I usually use one ring per day when I'm smoking mine, but I like my tobacco pretty dry.
^^^^^I meant that to read $200aud.After every bowl I run a pipe cleaner through, clean out the metal reservoir & replace the ring.
The rings are easy to make from pipe cleaners. While watching TV I make a heap of them at a time.
@maulragoth I'm a fan of metal pipes. Most of mine are Falcon estates because they're really easy to refurbish when they're undamaged.
Although I'd love to have a Kirsten, a Sitter in particular, they're just so expensive. With the cost of the pipe, U.S. duty + postage, even standard estates work out at $200usd.
Most of my pipes have been bought local or from the U.K. & Europe. I've yet to see a Kirsten for sale outside of the U.S.
I hear you on the prices. Took me a lot of PAD, but eventually after months of jonesing, and after watching many Kirstens go for almost or better than you can order a new one on auctions, I finally broke down and bought a black designer, extra bowl, and mouth piece. I have yet to smoke it (I am afraid I'll scratch it's black body - anyone that does that dies btw =). However, the biggest reason I never smoke the black one is that I won this auction on a silver designer and it is OUTSTANDING!After every bowl I run a pipe cleaner through, clean out the metal reservoir & replace the ring.
The rings are easy to make from pipe cleaners. While watching TV I make a heap of them at a time.
@maulragoth I'm a fan of metal pipes. Most of mine are Falcon estates because they're really easy to refurbish when they're undamaged.
Although I'd love to have a Kirsten, a Sitter in particular, they're just so expensive. With the cost of the pipe, U.S. duty + postage, even standard estates work out at $200usd.
Most of my pipes have been bought local or from the U.K. & Europe. I've yet to see a Kirsten for sale outside of the U.S.
Very nice. That's exactly the type of Kirsten that would do me just fine. But, add on O/S postage + duty, that would be around $270aud. Way more than I'm prepared to spend.I hear you on the prices. Took me a lot of PAD, but eventually after months of jonesing, and after watching many Kirstens go for almost or better than you can order a new one on auctions, I finally broke down and bought a black designer, extra bowl, and mouth piece. I have yet to smoke it (I am afraid I'll scratch it's black body - anyone that does that dies btw =). However, the biggest reason I never smoke the black one is that I won this auction on a silver designer and it is OUTSTANDING!
That was a fairly decent price, but the price did of course get shot up at the end on me. It's clean as a whistle, smokes awesome, hangs excellent, sits wonderfully, and cleans up sooo easily. Just a beautiful system. It was still pricey for me, but this is the one I smoke, and the black one, I just keep eyeballing for it's beauty.
View attachment 20221 ORDER DATE
Dec 04, 2017
ORDER TOTAL
US $138.49
+ US $6.65
shipping
Order Rare Kirsten { Designer Series } Estate Pipe
The ring doesn't act as a filter. It just absorbs moisture and tar. It makes cleaning a bit easier.I'm still smoking my falcon without the dry ring, it's become my daily smoke, I'm liking the unfiltered taste.
I see what you mean by keeping it for display. That's a beauty alright.
Glad you like it as well, I have sat with it through quite a few movies false puffing already. It's nice for that since I cannot smoke in that area. Can't encourage you enough to get yourself one. Christmas in July?I see what you mean by keeping it for display. That's a beauty alright.
That meerschaum bowl and the swirly mouth piece suit it so well.
Does the briar bowl fit the other sitter?
That meerschaum bowl would be a permanent fixture on the black stem.
BINGO! That is why I use them...The problem without the ring is that if you tip the bowl back at all the goo will come down the stem to your mouth.
That's good to know, thanks. I've read a little on the differences between the early versions to the later ones [but was still confused, lol]Glad you like it as well, I have sat with it through quite a few movies false puffing already. It's nice for that since I cannot smoke in that area. Can't encourage you enough to get yourself one. Christmas in July?
All of the parts are interchangeable, especially among the same size bodies. You can swap any combo of mouthpiece, valve (standing tip piece), body, or bowls. Kirsten has 3 basic body sizes that are straight, 3 that are bent somewhat, and 2 sitters.
The mouthpieces are somewhat going to be limited in swapping determined by the body length. (Example: a short mouthpiece is not going to be as useful at putting a tissue though as the proper size, and a longer mouthpiece on a short pipe might not work at all because the ramrod would stick through. Also, there are 3 generations of Kirstens. I am not sure about all of them being interchangeable retroactively. I've stayed away from any gen 1 models because the newer parts are better in my opinion (they have o-rings that are very helpful, and gen 1 versions do not).
That's a great price, better pull the trigger on that set.That's good to know, thanks. I've read a little on the differences between the early versions to the later ones [but was still confused, lol]
Yeah, as I said, I'd love a Kirsten but they're just too expensive. [If any member here has a spare Kirsten & would like to trade for 2 or 3 NOS antique briars, shoot me a PM]
The beauty of metal pipes like Kirsten and Falcon pipes is that one can take one pipe & several bowls when away from home.
I've been eyeing this Falcon with 3 Meerschaum bowl set. They're $199usd [+duty +postage] but just got an offer from the seller for $140. I'm getting an itchy trigger finger.
View attachment 20500
Yes it is a fair price but once postage and duty are added, it works out at around $300aud.That's a great price, better pull the trigger on that set.