I recently received a new $132 pipe. On inspection I noticed some small, dark, needle point sized, shallow pock marks as well as other small indentations and marks. Some of the spots look like dents, others look like part of the wood under the finish. Ultimately it’s up to me what is tolerable, but I’m curious about what the flaw expectation is on a pipe at this price point. Pictures included are most, but not all of the flaws. Am I scrutinizing too much?
Is there an Expected Level of Cosmetic Flaw in a New Pipe?
- Thread starter Bivymack
- Start date
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In a word, yes you are scrutinizing too much but its up to everyone what they will live with. $132 is still a pretty reasonable price for a pipe and some minor flaws are to be expected. That looks like a couple of minor sand pits and are nothing to worry about. Really, it's only when you get into the mid to higher end hand made that you shouldn't expect any "flaws" so to speak but briar is a natural product that grows in sandy soil and is loaded with flaws. That is why flawless pipes are so rare. Most of the time, higher end pipes rusticate and/or sandblast to hide flaws and do it well.
At that price level, minor pitting and fills are normal, I've ve even seen fills on Savinelli Punto Oros. Once you go above $500 and even into 4 plus digits, that's where you're the most likely to find flawless pieces.
That same pipe, if it were rusticated or sandblasted, might cost $10-$20 less and you wouldn't notice thale flaws but technically they'd still be there. They just wouldn't be considered flaws.
I buy "flawed" pipes all the time. Flaws are the difference between an excellent $300 pipe and an excellenter(?) $600 pipe.
I buy "flawed" pipes all the time. Flaws are the difference between an excellent $300 pipe and an excellenter(?) $600 pipe.
I appreciate the thoughtful reply. Honestly I’m relieved because I’ve had my eye on this pipe for a while and was quite excited to get it!
Those types of flaws, likely sand pits that couldn't be worked out, are reasonably common in Italian factory pipes. I've seen small flaws in $500 plus Castellos. Their view is great grain trumps a few almost undetectable flaws. These Castellos left the sand pits, they didn't fill them.
With that said, if you're dissatisfied with the pipe, I would think the vendor would refund your money as long as you haven't smoked the pipe. I'd rather they leave the sand pits than put in fills. Once the pipe darkens with longer term use, those fills will be more evident. I'd return it if it were mine.
With that said, if you're dissatisfied with the pipe, I would think the vendor would refund your money as long as you haven't smoked the pipe. I'd rather they leave the sand pits than put in fills. Once the pipe darkens with longer term use, those fills will be more evident. I'd return it if it were mine.
With upper end pipes (>$500) a sandblasted or rusticated finish can often be had at a considerable saving (>30%) over a smooth, unblemished finish in the same shape.
A no-brainer if you're after a "smoker" rather than a "statement or collectible" piece.
A no-brainer if you're after a "smoker" rather than a "statement or collectible" piece.
That's minutiae. If you drop the pipe on the pavement you're likely to end up with a greater flaw than those.
Sand pits always better than fills. However, as a sandblast enthusiast, sandblasted pipes alleviate the concern and, if you get some cascading ring grain the pipe is even more beautiful than if it were smooth. YMMV
I think of the $130 range of pipes as being introductory pipes. I wouldn't fret over it. You're lucky if it was even drilled correctly, IMO.
I'll second what the others have said. At that price, with a smooth finish, you should expect a couple fills. Fills on pipes in that price range are the standard, really. If the briar was perfect and had no pits, then it would be finished and sold as a higher priced pipe.
That's part of the reason that I like blast finishes on pipes in that price range - no need for a fill.
That's part of the reason that I like blast finishes on pipes in that price range - no need for a fill.
I pretty much agree with all that's been said above. Sand pits and other small irregularities have no effect on the smoking properties of a pipe.
At the price point of the OP's pipe, it's reasonable to expect some surface flaws. Briar is sold at different price points depending upon how it's graded, add "x" amount of manufacturing cost, labor, materials, maintenance, etc, plus mark up, so one is not paying for the finest of anything.
You could expect the drilling to be spot on since it's done by machine, with a minimum of handwork, no more than a few minutes, tops, and a molded stem. The result would be perfectly serviceable.
At the price point of the OP's pipe, it's reasonable to expect some surface flaws. Briar is sold at different price points depending upon how it's graded, add "x" amount of manufacturing cost, labor, materials, maintenance, etc, plus mark up, so one is not paying for the finest of anything.
You could expect the drilling to be spot on since it's done by machine, with a minimum of handwork, no more than a few minutes, tops, and a molded stem. The result would be perfectly serviceable.
I'm a little more mixed on this that previous posts. The flaws you circle in the photos are minor, but more something I'd accept in a house pipe in the forty to sixty dollar range, and if I were buying in person, I might pass on the flaws and see if there was one with fewer or no conspicuous flaws. I have bought quite a few new pipes around the one hundred dollar point, and few have flaws that apparent. I'd keep the pipe if it is a good smoker, but I'd expect a little better, and buy the next pipe or two in person to get a better pick, if that's possible. What brand pipe is that?
If it doesn't bother you then smoke it and enjoy. If it does bother you then send it back (assuming you haven't smoked it).
It’s a Savinelli Impero 321. I’ve got a 320 and love it, wanted something smaller for a quicker smoke.
Fit and finish are always important aspects when I'm deciding to buy. Are the flaws sufficient to preclude a purchase? That would be a decision I'd have to make each time I find a possible purchase. The more expensive the pipe the more the flaws will affect my decision. I'm in possession of pipes which have pits, maybe a fill or two. The price was right everything else considered, fit and finish, how it fits my fist, etc. so I walked out with a new pipe to be test smokes a few times.
I've been buying Savinelli pipes for about forty years. I even won one in the pipes magazine/smoking pipes cartoon caption contest of yore. In general, I've found them to be high quality including but not only in the cosmetics. One or two have fills, but these are unfinished pipes sold as seconds, that have colored beautifully hiding the fills. The first line pipes have always been free of conspicuous flaws. I'd keep the pipe for its good smoking traits, but buy others in person, if possible, or inspect them on arrival otherwise. Most Savs have minimal inconspicuous flaws if any.