Pipe Regrets

[STP]

No regrets here, however, most of the pipes that I purchased are sight unseen. Occasionally they are received in a condition or appearance not expected. In these rare instances I have returned them, which is why I “generally” purchased from only reputable establishments where returns are accepted.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Good for you, Duane! You got it! Is it as impressive in person as in pictures?

It is.? Getting George to make me an accurate stem.?

 

[gamzultovah]

It is.? Getting George to make me an accurate stem.?

Enjoy!

 

[Lawyer66]

That's a real shame, not so much for the pipe as for you. :\ I hope you got another as good or better to replace it at some point! (Anybody here will tell you I'm a Nording freak. -laugh-)

Ordered two pipes in the past two days, neither are Nording but both are quire promising. I have been eyeing the Nording Hunter 2019 edition White Rhino Rustic though. Love the short stem and rustication on it.

 

[EvergreenPiper]

bought a estate calabash online. I believe It has been somoked by a aromatic smoker for a long time. I have tried to clean it with alcohol many times but it still has a ghosting smell of aromatic. I have never bought any smoked pipe since then.

 

[ChuckMijo]

bought a estate calabash online. I believe It has been somoked by a aromatic smoker for a long time. I have tried to clean it with alcohol many times but it still has a ghosting smell of aromatic. I have never bought any smoked pipe since then.

View attachment 55458

Pack the chamber full with instant coffee. Let it sit for a week or so . I have had really good results removing nasty ghost.

 

[ashdigger]

bought a estate calabash online. I believe It has been somoked by a aromatic smoker for a long time. I have tried to clean it with alcohol many times but it still has a ghosting smell of aromatic. I have never bought any smoked pipe since then.

View attachment 55458

I use kosher salt and alcohol soaks. My gourd calabash was as disgusting as it gets. Three salt and alcohol soaks and it’s as clean as a whistle.

 

[EvergreenPiper]

Pack the chamber full with instant coffee. Let it sit for a week or so . I have had really good results removing nasty ghost.

Worth trying! Thanks!

 

[EvergreenPiper]

I use kosher salt and alcohol soaks. My gourd calabash was as disgusting as it gets. Three salt and alcohol soaks and it’s as clean as a whistle.

i have soaked it in the alcohol not with salt. I will try this if the coffee method does not work.

 

[ashdigger]

i have soaked it in the alcohol not with salt. I will try this if the coffee method does not work.

It’s quit unbelievable how gungy the salt is after two days.

 

[Chasing Embers]

bought a estate calabash online. I believe It has been somoked by a aromatic smoker for a long time. I have tried to clean it with alcohol many times but it still has a ghosting smell of aromatic. I have never bought any smoked pipe since then.

View attachment 55458

Doesn't smell like potpourri does it?

 

[jttnk]

Regarding coffee grounds... used, correct?
Damp, put them in and as they dry the suck crap out of pipe walls.
That’s what I’ve done on a few estates that I didn’t like the taste in them.

Good luck.

 

[ChuckMijo]

I use Denatured Alcohol and cotton balls. If that still doesn’t completely get rid of it I’ll repeat it. Then I just use instant coffee in chamber for week or 2. Ghost is gone. I’d imagine any coffee will work. I just like instant.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I don’t have regrets as such, but there was this one 1907 cased pipe with beautiful silver work and an amber stem. I asked the seller for a buy now price and they put one up for about $15us... however I had gone to the toilet and missed them email notification. Oh well, one of the other 7 pipe smokers in NZ probably got it

 

[shanez]

 

[jpmcwjr]

Regarding coffee grounds... used, correct?
Damp, put them in and as they dry the suck crap out of pipe walls.
That’s what I’ve done on a few estates that I didn’t like the taste in them.

Good luck.

Yes, used coffee grounds, although fresh coffee grounds should work, too. But instant coffee?? Never heard of that being done- How often have you done it, Chuckmijo?

As to length of time, as soon as they have dried, a very hot water flush will finish it up fine.

 

[sablebrush52]

Life's too short to spend much time on regrets. The only pipe that got away that I occasionally think about, usually when a thread like this one shows up, is a 1915 cased Barling companion set. 1915 was my father's birth year. The other bidder, who lived in Singapore, was just more determined to get it than was moi. When the price hit about 250% of market I let him have it, the bastid...

 

[F4RM3R]

I do regret not purchasing more pipes at flea markets when I went to europe last year(still kicking myself for the gbd silver band one!). They were in a abundance everywhere for less than 20$. I bought maybe 20 or so but should have just filled my luggage with them haha. Most were for refurbish and resale, but I've kept some that I like and maybe tripled my investment.

I had a nice old stanwell author that I let go for too cheap and really liked, it was the most comfortable pipe to clench(really for the authors!)

Missed out on a huge lot of clays for cheap I could have sold.

Oh well with all my pipe refurbishing and selling I've basically paid for all my pipes and made a profit and I currently have more than enough pipes(briar, clay, meerschaum, cob) for myself (20 or so). There's always more cobs if I get some PAD, I only have one and maybe I'll get another at some point. So yes some regrets, but I love the ones I smoke and get all the enjoyment I need from them, so all good.

 

[wyfbane]

The speed with which I dove into this thing led to some pipes being overpaid for. I don't really regret it, as I smoke them all and don't want to get rid of them. The pipes I miss are the ones that my grandfather left me when I was 26, but my mom threw them away before I could get home on leave to pick them up. That sucked.

 

[shermnatman]

I have no regrets over the pipes I've bought, and I've not yet let go of any. I do regret being sniped at the last second losing a few Ebay auctions for pipes I really wanted.....

- Sherm Natman