How Long Does It Take To Get Just The Right Pipe?

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The Clay King

(Formerly HalfDan)
Oct 2, 2018
6,368
60,678
42
Chesterfield, UK
www.youtube.com
So far I could make everything work for me, I mean life itself is one hell of a bitch. It's upon me to find what works out and what doesn't.
And the easiest way to do this is to adapt, to make things work for me. A briar when I want to chill and get in on calmly, a clay for when I really want to get it on and set the world on fire which is most of the time.
I still try to teach myself a slow and proper sip all the way through. But that's me, not the pipe.

A pipe is to be handled, I'm not gonna be handled by it or anything else. It's my tool, I'm not its tool.
And there's a proper tool for every occasion.
@Chaukisch I don't want to set the world on fire all the time:)
 
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cigrmaster

Lifer
May 26, 2012
20,248
57,310
67
Sarasota Florida
It took years, changes in tastes, and then falling in love with certain artisans. It is a journey that I don't believe you can predict where you may go the longer you keep smoking.
I finally figured out the dimensions of the pipes I believed would smoke my flakes and plugs as best as possible. I now own all group 4 and 5 sized pipes with a couple of group 6's thrown in. Most all of my pipes I can take a flake, fold it and stuff it and it fits perfectly. My big boys I usually only smoke ready rubbed or wrap around flakes in and I get a good 2 hours plus of smoking pleasure.

I also learned over the 20 plus years I have been at it that for me it is a matter of quality over quantity. I had over 90 plus pipes not long ago and did a major culling and now have the best 38 pipes from that collection with most being American made commissions from my favorite carvers.
 

cigrmaster

Lifer
May 26, 2012
20,248
57,310
67
Sarasota Florida
never there is no perfect pipe. There is only the perfect pipe for the perfect moment. Kind of like perfect bathwater.
Bob, I respectfully disagree. I have the perfect pipe for many of my favorite blends. They consistently smoke great and I know what I am going to get each time I light up.
 

HawkeyeLinus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2020
5,933
42,469
Iowa
When I started getting commissions.

Too many factory and pre-made artisan pieces let me down but I've been very satisfied with the ones I've requested.

Were I to pick favorites out of the lot though, it would have to be this one for briar.

View attachment 179135


And this one for meerschaum.

View attachment 179136

I agree that perfect is situational - for "perfect", my first Christmas commission from a couple of years ago, an homage to A Christmas Carol turned out fantastic and on that one I started with a ring I saw on Etsy made out of a British half crown and basically turned "J.Everett" loose with a general idea of shape and stem, it's a nice chunk of Christmas to me, so for the season, it's just the right pipe. Decided I'd like another Christmas pipe, so number 2 is well underway - this one was a little more shape specific and the theme is Christmas goodies - loving his choice of material for the stem which (to me) will harken to some peanut brittle or nutty caramels, and I think the holly that is on there may have come from his backyard. Getting a little excited about it!
D93E3C71-D55B-41D8-83C3-0F79E4578305.jpeg
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,544
121,052
I agree that perfect is situational - for "perfect", my first Christmas commission from a couple of years ago, an homage to A Christmas Carol turned out fantastic and on that one I started with a ring I saw on Etsy made out of a British half crown and basically turned "J.Everett" loose with a general idea of shape and stem, it's a nice chunk of Christmas to me, so for the season, it's just the right pipe. Decided I'd like another Christmas pipe, so number 2 is well underway - this one was a little more shape specific and the theme is Christmas goodies - loving his choice of material for the stem which (to me) will harken to some peanut brittle or nutty caramels, and I think the holly that is on there may have come from his backyard. Getting a little excited about it!
View attachment 182024
View attachment 182025
He sent me these last week.

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