Lessons Of The Newb (OVERLY WORDY!!)

[pipebaum81]

Nate, thanks for sharing your pipe journey with us. Thank you for putting yourself out there for both detractors and congratulators to comment on. Deep thinkers and insightful post is why I am here. Very often it is your avatar offering these very things. Again, much thanks.

“but now as time moves forward, I'm VERY happy with my choice!!!”

For me this sums up your post and in the end is the only thing that really matters. Knowing that pipe collecting, smoking, and briar brotherhood has moved your life closer to happiness is what is important. If doing these things don’t bring you happiness than it’s time to find something that will. Own your voyage, understand it and benefit from it.
Wordy is only applicable if the ample words used are wasted. This is not the case. Topnotch thread, my man. :clap:

 

[uncleblackie]

Wow, thank you trailboss. You seem like a guy I could have a cup of coffee with.
I really was not intending to offend you Nate. My apologies.

 

[pruss]

What's the old addage? Opinions are like assholes... everyone has one. Go at whatever pace you feel like going, do whatever it is you feel like doing. Heck, if you decide in four weeks to liquidate all your pipes, tobacco, and paraphernalia because you want to take up World of Warcraft full time... that's your prerogative.
I, for one, am glad you've found something that captures your imagination and makes you feel good. Pipes, pipe collecting, tobacco tasting and smoking and this fun little community of online pipe-nerds does that for me too.
I don't know what it is to have your kind of empty time, Nate; and I don't know what I'd do with it if I did. I do know that I think you're clearly putting energy into a thing which makes you happy, and there isn't anything wrong with that.
That Rasmussen is wonderful.
$0.05 in the bucket.
-- Pat

 

[stvalentine]

Although there is a lot of truth in UncleBlackies remarks I can fully understand you Nate! That´s exactly how I did and do things: Total immersion! I knew a lot of guys who had a hobby for ten years and knew less than I knew about the topic in ten days. This is how I like it - head in first and 24/7 researching and having fun!
Go for it Nate! :clap:

 

[pipebaum81]

What's the old addage? Opinions are like assholes... everyone has one.

....and they all stink." Most important part of that quote.... :wink:

 

[voorhees]

Nate, been reading your posts and unfortunately we did not get to meet at the pipe event at The Briary, I suspect your immersion into the hobby is a lot like many of us. Most of us are not johnny-come-lately and have been smoking(cigars/pipes/etc.) for some time. My own smoking journey started with cigars at 16 and progressed. When I took an interest in pipes(at age 40)it was by chance and I found myself involved in an interest I loved just as I had with my love of cars and automobilia decades before.

If you are enjoying your journey, do it. Buy what makes you happy and happy puffing. ::

 

[iamn8]

I sincerely appreciate all the responses!! I know people say that often but I really do.
Uncleblack, apology accepted. Had you been spot on I'dve said so. Just took it personally and at a bad time. We're good.
Yeah Vorhees, I got there but didn't know how to ID anyone. Had I happen to have been more cheerful that day I'd've made an announcement asking for forum people lol
In addition to collecting pipes I collect exotic composites and metals which I keep in my body cavity including a copper BB donated by my little brother when I was a kid. Pretty huh?

 

[indianafrank]

iamn8, If it feels good do it. If you LOVE it, do it. You don't need the validation from forum members.
It's not about others. it's about making ourselves happy, especially if it fly's in the face of what others believe.

 

[Waning Embers]

All I see is the euphoria of discovering the hobby that all of us felt when we started this hobby. Do things about it change? Of course. When I first picked up the pipe, I liked shiny nice grained offerings with high grade tobacco such as Balkan Sobranie ( which I still love). Now, I like gnarly freehands with blast finishes, and have a newly blooming love for codger blends (smoking Sugar Barrel in a Ben Wade as I type this). My point is, is that pipesmoking is an ongoing journey of learning and change. Nate jumped in with guns a blazin', but didn't most of us?
Duane

 

[rcstan]

Do what you like. Like what you do. Like the others said, your tastes will change. Pipes are a lot easier to move than baccy, and, unless you bought them new, you'd be able to recoup most of the investment.

Two years ago I was all about Petersons and Lat blends. Then I found Peter Heeschen and Lakeland blends. Then I learned how to properly smoke and apppreciate straight Virginias, and bought my first Shell Briar. Now I still love my Lakelands and Latakia on occasion, but I traded/sold most my Petes and Heeschens, and working on acquiring a seven day set of smallish Group 3 Shells ( three down, four to go ).

Since I restore pipes day in day out at SPC I don't even get excited about them unless it's either something that fits my style, or something truly unique. Guess that's what happens when a few thousand of them go through one's hands.

Speaking of, where did you get that Kent? I remember having my hands on a couple some while ago, and I can see some tell-tale signs of my ( or someone using a very similar technique ) restorations ....

 

[iamn8]

Thanks Stan! Couldn't agree more! The Kent Rasmussen was purchased through eBay seller Treasurepipes. I've bought MANY of my best pipes through him. Pipe restorer huh? Very interesting position, how do you like it?

 

[rcstan]

Nate,

I honestly enjoy what I do and looking forward to doing it for a long, long time. It's starting to turn into a calling of sorts.

Is this your pipe here ?

 

[iamn8]

Damn stan that's awesome!!! And yes!!! That is my pipe!!!!! I didn't buy it from them, but all be damned that's it!!! I read the description and had the same reaction to this pipe!!! That's too funny!! Did you write that or did you work on it?

 

[rcstan]

Nate
I/we haven't had that many Kents come through. My colleague and I do the resto work, and I write most of the "what happened to the pipe since it was new" part, commonly known as the condition statement. Once it leaves restoration, the pipe gets photographed and in some cases video taped, and someone else does the write-up paragraph, then it makes it to the website.
Now your pipe has provenance, and perhaps it adds to the cool factor. As for the original condition statement, that basically means the previous owner was adamant about lighting up that last little bit of dottle at the bottom......

 

[iamn8]

I really appreciate that link! You're correct, knowing the provenance is pretty cool!! Is there a way for me to find out when it sold and what the asking price was? Just curious. Yall do some serious photography over there! far more thorough than any other site I've ever seen.

I'm guessing that for those members of the pipe community, finding a real career in it is exceedingly difficult! Congrats on your gig!!! Handling so many pipes must make pick your own quite difficult? I'd be curious as to what your personal collection contains. Most people's evolve over time, but it would seem that yours went through a very rapid evolution having handled so many.

Thanks again for the info and that link! This is my first ever pipe with a "folder" lol

 

[Waning Embers]

Very cool pipe. Never have seen a volcano executed like that though. Myself, I would have called it a very stylized bent brandy. Very beautiful Nate!

 

[iamn8]

Thanks CM! Photos don't do it just. They rarely do. I honestly can't conceive of a more beautiful pipe. My new S Bang arrives tomorrow. For the first time since I began collecting there are no pipes on my radar. I believe I've reached end on the pipe front. There are many out there that are beautiful, but none I feel I must own. I'm quite content with what I've bought. Weird huh?

 

[allan]

Nate
I really enjoy reading your posts and watching you travel the journey.
I'm very conservative in my purchases because from experience, I've watched my passion change with the change in the breeze and be left with $$$ of now useless stuff.
But, it simply does not matter which way you go, as long as your bills are paid and you are not going to get evicted. LOL
That Rasmussen pipe is gorgeous, and S Bang is on my list to obtain.
My new quest is to stop buying quantity and consolidate to quality, at least what I would determine as quality.
Enjoy

 

[Waning Embers]

Nate, I thought my PAD was satisfied with my most recent Weaver commission.
http://pipesmagazine.com/members/chasingembers/album/picture/15308
http://pipesmagazine.com/members/chasingembers/album/picture/15309
PAD just keeps coming back though. 8O

 

[iamn8]

Allan, thank you! I'm having a great time with this journey! The wonderful thing about eBay and purchasing great price at a great price is that if you decide it isn't the right pipe it's easy to then sell them. In this last week I sold a few Dunhills to cover the cost of the Kent. I didn't lose a single penny. I sold them here on the forum. I'd be approaching pipes and their acquisition very differently otherwise. The S Bang arriving Monday is my third. As I said above, there aren't any other pipes on my radar for the first time since I began. I don't have own a single pipe I'd trade or sell. Now it's time to smoke and find my place on the tobacco end. Till now, there was always a "dream pipe" I aspired to, but with what I have now, combined with my Michael Parks commission which I'm calling The Montana Pipe, I'm good. No more pipes in my near future. This Kent, the S Bang, and the Montana marks the end of my pipe collecting for quite awhile. This is how I always work. My other passion, Astrophotography went along a similar path. I went through a few telescopes before finding my Paramount MX+, Takahashi FSQ106, and QSI683. Once I find what I feel is the best I care to own... I stop. Are there more expensive pipes and/or telescopes I'd love to have? Well telescopes go into the hundreds or thousands and as far as pipes go, there are many other high end pipes I love. However they are simply beyond what I can afford and what I care about. For my money, the astrophotography setup and now my pipes, I have all I wanted. The end. :wink: