Pipes Not To Buy First
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Some have gotten hurt by Peterson quality control but many only want to smoke the brand. Look for bad drilling and no stain in the chamber and you should be good. ~$100.00 new and half that for estate. Can't go wrong with either. I saw a $90 Radice? or some Italian maker in the Italian section on smokingpipes today as well as a full bent with good grain for $150.00 by an allied maker. Estate but hell of a pipe for the money. Many Savinelli Autographs go for ~$100.00.
Italian pipes are less costly new and often bargains as estates.
Italian pipes are less costly new and often bargains as estates.
All my Peterson's are bought new since 2013. No problems. Not that some bad one's aren't out there, but when a factory mass produced as many pipes as they do there are bound to be a few lemons here and there.
You just explained my first Dunhill experience, and it was new. My first Pete, a 2017 St. Patrick's Day was fine.
I buy everything I can used as long as you can tell with a cursory glance how the item was taken care of. New underwear and shoes for me but everything else is fair game. A new pipe is special but I got much more bang for my buck starting out buying estates. And as far as Petersons go, I've never had a problem with a new or estate Pete. I will agree that you can get more bang for your buck going with an Italian pipe, especially estates. I've loved very Savinelli I've ever smoked. But the medium bowl size and waiting to buy a churchwarden advice is top-notch. I love my churchwardens but they're best for an occasional smoke, not as one of your first few pipes. A cob is always a good choice though!
Why I dislike new Petersons? The #1 reason ? Dipstain.
In the last 5-7 years every pipe I viewed online or in person was dipped. There were many I thought about buying which I saw online and when I asked via email if it had been dipstained they all were. I don't want to spend hours cleaning up a brand new pipe or "smoking through it." How ridiculous. And I especially wouldnt want a newcomer to go through the experience and a have a WTH moment. And I see it often in pipe forums when a newb makes a post asking whats' up with his brand new Peterson. I'm not sure what I dislike more, the shoddy craftmanship from Peterson or the posters on forums informing him to "smoke through it" or how they go into details about how to soak, swab and sand the crap out of the entire interior shank.
Maybe it's me and just the luck of the draw but every Peterson I've seen has been dipstained. About 2 years ago I visited a local B&M which cased about 25 new Petes. Every one of them were dipstained. I've read comments directly from Tom Palmer (the Peterson Honcho) saying they no longer dipstain their pipes. Yet I still see and and hear about them being dipped.
I love Petersons, that's all I have and that's all I smoke. They were all bought as pre-smoked estates(I hate breaking in new briar) and were built from the years 1980 and down. They are higher end pipes, most are spigots and a I own a couple Deluxe models. All have fishtail vulanite/cumberland stems. The P-lip is another thing I dislike about Petersons, the same goes for any pipe with a hard uncomfotable PLASTIC stems. Amost all new pipes are now made of cheap plastic stems.I admit sme are fancy ad pretty and swirly and come on a multitude of colors but when that plastic hits my tetth it's a mjor tun-off. Give me a nice old-school vulcanite stem ehich I have no problems keeping it clean to reduce oxidation.
Peterson Quality Control? Non-existant IMO, but I tend to think thats the norm for all production pipes these days.
But For a newb, a well broken-in older built Peterson is a great choice. A $400 Pete estate pipe can ne had for $80-150 bucks, pack it and go. A guy can get a low end good smoking Pete for 40-50 bucks easily off of ebay.
Another pipe to avoid IMO is the corncob (Chinese made or MM). They still have those cheap, cheesey stems (even though MM "upgraded" them they still suck IMO, and I cringe seeing glue slopped all over them while the protruding stem-wood juts right into the bowl chamber. I surely would't want a new guy smoking away on his new cob and getting a foul taste and smell from the burning pipewood and glue (along with the break in smell of the cob and plaster material. Over the years how many threads have we seen were someone asks what's wrong with their new corncob?
And IMO a cob still looks cheap and straight out of Redneckville. Often called throw-away pipe, fishing pipes, garden pipes, call them what you will but they are cheap and butt ugly. Do I own cobs? Yes, I have somehow accumulated over 50 of them and I started smoking pipes at 14 years old with a corncob pipe that I stole form a drug store. I still like smoking them on rare occasion but I don't think they are a good choice for a new pipe guy.
A pre-smoked estate pipe for new pipe smokers is my recommendation. And avoid those new Petersons.And cobs.
In the last 5-7 years every pipe I viewed online or in person was dipped. There were many I thought about buying which I saw online and when I asked via email if it had been dipstained they all were. I don't want to spend hours cleaning up a brand new pipe or "smoking through it." How ridiculous. And I especially wouldnt want a newcomer to go through the experience and a have a WTH moment. And I see it often in pipe forums when a newb makes a post asking whats' up with his brand new Peterson. I'm not sure what I dislike more, the shoddy craftmanship from Peterson or the posters on forums informing him to "smoke through it" or how they go into details about how to soak, swab and sand the crap out of the entire interior shank.
Maybe it's me and just the luck of the draw but every Peterson I've seen has been dipstained. About 2 years ago I visited a local B&M which cased about 25 new Petes. Every one of them were dipstained. I've read comments directly from Tom Palmer (the Peterson Honcho) saying they no longer dipstain their pipes. Yet I still see and and hear about them being dipped.
I love Petersons, that's all I have and that's all I smoke. They were all bought as pre-smoked estates(I hate breaking in new briar) and were built from the years 1980 and down. They are higher end pipes, most are spigots and a I own a couple Deluxe models. All have fishtail vulanite/cumberland stems. The P-lip is another thing I dislike about Petersons, the same goes for any pipe with a hard uncomfotable PLASTIC stems. Amost all new pipes are now made of cheap plastic stems.I admit sme are fancy ad pretty and swirly and come on a multitude of colors but when that plastic hits my tetth it's a mjor tun-off. Give me a nice old-school vulcanite stem ehich I have no problems keeping it clean to reduce oxidation.
Peterson Quality Control? Non-existant IMO, but I tend to think thats the norm for all production pipes these days.
But For a newb, a well broken-in older built Peterson is a great choice. A $400 Pete estate pipe can ne had for $80-150 bucks, pack it and go. A guy can get a low end good smoking Pete for 40-50 bucks easily off of ebay.
Another pipe to avoid IMO is the corncob (Chinese made or MM). They still have those cheap, cheesey stems (even though MM "upgraded" them they still suck IMO, and I cringe seeing glue slopped all over them while the protruding stem-wood juts right into the bowl chamber. I surely would't want a new guy smoking away on his new cob and getting a foul taste and smell from the burning pipewood and glue (along with the break in smell of the cob and plaster material. Over the years how many threads have we seen were someone asks what's wrong with their new corncob?
And IMO a cob still looks cheap and straight out of Redneckville. Often called throw-away pipe, fishing pipes, garden pipes, call them what you will but they are cheap and butt ugly. Do I own cobs? Yes, I have somehow accumulated over 50 of them and I started smoking pipes at 14 years old with a corncob pipe that I stole form a drug store. I still like smoking them on rare occasion but I don't think they are a good choice for a new pipe guy.
A pre-smoked estate pipe for new pipe smokers is my recommendation. And avoid those new Petersons.And cobs.
If you are going the used "estate" pipe route as a beginner, buy one from a reputable dealer. Besides smokingpipes.com, check out briarblues.com and pulverspriorbriar.com. Both offer excellent buying opportunities. Avoid eBay for now, until you are knowledgable about pipes. eBay is not for novices.
Don't spend an extravagant amount on a first pipe. You don't yet know how to smoke a pipe and will likely ruin it. Besides, once you get reasonably experienced you'll figure out that more money doesn't always translate to a better smoke. Smoking is 25% equipment and 75% technique.
Buy cobs. They work well, and don't cost much. Yeah, the stems are crap, but so what? They work just fine at any stage of the game. And if you incinerate one it's $8 VS $200 and up.
Personally, I've never given a fuck about what anyone thinks about me smoking a pipe, or my choices in smoking gear. That's their BS.
Don't spend an extravagant amount on a first pipe. You don't yet know how to smoke a pipe and will likely ruin it. Besides, once you get reasonably experienced you'll figure out that more money doesn't always translate to a better smoke. Smoking is 25% equipment and 75% technique.
Buy cobs. They work well, and don't cost much. Yeah, the stems are crap, but so what? They work just fine at any stage of the game. And if you incinerate one it's $8 VS $200 and up.
Personally, I've never given a fuck about what anyone thinks about me smoking a pipe, or my choices in smoking gear. That's their BS.
I recommend to all new smokers that they buy a brand new Savinelli. If you cannot afford a 70-100 dollar pipe then you really should not be getting into pipes and tobacco. This is not a cheap hobby so you should know it going in. If you don't own a good pipe then you will never know what a good pipe is supposed to smoke like. Cobs are not representative of a quality pipe in my opinion. If you buy cheap basket pipes that smoke hot, gurgle and smoke tobacco like shit, then you are setting yourself up for failure before you even get going in this hobby.
My first pipe was a Savinelli Linea Pui 5 Apple shape that is around a group 5 size. It can smoke any tobacco very well and it is a great starter pipe. I still own that Sav 20 years later and it still smokes great.
I am also a huge proponent for estate pipes but not as a first pipe. Once you get a good first one then you can dabble in the estate market. I would only use estate dealers and stay away from ebay for a long time and until you get some good knowledge.
My first pipe was a Savinelli Linea Pui 5 Apple shape that is around a group 5 size. It can smoke any tobacco very well and it is a great starter pipe. I still own that Sav 20 years later and it still smokes great.
I am also a huge proponent for estate pipes but not as a first pipe. Once you get a good first one then you can dabble in the estate market. I would only use estate dealers and stay away from ebay for a long time and until you get some good knowledge.
Jeesh, Sablebrush, I always enjoy your comments but whats with dropping the f bomb ? As of late I've been seeing more of that here and not sure why that is. Yeah, I'm no saint and I swear and cuss from time to time but I always tend to think using vulgarity de-values character. This place (although I don't visit often) always seemed pretty lean (or non-existent) on slinging out vulgarities but I guess that may be changing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not offeneded by it in the least, just surprised. OTOH sometimes it's just the way some folks talk (or type).But I haven't seen it here very much, unless I've overlooked it. If the latter, I take back everything I said.
I'm not sure if you were offended that I took some jabs (opinions) at cobs and new Petes or if it was just a random thing. Or maybe you are a tad grumpy today. Look, I don't want to start drama so you can respond to me here on the forum, in private or not at all. But I won't respond back to you (and start mind-wrestling) if you decide to post out here in the forum. That will only let the dogs back out and create a bunch of drama which I won't be a part of. And like I said maybe you and some others type out F-bombs in the past, and I just haven't noticed it. Come to think of it I rarely see even the simple one such as ass, shit piss or goddamn here. but I may be wrong.
I'm not sure if you were offended that I took some jabs (opinions) at cobs and new Petes or if it was just a random thing. Or maybe you are a tad grumpy today. Look, I don't want to start drama so you can respond to me here on the forum, in private or not at all. But I won't respond back to you (and start mind-wrestling) if you decide to post out here in the forum. That will only let the dogs back out and create a bunch of drama which I won't be a part of. And like I said maybe you and some others type out F-bombs in the past, and I just haven't noticed it. Come to think of it I rarely see even the simple one such as ass, shit piss or goddamn here. but I may be wrong.
You may be ight Jeffrey. I guess I've always had the perception of SB being pretty mellow, very fair with everyone and quite informative and gentlemently (is that a word?) Often I can get a persons vibes by how they present themselves online. So seeing his last comment surprised me, thats all.
"Don't buy a cob."
"Why do you hate people who smoke cobs."
"I didn't say that."
"You calling me a liar?"
Guys, it's just conversation. Everyone has an opinion. Personally, there are things that I get sick of seeing posted, but I just get more conservative in what I post to now.
To MSO's question, I don't think it matters what one starts with. We all have come to this from entirely different perspectives. And, honestly, Jesse is right. (Outside of his choice in wording) if someone is going to be all nervous about what someone else thinks, go buy a cigar, a pack of cigarettes. This is not a hobby for wimpy little bowtied girly egos. I'll walk down f%$@ing Main Street smoking a Meerschaum sculpture of a dog pussy for all I care. If you are afraid someone will think you're smoking pot, or if you don't want to look "fancy," or if you don't want to look like a methtweaking redneck, then go away. Grow a pair. I've said this many, many times on here,.. it is absolutely none of our business what someone else thinks of us. If you live your life this way, then smoking a pipe in your closet is not going to impress anyone.
As far as what pipe is best,.. any of them. If it burns tobacco, then there is going to be some way to find joy in that. Make you a beercan bong and load up some GLP Gaslight and go to town. If that's what you like, then don't let what some other schmuck thinks get in your way. :
:
"Why do you hate people who smoke cobs."
"I didn't say that."
"You calling me a liar?"
Guys, it's just conversation. Everyone has an opinion. Personally, there are things that I get sick of seeing posted, but I just get more conservative in what I post to now.
To MSO's question, I don't think it matters what one starts with. We all have come to this from entirely different perspectives. And, honestly, Jesse is right. (Outside of his choice in wording) if someone is going to be all nervous about what someone else thinks, go buy a cigar, a pack of cigarettes. This is not a hobby for wimpy little bowtied girly egos. I'll walk down f%$@ing Main Street smoking a Meerschaum sculpture of a dog pussy for all I care. If you are afraid someone will think you're smoking pot, or if you don't want to look "fancy," or if you don't want to look like a methtweaking redneck, then go away. Grow a pair. I've said this many, many times on here,.. it is absolutely none of our business what someone else thinks of us. If you live your life this way, then smoking a pipe in your closet is not going to impress anyone.
As far as what pipe is best,.. any of them. If it burns tobacco, then there is going to be some way to find joy in that. Make you a beercan bong and load up some GLP Gaslight and go to town. If that's what you like, then don't let what some other schmuck thinks get in your way. :
:
One particular post above suggested he doesn't buy anything used...followed by the idea that a first pipe should be inexpensive. So...brand new...and inexpensive. That could be setting most newbies up for a less-than-desirable first experience. He will already struggle with technique...but then do so with (possibly) a crappy pipe to boot could turn the new piper off. Most (certainly not all) 'cheap / new' pipes are not going to smoke as well as a better quality estate pipe which has been professionally refurbished. From my own experience...having begun only with estates...getting a good pipe at a good price was the best path for me. I wasn't about to spend a lot...but also wanted something decent...and the first two articles I read at the time suggested estates for these purposes. Since that time...I've bought many a new pipe, and have refurbished a ton of estates. It's already been said above...a properly refurbished estate is a great choice...but I also respect some not wanting anything used which they prefer and can afford as new.
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