Dropped Brand New Pipe

[Trey_333]

Hello all,

As a relatively new pipe smoker, I'm excited to have found this space!

My sister bought me a pipe for Christmas (my second pipe, but my first relatively nice pipe), and of course I drop it on NYE and ding the bowl. I've read about steaming out dents, but with the shape and depth of the dent, and the finish of the pipe, I'm not sure if it's an option on this pipe. I just wanted to see what y'all thought. Should I worry about it, or just accept it as character and story? In the words of my friend who was with me when it happened, "I'm sure Hunter S. Thompson had some dings on his pipe, too," so, I'm trying not to let it bum me out too much, but I still hate it happened.

Thanks all!

 

[Grangerous]

They took the Bar! The whole…

 

[OzPiper]

It's purely cosmetic and will not affect how the pipe smokes

You can fill with a mixture of briar dust and wood glue, sand it flush and re-stain
The result could end up looking like a dog's dinner, unless you know what you are doing

I'd let your pipe wear that scar like a badge of honour

 

[El Capitán]

 

[ashdigger]

Tis but a scratch

 

[georged]

Since the wood fibers got cut, the "balloon 'em back out" with dampness and heat won't work. (For shallow, compression-only dings, the technique works well, though.)

Given the location, depth, pipe value, and intrinsic story-value, I'd just leave it and enjoy the flaw wabi-sabi style:

Wabi-sabi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[seanv]

That sucks. I would consider it a battle scar

 

[Briar Lee]

Hello all,

As a relatively new pipe smoker, I'm excited to have found this space!

My sister bought me a pipe for Christmas (my second pipe, but my first relatively nice pipe), and of course I drop it on NYE and ding the bowl. I've read about steaming out dents, but with the shape and depth of the dent, and the finish of the pipe, I'm not sure if it's an option on this pipe. I just wanted to see what y'all thought. Should I worry about it, or just accept it as character and story? In the words of my friend who was with me when it happened, "I'm sure Hunter S. Thompson had some dings on his pipe, too," so, I'm trying not to let it bum me out too much, but I still hate it happened.

Thanks all!View attachment 276770

View attachment 276771

Much of the dazzling beauty of your new pipe is because of modern “super finishing” that involved stains and modern varnishes.

You can’t really touch up a spot.

Get a little dab of brown shoe polish and stain that mark.

You’ll still see it, but it won’t growl at you so much.

 

[jpberg]

Beauty mark. Nothing more.

 

[Coreios]

At least its on the bottom less noticable in the hand. Still a beautiful pipe just has some story behind it now.

 

[Singularis]

I wabi-sabi’d my Randy Wiley plateau pipe a few months ago. Dropped it on the sidewalk while walking (though my foot kind of broke its fall). The few small dents on the bowl are not as bad as the chip on the button of the stem. Even so, it’s still quite usable and beautiful. I was never interested in reselling (bought it as an estate pipe to begin for under $100), so I’m not too bummed about it. That said, I feel your pain @Trey_333. Over time the scar will color and be less noticeable. Hope it gives you many fine smokes. These are the memories we cherish.

 

[mikethompson]

I would consider it as building its character. One day you will look at it and smile.

 

[LotusEater]

Rub some dirt on it and get back in the game!

 

[tracerbullet]

“It's just a flesh wound”
continue on

 

[Lees65GTO]

It's just character, it will happen again and you will get use to it.

 

[bullet08]

"It's just flesh a wound!"

 

[troutface]

Rub some oil from your nose on that dent and it will all but disappear. Smoke as usual.

 

[TakeThisCobAndStuffIt]

The AKC manual for sporting dogs says that "scars earned in honorable pursuits shall not count against the show dog." I submit that this is a battle scar that becomes part of this pipe's story. It would be a shame to me to buff it out.

 

[LeafErikson]

I love meerschaum pipes and have an affinity for the smooth finishes. You wanna know why? Over the years of smoking they will get scratched, dented, colored, and keep on puffing. The patina and wear is literally etched into the pipe itself. You’ll likely get many more scratches on that pipe as you smoke it over the years and it’ll look all the cooler for it.

 

[didimauw]

I love meerschaum pipes and have an affinity for the smooth finishes. You wanna know why? Over the years of smoking they will get scratched, dented, colored, and keep on puffing. The patina and wear is literally etched into the pipe itself. You’ll likely get many more scratches on that pipe as you smoke it over the years and it’ll look all the cooler for it.

I like the dents dings and scratches that show up just as much as I like the coloring!