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Zurcher897

Lurker
Jan 21, 2020
4
1
Hey guys! I'm looking to have a unique style of pipe made for retail purposes and I was wondering if anyone could steer me in the right direction in terms of who would have the capabilities of mass producing custom wooden pipes at a decent price? I have attempted to contact artisan pipe makers with no luck due to man power as well as cost. I have also had little luck with US wood manufacturer's due to them not having the correct molds to produce pipes etc. Any ideas are welcome. Thank you for taking the time!
 

cosmicfolklore

Moderator
Staff member
Aug 9, 2013
36,468
89,365
Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC
I am guessing that you have a retail store? Do you work with a distributor for pipes? If so, that would be your best lead. Otherwise, you can contact whichever pipe company makes pipes closest to what you are wanting in design. I just wouldn't ask... say... Stanwell to make a pipe with a system like Peterson, etc...

I am curious... can you tell us a little more about these plans. Not the design, but what are you doing? Is this for a house pipe at a B&M?
 

BROBS

Lifer
Nov 13, 2019
11,765
39,863
IA
Hey guys! I'm looking to have a unique style of pipe made for retail purposes and I was wondering if anyone could steer me in the right direction in terms of who would have the capabilities of mass producing custom wooden pipes at a decent price? I have attempted to contact artisan pipe makers with no luck due to man power as well as cost. I have also had little luck with US wood manufacturer's due to them not having the correct molds to produce pipes etc. Any ideas are welcome. Thank you for taking the time!
not sure you fully understand briar pipes.
there is no "mold" for a wood pipe.
what exactly are you trying to do?
 
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Zurcher897

Lurker
Jan 21, 2020
4
1
I am guessing that you have a retail store? Do you work with a distributor for pipes? If so, that would be your best lead. Otherwise, you can contact whichever pipe company makes pipes closest to what you are wanting in design. I just wouldn't ask... say... Stanwell to make a pipe with a system like Peterson, etc...

I am curious... can you tell us a little more about these plans. Not the design, but what are you doing? Is this for a house pipe at a B&M?

Thanks! I have an Amazon FBA storefront and have found a market that I believe would sell very well given my differentiation idea. As of right now, the only contact I have with distributors is what I have made within the last couple weeks. I have had little luck but I will keep at it. Someone has to be able to do it :)
 
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greeneyes

Lifer
Jun 5, 2018
2,615
13,446
Thanks! I have an Amazon FBA storefront and have found a market that I believe would sell very well given my differentiation idea. As of right now, the only contact I have with distributors is what I have made within the last couple weeks. I have had little luck but I will keep at it. Someone has to be able to do it :)

Depending on what you intend your pipes to be used for, an artisan pipemaker might not be what you're looking for but rather an industrial-scale manufacturer in, for example, China.

I'm inferring that your "special idea" is confidential, so I just wanted to give you warning that an artisan pipemaker, who crafts individual pipes from raw materials by hand, will likely quote you a higher price point than what is generally desirable for a typical high-volume online retail marketplace. Most artisan pipemakers generally manufacture pipes of a quality that make re-sale somewhat difficult due to profit margins, not to mention somewhat sub-industrial (modest) production volumes.

Again, it's not clear from your post what you envision in terms of materials, design, use, or price points, so it's difficult for people to do anything but guess at what you might be looking for in terms of production.
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
59,147
The pipe makers that I know of that have done successful house pipes include Benton (may not still be in production), Chacom, Genod, and Savinelli. There may be others, but I have actually bought examples of either the house pipe or the main brand. The hitch is, all of these did pipes that may have had required specifications, but also they all fell within the general style of the manufacturer. To have a pipe maker do pipes that are entire departures from what they ordinarily do would require retooling and retraining, and unless you contract for an exceptional number of pipes, they will be quite expensive per unit. If you are only wanting a few dozen, you need to sound out a young carver who needs the work.
 
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greeneyes

Lifer
Jun 5, 2018
2,615
13,446
I would never by a pipe made in China
Nor would I. I don't think the OP mentioned anywhere whether his pipes are intended, for example, for smoking tobacco or something else; whether he runs a tobacco goods shop or a head/bong shop. I couldn't guess exactly what he has in mind and it wasn't clear (to me) from his post.
 
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TinCup

Can't Leave
Nov 14, 2019
341
968
Indian Ocean
If I had my choicee of artisans I would go with Ryan Alden or Scott Thile or Larrysson.

I would never by a pipe made in China

Not sure if they were made in china but I have three pipes that were bought from there, they are great vfm

If you're choosing between an artisan pipe or mass produced Chinese pipe I think everyone would agree with you
If however you only have $20 in your pocket and had to get a pipe, I think your choice might be curtailed a bit
 

Zurcher897

Lurker
Jan 21, 2020
4
1
Depending on what you intend your pipes to be used for, an artisan pipemaker might not be what you're looking for but rather an industrial-scale manufacturer in, for example, China.

I'm inferring that your "special idea" is confidential, so I just wanted to give you warning that an artisan pipemaker, who crafts individual pipes from raw materials by hand, will likely quote you a higher price point than what is generally desirable for a typical high-volume online retail marketplace. Most artisan pipemakers generally manufacture pipes of a quality that make re-sale somewhat difficult due to profit margins, not to mention somewhat sub-industrial (modest) production volumes.

Again, it's not clear from your post what you envision in terms of materials, design, use, or price points, so it's difficult for people to do anything but guess at what you might be looking for in terms of production.

Yes, looking more for industrial scale manufacturer and I'm waiting for the New Year's break in China to be over in order to speak with people. I have heard that tariffs are high for wood coming from China so I was curious if anyone had any other thoughts for US manufacturers or something of the kind. Thanks for the advice on the artisan pipe makers. Totally makes sense and that's definitely not the route I should go.
 
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