time. Briar is so popular because its durability is proven.

You can patch those together and smoke them for another year, if you will, but I wouldn't put more money into them.

 

[verporchting]

Years ago I wanted a longbow in fairly low poundage to rehabilitate my shoulder after an injury. A new bow made from yew or Osage was prohibitively expensive especially if it proved unworkable (it did) or if my shoulder got better so I could resume shooting with a high poundage bow (pipe dream). I bought an inexpensive bow made from less suitable wood and … yeah, it broke in a very short time. So I bought another one and … you guessed it, it broke too.

I learned that items made from woods other than the benchmarks don’t work out so well. Just my two cents worth, YMMV.

 

[mortonbriar]

Pear wood, yes that is where they break!

 

[FLDRD]

I had a pear wood pipe (Etsy) with an "extension" that broke similarly. I can use the shortened version, and do sometimes, but soon after I went with briar and won't be going back.

 

[edger]

Oh dear, it appears that if it wasn’t for bad luck, then you’d have no luck at all. Never mind, just remember ‘briar’ for your pipes & ‘patience’ when ordering tobacco & you’ll find every day in every way will get better & better!

There’s also that ol’ line: You don’t miss your water till your well runs dry. The “ thinking man” always wants a dry well.

 

[Beowoulf]

This ^^^

Pipes made of briar are amazingly tough but even so they sometimes break through misadventures but I’ve always thought that cherrywood and apple, etc., might be more prone to such breakages.

Sorry for your loss brother. From the photos it appears that maybe repairs could be made to the shanks? Is that true? Might be worth pursuing if the pipes have sentimental value….

No sentimental value... I think I am just going to let them go.

 

[Beowoulf]

The pipe maker should be able to do the repair. Worth it even if he wants to charge you.

I bought them 10 years ago from a maker in eastern Europe. I liked the unusual shapes, but I remember, at the time, I had some reservations about the quality - especially with them not being made in briar. I bought 4 different pipes and I expect them all to fail. Live and learn. (if only that were true!)

 

[Beowoulf]

The pipes look beautiful. How do they smoke like? But apple wood..... Bought from Etsy?

I bought 4 different versions of this pipe cuz I liked the look. I too was leery of the applewood. They were fairly cheap. Not sure where I found the maker ... Ebay maybe? Live and learn.

 

[FLDRD]

I bought 4 different versions of this pipe cuz I liked the look. I too was leery of the applewood. They were fairly cheap. Not sure where I found the maker ... Ebay maybe? Live and learn.

I found mine and have continued to see many on Etsy.

 

[burleybreath]

The wood is obviously not good for extensions. Not to be controversial (heaven forfend), but I say a pox on anything other than briar or cob. That includes meerschaum, which has its own pains-in-the-ass. Briar rules the pipe universe for a reason.

 

[OverMountain]

I hate to sound like a redneck, but I am one. Wrap that shank in duct tape and move out!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Don't Let Me touch Your Pipes!​

Noted...