NOS ST Claude Bruyere SPC
- Thread starter tbradsim1
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Late flash, smoked extra hot, varnish about 1/8 of an inch below left rim bubbled. Sanded it down with 1800 sandpaper, smoked it again, but I believe I wasted 55$. Down the road I hope I am wrong but I don't believe.
Thank you! I was definitely warming to one of the slightly larger versions of the $45 billiard, and I was going to prompt newbies building their rotations to get one of these. It's possible that it's just one or a few of the pipes with problems, but also possible that they all tend to. By the time you're having to sand bubbled varnish, this is probably not a pipe you want, if you know that in advance. Many small and/or thin bowled pipes burn a little hot and have to be held by the shank from time to time, but they don't cook their finish. I hope yours settles down and proves serviceable, but thank you very much for the prompt and clear account. You've saved me some money.
I do notice that the wall thickness of the Acorn bowl is pretty substantial, close to 3/8" at the thickest point. Perhaps this will aid in keeping the bowl from getting too hot? I'm still puffing away on the first bowl. Going to smoke back to back bowls and see what happens....fingers crossed! Again, I am smoking very slowly and the bowl is barely warm to the touch. Not much of a clencher but this wee pipe is a dream to clench. :
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Well , I realize this is by no means a long term test of durability but I have smoked my wee Acorn 8 times now and so far the finish is holding up. Tried to always puff gently but did manage to get the bowl pretty hot a couple times. I do really like this litttle pipe.
The billiard I ordered will hopefully arrive tomorrow.
The billiard I ordered will hopefully arrive tomorrow.
My billiard smoked great yesterday, with Peacehaven.
Bradley, I know that you are a much more experienced pipester than I am (so excuse my impertinence) and that you mostly smoke large pipes. These are fairly small. Could that have something to do with it smoking hot? When I switch to a large pipe, like my Savinell Autograph 4, I definitely need to draw a bit harder.
Bradley, I know that you are a much more experienced pipester than I am (so excuse my impertinence) and that you mostly smoke large pipes. These are fairly small. Could that have something to do with it smoking hot? When I switch to a large pipe, like my Savinell Autograph 4, I definitely need to draw a bit harder.
Dan I believe you are right it may have been operator error, saying that it's way too small for me, button is non existint, draw hole is way too big so you have to pack it tight and that also may have been the problem. Think I'm gonna give it to a deserving Piper, got one in mind.
Several Forums members have bought these and enjoyed them. They apparently are the old style restricted draw, and are decidedly small pipes, so even the ones without problems, which seem to be most of them, they are a distinct kind of pipe. In considering them, I'd look at other French pipes, both the best and lesser know brands, and see if there is something that may suit you better. Not to exclude these, but just to give yourself some choice. The great back story and low price, and interesting materials with the horn stems, are appealing. But I'd rather buy a pipe for thirty dollars or fifty dollars more, and get something you want. Pipes last for most of our lives, so no point in buying them just to store. I think these pipe fit a perfect niche for some pipe smokers, but give yourself plenty of room to decide.
I picked up an Extra grade Billiard with an off-white horn stem this week, and it smokes like an absolute dream. WIDE open draw.
No fills, and LOTS of Birdseye (although from looking at pics of other Extras, that's no guarantee).
Reminds me of Talbert's Ligne Bretagne line with the ooooooold French stumbles and the horn tenon. I'm going to get another while they last.
Definitely a sipper, Woodsroad! You can't puff away on these like you can an old Italian hunk of briar.
No fills, and LOTS of Birdseye (although from looking at pics of other Extras, that's no guarantee).
Reminds me of Talbert's Ligne Bretagne line with the ooooooold French stumbles and the horn tenon. I'm going to get another while they last.
Definitely a sipper, Woodsroad! You can't puff away on these like you can an old Italian hunk of briar.
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